Modest Mouse — The Moon And Antartica

Like fellow former Up Records labelmates, Built To Spill (who signed to Warner and have since released three albums), the move of Issaquah, WA's Modest Mouse to Epic has not curbed the trio's quirky, disjointed sound that densely inhabited earlier records like The Lonesome Crowd West. Like BTS, Modest Mouse combine the No Wave staccato vocal delivery of Isaac Brock with his thought-prodding dense prog-rock guitars. Songs here are long, winding voyages that survive tempo changes and non-linear rhythms, highlighted effectively by "3rd Planet" and "Dark Center Of The Universe." In the end the band seems to have made a straight-up trade; production for self-indulgent experimentation and melody.

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