Album Rating: 4.0

"third side of the moon sucks. song about nothing rules"



That is a wild take. Third Side has a really cool development in the latter half. Song About Nothing is just grating, tonally mismatched in the context of the album.



"Knocked Down by Waves" and "Stoner Party" should have been axed."



Pretty much agreed with this, but I'd throw in Song About Nothing too. Look How Far is the best of those final nothing-tracks, but it still feels like something that should've either come earlier or been developed further. Impossible Somedays is a track I initially rated higher but it registers as pretty midtier after multiple plays, especially for a closer. It realllly doesn't help that it's preceded by the weakest stretch on the album by a mile lol.

Album Rating: 4.0

Third Side might be my early favorite here, I think it's one of the best songs they've made in years

Album Rating: 4.0

The sequencing here is for sure odd, but I really have never found that to be a strength of theirs. Even top-tier Mouse records have an uneven grab bag quality to them (obviously there's stretches of ace logical sequencing too)

Until today I would've agreed on "Song About Nothing" but it grew on me this listen, and "Knocked Down" is pretty enough musically. "Stoner Party" on the other hand... yeah, that one's just about useless

Album Rating: 3.5

I regret to inform you all that Song About Nothing rules

Album Rating: 4.0

Well the nothin song sticks to your mouth

Like peanut butter on the brain

Nothin ever stays the same

Album Rating: 3.5

Listened to "Impossible Somedays" again this morning and nearly cried. With all the shit happening with my mom, that song hits me really hard. Credit to Brock's lyricism too. As much as some days feel impossible, I can't help but relate with the feeling that I might be impossible to deal with some days too.

Album Rating: 4.0

Regarding the 'interlude-like' tracks and shorties towards the back end of the album...have to be honest at this point they just remind me of the stuff you'd get on one of the 'recognised classic' Pixies album ('Knocked Down By Waves' is 100% Pixies energy).



They are maybe throwaway/goofy but in that Pixies way, they're harmless and don't really change my enjoyment of the album as a whole.



Album remains damn excellent!

Album Rating: 4.0

@Christbait damn dude, I hope you're doing okay. This album is loaded with a lot of nods to his mom and regrets over their relationship. It sounds already like you're not there with your own mom. God bless and Mouse on, babe.

Album Rating: 4.0

agreed Doof - the 'throwaway' tracks are standard Mouse fodder that have been fattening their albums since the beginning. You're almost not allowed to count those when trying to criticize the album lol

Album Rating: 3.5

Appreciate the thoughts, juice. I'm as okay as anyone going through the grieving process. She's still here and I've been able to reconnect with both my parents after having no contact with them for 14 years. It's weird to have to compartmentalize those missing years and instead focus on valuing what time I have left with her. She's already 1 month past her initial timeline (3-6 months without chemo or radiation; she declined treatment after being told it would only extend the timeline an additional 6 months) but every week there's another change. I've restarted therapy to deal with it all. Shit sucks man. I am not one to say "hug your parents" because I have experienced and empathize with others who dealt with familial trauma. I just didn't want my mom dying with any lingering feelings of guilt. Terminal brain cancer is comeuppance enough.

Album Rating: 4.0

Damn only 5 pages of comments and 71 votes?



Anyway, it’s crazy how much of a callback Speak N Spell is to Trailer Trash in sound and structure…whilst still remaining its own thing. That and 3rd side of the moon are prob my early fav two tracks off this. The first four tracks just own. Feels like old school MM again. Pacing gets weird after that, but it’s not old school MM without some weird pacing stretches. That said, it’s imperfections like that that made their older albums perfect masterpieces, despite or maybe partly due to the warts and all approach.

Album Rating: 4.0

Off-topic but does anyone have any idea how many active users we still have have on here?

Album Rating: 4.0

If there's one big criticism I have, it's that it is indeed front-loaded. The first 4 tracks in particular are noticeably better than the rest of the album, with the exception of a few tracks like Absolute Necessary, Rotten Fruit, and Speak n Spell. The entire last 4 tracks is a rly disappointing way to end the album. The hits on here hit really hard though.



Absofuckinglutely. After Rotten Fruit, I went from being blown away to huh?? Absolutely Necessary Never and Impossible Somedays are the only latter half songs worth much, and even those are prob just 3s.



But the first half is so good that this gets away with an overall 4, even though I feel like it should “technically” be a 3.5. I dunno. Definitely somewhat a return to form though.

Album Rating: 4.0

Agreed. The A-Side to this album is so damn good. Begs to be repeated after the album wraps.

Album Rating: 3.5

It does feel like a 3.5 is where the album settles over time. I think the initial impression being so strong is a great thing, even if that's partly because no one was exactly expecting good MM songs to return. I'd almost suggest putting switching the opener and closer to help balance the front load a little.

Album Rating: 4.0

To echo what others have said, there are some great tunes on here, and a few duds as well.



Standouts:

- Picking Dragons Pockets

- Remember Yourself

- Life's a Dream

- Third Side of the Moon

(^ entire A-Side is insanely good)

- I Can't Talk Right Now

- Speak 'N Spell (Or Not)

- Absolutely Necessary Never

- Impossible Somedays





Duds?

- Dogbed In Heaven / Give It A Skeleton

(^ this one has grown on me, but is a messy departure from the first group of songs)

- Knocked Down By Waves

- Stoner Party



What I will say, is that if this album was released in the 90s, nobody would be complaining about these duds the way we are now. The great Modest Mouse albums were anything but clean and polished, and it was these strange detours that made the entire albums such great listens.



I still listen to this album in full, and don't feel the need to skip any one song (closest thing to a skip would be Knocked Down By Waves for me). All in all, a great release for a band that has been around this long. A true return to form..? If you didn't like their last few releases, maybe.



Also... where are the EPs at, Modest Mouse?? C'mon now, it's been a lil while..

Album Rating: 4.0

This is for sure their best since 2007.





Wish they’d bring back the twinkly guitars tho

Album Rating: 3.5

My mom passed away Thursday night after being admitted to hospice. Can't bear to listen to some of this right now. Third Side of the Moon is gonna wreck me from now on.

Hold on, man! Never know what to say in situations like this, but my thoughts are with you