Modest Mouse, On of the most underrated Indie bands of the 90's and the last 5 years has been steadily releasing quality albums. In 2001, a year after they released "The Moon And Antarctica", the band released an EP entitled "Everywhere And His Nasty Parlour Tricks". Combining the smooth production of "The Moon And Antarctica" with the same old haunting and wobbly vocals from Isaac Brock, this EP has everything a Modest Mouse fan could want in an EP...***, it's almost an album on it's own.
1. Willful Suspension Of Disbelief (3:40)
This opening track reminds me allot of a Pink Floyd song. Clean guitars with some nice echo effects haunt the speakers. Trippy vocals slice into Isaac's chilling lyrics. Very experimental piece, also experiments with harmonies. Unlike most Modest Mouse Tracks, Isaac's vocals are fairly calm, and understandable. 4.5/5
2. Night On The Sun (7:38)
This song comes off as the EP's delicious epic track. Coming in at well over seven minutes, this song is rather calm for the most part. There is some abstract lyrics here about eating one's frozen blood. Very nice steady drumming on this track. Great track that fades off like a dream in the night. 4.5/5
3. 3 Inch Horses, Two Faced Monsters (4:13)
For those who have heard "The Moon And Arctica", you may remember at the end of the track "A Different City" there is a little thrown in chunk of a song singing "I don't know what I've been told..." etc. Well this SONG is that ditty, but an entire song. It's almost as if they wanted this song on that album, but decided to remove it. Either way, this song is one of the best off of this EP. Very country/western strutting cowboy styled. Very cool percussion to start off the song followed by some screeching fiddle, then comes the amazing back to back delay on the vocals. This song has some pretty nifty lyrics that I've grown to using in passing.
"I guess you guessed that I"d catch hell. I just caught a cold but now I'm
feelin well."
Great track, probably one of the best off of the EP. 5/5
4. You're The Good Things (3:33)
Easily one of the more radio friendly tracks off of this EP. This song is one of the more uppity Modest Mouse tracks I've heard in their career. This song is a nice little romp that (to put it loosely) Gently disses someone... The lyrics are clever and it's one of those songs you can put somebody you get along with, but wish would back off to.
"You're the good things yeah that's you, yeah that's you, yeah
You're the icing on the cake on the table at my wake
You're the extra ton of cash in my sinking life raft
You're the loud sound of fun when i'm tryin to sleep
You're the flowers in my house when my allergies come out
You're the good things..."
Song gets kinda crazy towards the end...and it's all good 5/5.
5. The Air (4:32)
Instrumental piece that resembles the song "Lives" off of "The Moon And Antarctica" (minus vocals). Fades off into different arrangements..Very unique. Very experimental song with some nice bits here and there. 4/5
6. So Much Beauty In Dirt (1:24)
Shortest song on here. Nice little ditty, but not the best Modest Mouse offering on here. The lyrics are alright (I mean c'mon he mentions M*A*S*H). Song is over before you know it, kind of like a lullaby... 4/5
7. Here It Comes (3:10)
Hands down one of the best tracks. This song starts off with some sweet little acoustic guitar diddle. The drums then enter with a nice little stomp beat. Very nice song. Very simple, but really effective. Another radio friendly song that should have made the cut on previous Modest Mouse albums. 5/5
8. I Came As A Rat (Long Walk Off A Short Dock) (4:37)
This song was released on "The Moon And Antarctica". This is an extended version of it. Added to the original song is an extra minute of experimental instrumental (and a longer title). Nothing really special about the extra minute, and I can see why it was trimmed down in the earlier version. It's a decent track regardless, starts off as a rocker, but slowly comes on down as an acoustic jammer. Very neat studio effects and backing vocals in this ditty. 4/5
Although this was released as an EP, this CD could easily hold up as an album by itself. A must have for all Modest Mouse fans. People who loved "The Moon And Antarctica" will love this, as it seems to be extended/cut tracks off of that LP. I definately recommend this to Modest Mouse Fans. Those who don't know much about Modest Mouse should check out
"The Moon And Antarctica" and "The Lonesome Crowded West" before this one.
Overall Rating 4.5/5
