Modest Mouse Look To Stay Afloat With New Album

Issaquah, Washington's Modest Mouse have set a release date for their forthcoming We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank album.

The 14-track Epic record was supposed to have been released in late December, but was unexpectedly pushed back to March 20. The album will mark the recorded debut of former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr with the band. MM also welcomed back original drummer Jeremiah Green to make the album, which was again produced by Dennis Herring. It was recorded at Sweet Tea Recording Studio in Oxford, Mississippi.

The Shins' James Mercer lends his vocals to "We've Got Everything," "Florida" and "Missed The Boat." "Dashboard" is the first single.

Modest Mouse formed in 1993 and released a number of singles, EPs and albums for K, Sub Pop and Up before going the major label route and signing with Epic for 2000's The Moon And Antarctica. While always a favourite of critics, the band broke through and achieved more widespread mainstream success with 2004's Good News For People Who Love Bad News, which included the single "Float On."

Modest Mouse have confirmed one show in Mexico and five in the U.S. for March, two U.K. concerts in May, and a Barcelona, Spain gig on June 1. A more comprehensive tour is expected later this year.

Here are the tracks on We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank:
"March Into The Sea"
"Dashboard"
"Fire It Up"
"Florida"
"Parting Of The Sensory"
"Missed The Boat"
"We've Got Everything"
"Fly Trapped In A Jar"
"Education"
"Little Motel"
"Steam Engenius"
"Spitting Venom"
"People As Places As People"
"Invisible"