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The Moon & Antarctica

Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica Audio CD

A fair review of the Modest Mouse "The Moon & Antarctica" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Modest Mouse reviews here, or go back to the Modest Mouse tabs.

Band: Modest Mouse
Title: The Moon & Antarctica
Rating:

Release Date: 2000-06-13
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: 3rd Planet 2: Gravity Rides Everything 3: Dark Center of the Universe 4: Perfect Disguise 5: Tiny Cities Made of Ashes 6: Different City 7: Cold Part 8: Alone Down There 9: Stars Are Projectors 10: Wild Packs of Family Dogs 11: Paper Thin Walls 12: I Came as a Rat 13: Lives 14: Life Like Weeds 15: What People Are Made Of

Just my humble opinion
My journey with them began when this cd came out. I can easily say modest mouse is my favorite band. I had heard of them before but never had heard them before I picked this cd up. Upon first listen I was blown away. This did not leave my cd player for at least a year. And it only did because that is when I bought their debut album "This is a long drive for someone with nothing to talk about" It was then that I decieded I had to hear eveything this band has ever done. I began exstensivly collectling every release they had to offer. Their 7" singles, Their Bootlegs, I had to have it all. I waited for the release of "Good news", and then again for "We were dead" And even though my musical taste has greatly changed over the 7 years since this cd's release. I still listen to it regularly, I have over 80 songs of theirs on my ipod, and would proudly call them my all time favorite band. So if you are in the mood to be blown away by a semi-disturbed, depressed alcholic and widen your musical horizons. Go buy this cd.

i boo this product
I wanted old version. product not same as description. . . false advertisement. Beware.

One of the best
I remember working on a really tough and time consuming project at work that kept me there to 2 and 3 am in the morning many nights. I really got into this album back when it came out. I had a little boom box back in that lab that jammed this album (and BTS Live as well) pretty much constantly at full volume when I thought everybody went home. Little did I know one of the major senior VP's also kept really long hours as well and could hear it when I turned it up really loud. One night really late I was working thinking I was the only one left in the building and someone surprised me from behind. First words out of his mouth was what the hell was I listening too, I told him Modest Mouse, his reply back to me was at first he did not care for it but over the last month he has decided it may be the best album he has ever heard. Then we talked about some of the songs for the next couple of hours, the whole projectors song, the walls are paper thin all of it. We did that many other nights, kind of wierd to be sitting there talking to someone as high up and feared as that on that sort of level.

Anyway here I am many years later and while driving the other day I found this album in my car and tried to play it for a friend and it skipped like crazy driving me nuts. I found it on my computer and burned a new copy of it nad I am sitting down litening to it again and falling back in love with it. This is not an album you will get or fall in love with the first 5 times you listen to it. It will grow on you and once it does it will never leave you. There are only so many artist out there that can do that. Right off the top of my head I would mention Frank Black and Built To Spill in that level of recent music. So I say give this more the a casual listen and I promise you will fall in love. .

Arguably the Best Modest Mouse Album Ever
I know that probably sounds like blaspheme to Radiohead fans (and I do admire Radiohead), but when it comes to pure lyrical genius, NO band tops MM. I consider Modest Mouse to be the absolute best band of my generation.

So, the question is: if MM is the best band of my generation, what is the best MM album? Most people would answer this question by slapping The Moon & Antarctica right in your palm. For me, Lonesome Crowded West beats M & A by a sliver, but they are both two of the most life-altering albums you're likely to find this side of Ok Computer.

The Moon and Antarctica actually beats Lonesome Crowded West in its sheer scope. Whereas Lonesome Crowded West remains purposefully isolated and somewhat secluded, M&A tackles the vastness of the universe, life, and death with such a surreal flavor that it'll sink into your blood (lyrics like "I'm gonna look out the window of my color TV" are just a taste of what M & A has to offer).

Both are extraordinary. Both remain true to their respective themes. And, both will click something inside your brain that you never knew existed.

My advice? If you want to know which is the better album, get them both and decide for yourself. I guarantee that neither will disappoint. .

Drifty and surreal...
"The Moon & Antarctica", although not Modest Mouse's most accessible album, is definitely their best work, and proof that signing on to a major label doesn't ALWAYS mean that something bad is about to happen (although it usually does. . *grumble* �. �).

First off, this album has little in common with the band's other efforts; this one is far more atmospheric and has more of a Radiohead/Pink Floyd influence instead of The Pixies influence of some of their other songs. Most of the anger and frustration from the Lonesome Crowded West is gone, and replaced with a subdued, icy, beautiful mood that stretches over many of the songs.

The Moon & Antarctica is at it's best during it's spaciest, driftiest moments, which can be found on the GORGEOUS, floating, overlapping guitar layers of "Gravity Rides Everything" (the perfect songs to play while watching the moon rise in the evening sky), the simple, raindrop-like acoustic flutters on "Perfect Disguise", the jaw dropping, shape-shifting 9 minute epic "The Stars Are Projectors" (which could very well explain all of existence), and the equally brilliant shapeshifter "Life Like Weeds".

As usual, Modest Mouse's lyrics are nothing short of absolutely stunning; the day I find a band that can top profound statements like "God is a woman, the woman is an animal, the animal is a man, and that's you" or "Was there a need for creation that was hidden in a math equation that asks this: Where do circles begin?" is the day I saw my ears off and stop listening to music (which I assure you isn't anytime soon). This could very easily be seen as a concept album about life, death, existence, religion, and the way the universe works.

Many people say that this album is as good as "OK Computer" in terms of life-changing albums; They don't say that for no reason. Reccomended for anyone who can handle weighty subject matter and equally hypnotic soundscapes to match it.

You can see a complete list of all Modest Mouse discography, or go back to the Modest Mouse tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.