Modest Mouse — No One's First, And You're Next

No One's First, And You're Next is a collection of unreleased material from Modest Mouse's last two studio records, 2004's Good News For People Who Love Bad News and 2007's We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank and as cast-offs they're quite good, but as a cohesive set of songs, they crumble like uncured concrete.

Lead-off single "Satelite Skin" has been hovering around the Internet for a couple of months. It has much in common musically with the band's first hit single, "Float On," but the rest of the album seems more about trying to recapture some of the band's indie edge from their Up Records period.

"History Sticks To Your Feet" highlights the band's signature raw, blues-tinged material, while the quirky side of the group shines with the more-downbeat "The Whale Song," the cacophonous "Perpetual Motion Machine" and the rootsy "Autumn Beds." The last two songs, especially "King Rat," are typical album filler, and worthwhile for Modest Mouse competists only.

With the strength of these cast-offs, lets hope the band's upcoming collection of new material in March 2010 will match this level of quality.

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