Radiohead made quite a jump from Pablo Honey to The Bends, but I dare say that this is even more impressive. Modest Mouse is a trio for God's sakes, and Radiohead has five guys making all those noises. Ghostly keyboards surface in the chorus, signaling the onslaught of Brock's frantic yelp. This is sleek and sophisticated music for a band that started out on K Records. Lyrics are typically a band's downfall, but Modest Mouse retains a homespun slant in its philosophical poetry.
Distorted vocals ride beneath discordant guitars.
The staccato verse opposes a thunderous chorus. Even in its most rocking song Modest Mouse opts for the atypical use of clean guitar overdubs. During the fuzz bass break down an acoustic guitar even worms its way in. Records like this don't happen every day much less every year.