Question: What could possibly make Modest Mouse’s music even more tantalizing to the eardrums?

Answer: Add in the riffs and embellishments of Johnny Marr from the Smiths fame.

For me Modest Mouse has always been about the vocals and lyrics. Not saying that the music wasn’t good – it was/is fabulous – but the highlight has always been Isaac Brock’s quirky lyrics and absolutely unique vocal style. This strength shines once again on their latest album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, but the music, all those instruments, unusual percussion, noises, and backing vocals supporting Isaac’s lead vocal, has become a mind blowing aural (no, not oral) experience.

What I am trying to say is that the addition of Johnny Marr to the band may have seemed like a highly unusual choice, it did for me, but it really works. Everything Modest Mouse is still there, wholly intact, but there’s something extra that wasn’t there before.

Despite undeniable commercial success, Modest Mouse has always flown just under the radar of wide popular acceptance making them irrepressibly ‘indie cool.’ Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your viewpoint on such matters, this album is set to change all that. It is so undeniably tasty from the opening accordion sounds on “March Into the Sea” to what sound like howling wolves of the closing track “Invisible” that this album is going to go big. As an aside, those wolf sounds made me think of Grandpa Simpson, “I’m cold and there are wolves after me.” For me, this broadening popularity of Modest Mouse makes me happy as more people should hear this band, know about this band. On the downside, the days of being able to see these guys in a smaller venue are likely coming to a close.

Modest Mouse’s musical mastery on We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank is such that they can send you into a reflective happy trance, then jar you out of that complacent state with discordant vocals and guitars, then get you up and dancing to disco inspired bass and drums as you sing along to the melody…all of this often in the context of one song. That’s mastery. The opening track, “March Into The Sea”, is a prime example of this phenomenon.

The first single from the album, “Dashboard” (see the video above), showcases Johnny Marr’s influence on Modest Mouse, his embellishments and guitar tone absolutely shines. It is a highly danceable and singable song, destined for wide radio play. If it doesn’t end up there…well then the DJ’s are idiots. Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ.

The only downside to this album was learning that I am nothing more than a carbon thief. On the plus side, it’ll all come full circle under some karmic rebalancing mechanism, for “Someday [I] will die somehow and someone’s gonna steal [my] carbon.”

One last time, and for greater clarity, this album is going to make existing Modest Mouse fans ecstatic. For those that haven’t had the pleasure of being introduced to their music, there’s never been a better time. Buy this album. It’s fucking awesome.

- David Morley

Band
MySpace

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
1. John Cage - Imaginary Landscapes
2. Stockhausen - Kontakte for Electric Sounds
3. Bjork - 5 years

Name any musical influence(s)?
Steve Reich, but some people say Terry Riley

What new music are you currently listening to?
Lutoslawski

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
I think opening for John Cage would be pretty cool.

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
If Ghostface asked us, we wouldn’t think twice. Unlike other bands that I’ve heard refusing to work with him.

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
Nick and Patrick cut their hair at this guy named Dan in downtown Montreal, Aaron goes to this guy named Sheldon. Alex is practising the Glazunov violin Concerto, Seb is doing the Glass. Patrice works for the circus.

Band
MySpace

I grew up 99 miles north of where I currently reside. There wasn’t much from a cultural perspective in that area, but the local record store owner stayed on top of new album releases. His niche was metal. I wish the time machine was capable of bringing me back to 1982 so I could see if Mr. Mike stocked any of my current favorites. I bet he did, but I thought they were too “wimpy”.

Getting back on track…my parents and I drove down to Green Bay to visit my Dad’s sister. We went shopping at the local mall before stopping at her place. Galaxy of Sound was a hole in the wall record store, but I remembered that it sold T’s and buttons from a previous visit. The money I brought with that day would never leave that store. I walked out with the first Vandenberg album, Motorhead’s Iron Fist, and the first rock n roll T I would ever purchase…Iron Maiden’s Killers.

A friend of mine had a stack of his sister’s records in his room earlier that summer and I can remember being fascinated by the cover art of the Iron Maiden EP Maiden Japan. I flipped through a few more albums and there it was, my holy grail of that summer…the Iron Maiden Killers cover.

I’m not so sure I appreciated the music Iron Maiden was making at that time, but the shock value of Derek Riggs’ Killers artwork hit home. The victim’s hands, the bloody ax…what more could a rebellious teen want?
If you’ve never heard any of Iron Maiden’s first three full lengths, I strongly recommend givng them your full attention. They were influenced more by the punk movement than anyone acknowledges. You hear the band name and instantly think metal. It’s worth your while, trust me on that.

A brief bio of your label: Who started it? When? First band signed and/or first release?
Groover Recordings was started back in 2003 by long time friends Christian Örjestål, Niclas Janson, Malte Frisk, Pontus Larsson and Henrik Skyttberg.

The first bands that the label signed was screwed up rockers Streetwaves and neo Daft Punk house unit Phunky Drakes. After that the label signed hip hop act Snook before going back to it’s roots and mainly focus on rock music with a indie feel.

During the time sice we started out in 2003 we have also released compilations with fine artists such as: José Gonzales, Jonny Polonsky, The Steven McDonald Group, Sugerplum Fairy, The Mood Elevator, Anna Waronker, Tribeca, Bobby, Phunky Drakes, Streetwaves, The Natural History, Niccokick, The Walkmen, Lotta Sigeman, Dreamboy, Sofia Talvik, Ulf Stureson. The Martial Arts, Melpo Mene, Bishop Allen, The Sunshine, Hello Saferide, Rich Creamy Paint, Ashley Park, Gerald Collier, The Flu, Pure Joy, Roger Manning Jr, Grand Mal, Steve Reynolds, The Mellowmen Orchestra, The Lisa Marr Experiment, Anna Ternheim, Kent Norberg, Lasse Lindh, The Motorcykle Boy, The Here & Now, Timo Risnen, Callahan, MC F-Shock, Snook Hopewell, The Digs, The Green Fields, Reno Bo, Only Joe Kane, Locksley, The Shorebirds, Ol Yeller, Shade Tree, Joe Algeri & Grant Ferstat, Coydogs, Music Magic, Baby Grand, Peter Morén, The Quarter After, Maia Hirasawa, Thomas Denver Jonsson, The Autumn Leaves, EPs Trailer Park, Jon Bergström, Gabriel Munck and Consequences.

Read more here: click

The Martial Arts live @ Landet, Stockholm
Where does your label call home? Describe your headquarters.
Groover Recordings is based in Stockholm, Sweden. The HQ is Christians apartement. Here have many bands - like Bishop Allen, The Martial Arts, Lisa Marr etc - recorded, rehearsed and hanged out.

Your name? What are your primary duties for the label?
My name is Christian Örjestål and i’m sharing a&r duties with Niclas. Pontus and Henrik has now left the company and Malte is in charge of the economy parts.

Who are a few of the bands on your roster? Most recent signee.
* The Martial Arts
* Grand Mal
* The Shorebirds
* Lasse Lindh
* Sofia Gustafsson (Latest)

What is the best method for an unsigned band to capture your attention?
We are searching the net and venues. So just make sure to be out there. And if it’s up our alley - we will find it.

Any upcoming release(s) you’d like to plug?
Yes, The Martial Arts: are our biggest project up to date where we signes a Glasgow based band and produced a Ep and album with them in Stockholm. TMA has since toured Sweden and gotten fine reviews and lots of fans. Now - we are doing our best in finding a home for the band outside of Sweden.

MySpace
Download: The Martial Arts - “Finale”

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
a mix of other people’s songs? “angel of death” by slayer (metal); “return of the grevious angel” by gram parsons (country); and “loveshack” by the b-52’s (pop)

or of our songs? “mean that”, “ask me if i care”, “how i got so tired”

Name any musical influence(s)?
Kinks. Clash. Stones. Fugazi. Big Star. Bowie. Blur. Television. Beatles. Oasis. Swervedriver. Pixies.

What new music are you currently listening to?
the killers, of montreal, shins, redwalls, sugarcult

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
oasis or led zeppelin

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
adam franklin, elvis costello, gram parsons

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.

we’ve kept secret as much as possible from the great
evil of google, and we’re not about to blatantly divulge anything confidential in any other forum!

MySpace

A friend of mine manages a record store 100 miles away from me. I wish it was closer. We help each other co-promote whatever each is peddling on any level we can. Conversations over the weekend and the recent leak of a friend’s forthcoming album inspired this rant.

From the time I was old enough to scrape together the cash needed to make a purchase, I spent a significant amount of time at the local record store. There were days I wouldn’t have a penny in my pocket and still rode my FUJI 12-speed to check out what was new and request what was played next. I’d sit and read the new issues of Creem, Hit Parader, and Kerrang! as soon as they hit the magazine rack. That local record store was more of a home to me than the one my parents put overhead. I miss it.

No, not this record store
Twenty years later…my local record store never has any of the albums I’m looking for, so I order from online sources. Every magazine I now read is delivered to my mailbox by a disgruntled postal employee. The place I once called home is now occupied by the occassional snob who is too busy thinking he knows more about music than he actually does. If he’d only take the time to tell me what he’s listening to lately that’s enjoyable, he might sell a record or two. It’s disheartening to find myself avoiding the place I once loved because the clerks often make me feel uncomfortable. Piracy didn’t kill the record store for me…the record store clerk did. I hope that’s not the case for anyone at my friend’s store. /rant

The conversation I was referring to in my intro was about the effects online piracy has on the record store my friend manages. The staggering statistics of lowered sales. I hear every word he’s saying, I do. If any of you work (or have worked) at a record store, please chime in and toss my friend ideas of what you did to generate business. I’d love to find an answer for him if there is one.

Onward. My friend Jon Phillip is drummer for the band Limbeck. He’s never really had a pot to piss in for as long as I’ve known him. When I first heard that he was touring the world with the band, I had hopes that this might one day change. Limbeck’s self-titled album releases April 10. Guess what I found floating around with all the other leaks this evening?! A month and a half before the release date, it’s in everyone’s grubby little paws (including mine), free for the taking. It made me stop for a second and wonder if Jon ever will have a pot to piss in?!

Last, but certainly not least…when was the last time you turned something down that someone offered you that was free?! I’ve been trying to help my friends promote their bands. I recently posted a giveaway offering 5 free CDs and couldn’t give them away, yet in the past two days hundreds of people have visited the site? I don’t get it, people… was it too much to ask that you had to go to your mailbox to receive it? I guess the Rock Sellout giveaway will die with the record store. Sad on all accounts.

Where: Shank Hall - Milwaukee, WI
When: February 17, 8:00pm
Opening Act: Vietnam

There was a period in the early 90s when my taste in music really started to take shape. Sure, the early British Invasion exposure my Mom introduced me to would stay with me throughout my life…but my teenage rebellion period led me down a different path for a decade or so. I like to refer to those years as The Decline of Midwestern Civilization: The Metal Years. I’ll talk more about that soon.

Anyhow, The Lemonheads opus It’s A Shame About Ray was one of the first staples in my new-found “alternative” diet. The accessible pop songs that Evan Dando crafted were easy to strum along to on my guitar and equally as fun to sing out of key to with the windows rolled down on a summer road trip. Accompanied by classics like The Posies’ Frosting On The Beater and Buffalo Tom’s Big Red Letter Day the three albums were the soundtrack of my summer. They also inspired me to dig deeper and start discovering their influences.

Last night’s Shank Hall show was the first opportunity to see The Lemonheads that I took advantage of. I’ve been exposed to a lot more music since the days of worshiping at the Dando throne…but there was still a small amount of excitement left to see him perform. I think one immediate thing that made the event less intimate for me was not being familiar with the members of his touring band. Former Pieces bassist Vess Ruhtenberg and drummer Devon Ashley joined Evan onstage for the “electric” portion of the show. Yeah, that’s what I said,”WHO”?

Evan looked higher than the burnout that sat next to me in study hall my freshman year. Basically, what I’m telling you is he was completely disconnected from the audience the entire show. From the opening notes of “Stove” throughout the encore closer, he hid behind his disheveled mane. When you could see his extremely bloodshot eyes, he was looking up at the ceiling. It felt as though Dando was mailing it all in. I couldn’t help but wonder if the stop at Shank was somewhat of an inconvenience to him? Did the frigid Wisconsin weather take what little life is left in the man?

It wasn’t a complete disaster though. The crowd’s reaction to some of his songs really added a heartbeat to the experience. Highlights from the “electric” set were “Alison’s Starting To Happen”, “Bit Part”, “It’s A Shame About Ray” and “Rudderless”. My friend John’s noticeable reaction to the song he wanted them to play (”Great Big No”) was also quite pleasing.

Dando came out for an “acoustic” set accompanied only by his Gibson. This was the most enjoyable portion of the show for me. Even though the spaciness of “Dippy Dando” annoyed me early on, when he played solo, it all seemed to add up…the Lemonheads no longer exist, it really is just Evan Dando and whatever hired hands are joining him. I’m OK with that, I really am.

Joined by some of my favorite concert going friends from the Milwaukee area, the evening was the great escape from my weekly 9-5 that was needed. If any of you Milwaukeens are reading this, do yourself a favor and pick up some Speed Queen Bar-B-Q…I’m still digging under my fingernails for more of that saucy goodness.

This is the first story in what I hope will become a regular feature here at Rock Sellout that is not only populated with stories from the Rock Sellout staff, but also from you, our loyal followers… Your chance to share in something I don’t think we spend enough time talking about. Album Artwork & Design. After you’ve read the first installment, if you have an album that knocked your socks in terms of the art and design, by all means Email Me Your Story and we’ll include your story in our regular installments. So, without further adieu I give you “Your Favourite Album Art“

Since my daytime gig since high school (which is about 1989 for those keeping track) has been in graphic design, it’s something I hold near and dear to my heart. Any time I bought an album in my formative years, an important aspect has (and will for that matter) always been the thought and care that has gone into the artwork and craft that has gone into the packaging of the album.

The first album I am choosing to talk about not only will date me (as if my note about my high school years didn’t already), but it will firmly illustrate my foundations in the “where I come from” in a musical sense. So, yes, I’ve been around for a bit, and yes I have donned a mullet before they were so chic, the second go-around.

I will never forget how truly impressed I was the day my older brother walked through the door with the new record (Yes I said “record” – that’s what you crazy kids call vinyl these days) by one of our favourite bands at the time, Twisted Sister. That album was Come Out And Play. The album featured a standing–upright view of a manhole cover. Spray painted in bright pink graffiti (which was all the rage at this time thanks in part to break dancing, skate boarding and Beat Street) was the band’s name and the album title. The manhole cover was forged with the trademark stylized “TS” logo we had been introduced on their 3rd album, Stay Hungry, the one prior to Come Out and Play that really brought them to the forefront of the MTV Generation.

I realize at this point, you’re saying to yourself “what the hell is so exciting about the damn album, John? A manhole cover… yippee!“. But yo’, yo’ check this. Once you got past the shrinkwrap you immediately noticed that the manhole cover had a pair of hands coming out from under them. And yes! They sure as hell looked like none other than their frontman, Dee Snider’s. And then you noticed what I believe made this a album more memorable for the artwork and design than necessarily the content that was on it. You see, the manhole cover was perfed and die-cut such that you could lift it up and open. And when you did, there came Dee Snider, like a pop-up book right out of the friggen’ of the sewer! How cool was that? (The answer is very). When I think back to that album in terms of the production aspect of that album jacket and how much it must have cost to produce, I am pretty sure that the label was anticipating this album be huge based on the success of Stay Hungry. Sadly as I can remember, it wasn’t.

However here I am today telling you just how cool that artwork was to this day. Especially when you consider that we are now, almost at the end of cycle of the compact disc, poised to make the move into digital delivery all but making the printed pieces of art we fawned over while listening to the latest greatest by that band you loved, a thing of the past. It’s pretty interesting to think of how record companies and bands are going to be able to deliver that type of user experience, the same one that engaged me so many years ago, in this new, digital realm. If I was a betting man, I’d put my money on more multi-media user created content becoming part of the album experience. The internet has Web 2.0, maybe bands will have Album 2.0? Or would it be Album 4.0, since 2.0 is 8-track tapes, and 3.0 is CD’s?

So there, you have the first installment of “Your Favourite Album Art“. And in the spirit of Web 2.0, I invite you to share with us, so we can share with the world your spin on this Email Me Your Story

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
1. how to fake a smile = Gannon
2. trouble = Caroline Hecht
3. my parents were airplanes = favors & friends

Name any musical influence(s)?
yeah - that’s not easy. Eric Satie’s “Gymnopedie”, Bonnie Prince Billy, Steve Reich’s “music for 18 musicians”,

What new music are you currently listening to?
the letting go by Bonnie ‘prince’ billy, Time by Gillian Welch (that’s not really new anymore, is it?), and Yellow House by Grizzly Bear are some big turn ons… (can that be said?)

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
any of the bands i have mentioned in any answer above and below… but Brian Wilson would be mind blowing.

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
a children’s orchestra, a kindergarten class playing the recorder (and singing), a New Orleans marching band… & anyone with a vibraphone set…

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
i secretly want to write music for theater… know anyone that needs help?

Band
MySpace

Download: “We Awoke”