Dark Side of the Moon

...And Antarctica

Unless Epic Records decides to change the date again, a few weeks from now Modest Mouse will finally release their long-anticipated “Good News for People Who Love Bad News”. It’s been a long wait for fans that have known the band for years. And yet, it’s been not so long of a wait for the Mouse’s newer fans.
In the build up for this new album a whole new collective of fans have spawned off the fruits of their previous album, The Moon & Antarctica. Songs from ‘Antarctica’ have popped up everywhere, from beer commercials and skate videos to car advertisements.
Chances are, if you watch TV you’ve heard some of it.
Now, on the eve of their final release on the Epic label, Modest Mouse’s original powerhouse record gets a re-release. This time around however new packaging and a short BBC recording distinguish the album’s presence.
Why the band would feel compelled to rehash a product that was already so near to perfection is beyond me. If the sound is improved, I certainly haven’t noticed it. And the BBC recordings offer no revelatory glances into the embryonic stage of the album’s development. Rather, they merely show that even a year before it’s release, Isaac Brock had a clear definition of how he wanted ‘Antarctica’ to sound.
But I can say that the second I saw the new packaging peaking out at me from the Sam Goody CD rack, I was instantly compelled to buy it.
The cover is magnetic, utterly entrapping.
I gaze at the artwork and feel that this is the kind of cover that distinguishes itself as belonging next to other nebulous concept covers. It defines this album as a modern rock masterpiece that belongs in your collection even if you exclusively collect Britney Spears.
But fans have known that all along.
Since its release, it’s been one of the finest rock albums that an indie illumine could produce. ‘Antarctica’ is just one more claim that a band with underground roots can create something infinitely more majestic and beautiful then commercial music ever could.
This album reviles in the icy grip of post mortem. It hauntingly fantasizes about cheep motels and inner hells. In short, it’d bury you alive and get piss ass drunk on your very grave if given the chance.
Understandably, the motive behind this re-release is questionable. Now that everyone’s paying attention is Epic drawing a legend out of an already revered work? Or are they simply squeezing everything they can out of the Mouse before they loose this very hot commodity?
Whatever the motive, The Moon and Antarctica re-release should appeal to the band’s “newer” fans. Herein you will find the very heirs to the Radiohead crown. And it isn’t Coldplay.

Consolation Prizefighter

Yeah, it feels like we've won some grand prizes. No more consolation prizes for us!

Well, Brock, since we've got the same notion, let's make some music videos! I'm going to sell some stuff I need to get rid of. Maybe then I can afford to get a decent digital camcorder. No "top of the line" stuff for me, yet.

Watched Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns a documentary on They Might Be Giants. It was very interesting. Those guys are talented, and very smart. It's hard to believe they've been around for 20 years! I've always liked them, but never really got into them. I appreciate them a lot more now.

Never Will Come For Us

I can’t even begin to say how expressively cool things are right now. As each day goes by we get closer and closer to Coachella and the Pixies. What’s even more exciting is that this morning Gabe picked up tickets to the Braid show in Anaheim California. It’s amazing, all of these great bands which I never thought I’d get a chance to see, like the Pixies and Braid, are reforming to play some shows for the fans who miss them and the fans who never got a chance to see them. Years from now when I’m swaying back and forth in my old hickory rocker while the grandkids rifle through my CDs, I’ll be able to say, “Yep, I saw that thar Braid back in Oh-Four. Back then we called that rock music.”

Also, I plan to put up a little bit of a review on the brand new Moon & Antarctica RE-release later today, just as soon as I write it.

Spotless

I’d really like to film something with you Gabe. I’m just raring to go. In fact, I’ll let you in on a little something: I’ve wanted to do a series of fantasy music videos for quite some time. I’ve mentally composed a list of favorite songs that I’d want to make a video for, and I’ve even written down a few concepts here and there. Imagine us filming a video for the Foo Fighters’ Everlong in Castles and Coasters.
And we don’t have to destroy the videos once we’re done with them. My secret wish has always been to do a series of fantasy music videos, lock them away in a vault, and then come back years later as a well know director with permission by the bands to release the fantasy videos as ‘alternate music videos’ for their songs.

I’m also excited for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I’d like to check out the script.

Sunshine Brion

Cigarettes & Coffee announced that PT Anderson composer favorite, Jon Brion, scored the music for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Hot. I'm very excited for this movie.