Customer Reviews

Building Nothing Out Of Something

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This CD is a combination of 3 songs from the wonderful (and out of print unfortunately) "Interstate 8" EP, other tracks also from the "Never Ending Math Eq." single, the "Life of Arctic Sounds" single, the "Broke" 7-inch (not a new song as the previous reviewer mistakenly thought) and the "Other People's Lives" 7-inch. Hardcore fans will recognize Grey Ice Water and Broke from MM's live set and numerous bootlegs of demos and live shows. Grey Ice Water is probably IMHO the strongest track, but the whole thing is great, and it's good to finally have it all on one disc, with good sound. It's good enough to tide you over until the new CD comes out, which is supposed to be this spring(I already have most of the songs, believe me, it's worth the wait).

If you still don't think that Modest Mouse is one of the best "indie" bands in existence, then Building Nothing Out Of Something should convert you. A surprisingly cohesive collection of 7"'s, compilation tracks, and the like, this album showcases Isacc and co. at their most vunerable and beautiful. "Interstate 8" contains beautiful interplay between Isacc Brock's and Nicole Johnson's vocals, "Baby Blue Sedan" is an incredibly moving track that should have been included on The Lonesome Crowded West, and "A Life Of Artic Sounds" is all frustration. The highlight for me, however, is the surreal and beautiful "Workin' On Leavin' The Livin'," a sort-of cover of Eraserhead's "Lady In The Radiator Song." Every Modest Mouse fans needs to hear this song; it's truly incredible. Anyway, even though this a compilation of MM work, it would serve as a great introduction to the band. Highly recommended.

My introduction to modest mouse was the deliciously strange EP, "Everywhere and his Nasty Parlour tricks" which I took a while to warm up to. I can't help but thinking that if "Building Nothing out of Something" had been my introduction to Modest Mouse I would have caught on to the true depth of their musicianship much quicker. Every Modest Mouse release, especially the new one, gets High marks in my book, but this is the one that I never get sick of and never skip a track on. If you like unique music, buy this album. If you just heard "Float On" and you're curious about what Modest Mouse has to offer, buy this album. It's definately a worth while purchase.

Modest Mouse is far and away the freshest and most innovative band making music today. This album contains introspective lyrics on top of aggressive music in perfect combination. This band is talented beyond their years and will soon revolutionize the rock scene as we know it.

These days everyone seems to be desperate with giving every shred of innovative music a name. This and that is punk and not punk. so and so is indie but wait oh no this indie Rock. Metal is dead but Alternative metal lives on. this band is ambient but this one is industrial. please. truly mindful listeners know that names like these are just labels, id tags used by "Rock Journalists" to pigeonhole everything into nice little scenes. dammit people it's music. it's freakin' rock and roll! Anyway, a band like modest mouse obviously must somewhat feel this kind of sentiment.using evrything from electronic samples to punk riffs to classic rock note patterns, they are beyond the names that make up their sound. in my book they fit into one category and one alone: they are one of the greatest and most sorely underrated bands of the last 20 years. period.

This album is a compilation of Modest Mouse non-album tracks from various points throughout the 90's. Even though it's a compilation, it is easily stands up against any of their proper albums.

There are some GREAT songs to be found here. "Interstate 8" and "Broke" are two of the band's best songs, period, and I am astounded that they were not included on one of the band's albums. Seriously...I was speechless when I first heard these two songs, sequenced on after another, no less. You could play me a record of those two songs looped together for seven hours, and I would never get tired of them.

I don't mean to do anybody a disservice, but I honestly can't think of many words that would be very helpful in describing these songs. Eloquent, emotional songwriting and imaginitive yet focused musicianship...pretty much everything you would expect from a collection of Modest Mouse songs. If you're a fan, you probably already own this (if not, get it...you're missing out on some of their best songs!). If you're just getting into Modest Mouse, this is as good a place as any to start.

The only weak point that I can think of is "All Nite Diner", which seems as though it were conceieved to be a bit of a throwaway track, anyway. The rest of the album does not dissapoint. Classic after classic. I would consider this an essential Modest Mouse purchase. If somebody put a gun to my head and told me to pick one Modest Mouse release over them all (although I don't know why a person would be so specific with such a random topic with a gun in their hand), I would choose this one.

This is my favorite Modest Mouse cd, mostly because it deals with a lot of personal views or problems or any of the likes. The introduction is great, fast and witty, and I enjoyed the cd from then on. Baby Blue Sedan is a very pretty song and you'll want to listen to it for days. Whenever you breathe.. is perfect, and I very much so recommend this cd whether as a collectible or a starter.

like jeff-heath (whose review appears below), i saw modest mouse at the cat's cradle in chapel hill/carrsboro, nc. they took me away from that little club in a strip mall in--as far as i was concerned--the middle-of-nowhere, north carolina and introduced me to a world of feedback-laden sonic resonance replete with startling outbursts of lyrics presented in torrents of tormented yelps.

they played four songs from "building something...", a cd which includes many of my favorite mm songs. when they played "interstate 8" halfway through, i figured i could leave the club and live a sated life or die a happy death for having heard it live.

but i'm writing from the perspective of a kill-for-their-honor fan. for those who don't know...

this cd would be a great starting point. i don't know where all these songs were culled from, but they did a fantastic job. this compilation is variously viewed as "greatest hits", "also rans", "hey, these are good too". whatever. in short, it's a great introduction to the skewed, raw world of mm. while some people "get it" immediately, for others it may take awhile to fold into the sometimes obtuse ("baby blue sedan") and sometimes hard reality ("grey ice water") of isaac brock's lyrics. the band's music is another thing altogether, what with guitar work that slaps you into listening if your mind wanders and the extraordinary drumming of jeremiah green.

modest mouse is an often overlooked aural treat. while i enjoy that fact, i'm sure the boys in the band would appreciate more ears. and they surely deserve it.

This album flows like an album, despite its being a mere compilation of random songs. I couldn't tell you how Modest Mouse accomplished this feat, but that's because I'm an idiot as opposed to a brilliant musician. The fact that this collection of random songs forms a more cohesive unit than most "well produced," "well thought-out" albums is a proof of the unity of MM's ideas and a reminder of their superiority to most other bands out there. Only a band that has a clear sense of where it wants to go could pull this off. I might also add that every song on this album could stand alone and still blow your mind. This album is the best of the best. MM themselves would have trouble outdoing this work.

WOW. This CD actually blows my mind everytime I listen to it. It's the first CD I want to listen to in the morning and the one I want in my mind while I sleep. Isaac is an amazing musician. If you ever get a chance to see these guys in concert don't hesitate. That man can make sounds come out of his guitar like no one else.