- Audio CD (16 Nov 1998)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Matador
- ASIN: B0000246FC
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 89,063 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
From Amazon.com
The opening track, "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine," explodes out of your speakers with sharp, see-sawing guitars and shouted vocals, an irresistible melange of angular rhythms and mighty, powerful dynamics. The rest of the songs are similarly pulled along by some unseen force, driven by an energy found in classic post-punk bands like Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 or Drunken Boat. Some reviewers have referenced the Pixies, and while that's not off the mark, this is more like the Pixies undergoing dental work--without anesthesia. --Lorry Fleming
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The lonesome Crowded West is the last piece from Modest Mouse I got my hands on after having spent the last few months just devouring the rest of their releases in disbelief. While over here in the UK everyone seems to be happy re-hashing over & over the same "garage rock" recipe with that not so fresh 60's flavour, it seems like the best things in contemporary music have gone virtually unheard. And it seems to be that way: you are a fan of Modest Mouse, or you've simply never heard of them.
Modest Mouse, probably the greatest band alive? Well, it doesn't take much to be literaly hooked & start having faith in music again.
The L.C.West won't give itself aways to you, like any of their albums, it takes quite a few spins to get used to the broken rythms & guitars, and Isaac's unconventional vocals. But the sheer power of his words combined with amazing lyrics make this a gem of an album. Well, like pretty much everything they've done so far really.
How often do you come across an album you can listen to in loop for 3 or 4 hours, with only the urge to swap it for another M.Mouse? what always seems to surprise me is the diversity and the amount of ideas put into each album, making every song just so goddamn special. Yes, this album's truly great. If you don't believe me, check the reviews on the US Amazon. If you've never heard of the Mouse, do yourself a favour and buy this, Building Nothing Out of Something, the Moon & Antartica, & This is a Long Drive (...). It should start you off, & you will sure be a happy bunny. This is simply pure raw genius...
Modest Mouse, probably the greatest band alive? Well, it doesn't take much to be literaly hooked & start having faith in music again.
The L.C.West won't give itself aways to you, like any of their albums, it takes quite a few spins to get used to the broken rythms & guitars, and Isaac's unconventional vocals. But the sheer power of his words combined with amazing lyrics make this a gem of an album. Well, like pretty much everything they've done so far really.
How often do you come across an album you can listen to in loop for 3 or 4 hours, with only the urge to swap it for another M.Mouse? what always seems to surprise me is the diversity and the amount of ideas put into each album, making every song just so goddamn special. Yes, this album's truly great. If you don't believe me, check the reviews on the US Amazon. If you've never heard of the Mouse, do yourself a favour and buy this, Building Nothing Out of Something, the Moon & Antartica, & This is a Long Drive (...). It should start you off, & you will sure be a happy bunny. This is simply pure raw genius...
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was briefly tempted by The Moon and Antarctica, but after many listens this is definitely the winner. Almost every song is packed with irresistible rhythms and riffs, a unique style and excellent lyrics to top it off. MM have a knack for choosing words with a satisfying natural rhythm/meter, a favourite example being "You move your mouth, you shake your tongue, you vibrate my eardrums; you're saying words, but you know I ain't listening" (but there are examples of it in almost every song).
At first the long, slow sections found in several songs (Trucker's Atlas, Teeth like God's Shoeshine etc.) put me off, but the more you listen the more sense they make. In fact, the way songs change gear instantaneously is key to the way MM handles buildups and release of tension.
If you're thinking about buying the album, listening to Doin' the Cockroach or Trucker's Atlas beforehand should soon convince you.
At first the long, slow sections found in several songs (Trucker's Atlas, Teeth like God's Shoeshine etc.) put me off, but the more you listen the more sense they make. In fact, the way songs change gear instantaneously is key to the way MM handles buildups and release of tension.
If you're thinking about buying the album, listening to Doin' the Cockroach or Trucker's Atlas beforehand should soon convince you.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It amuses me that someone calls this band 'emo-hardcore-post-grunge-core' in a different review, only to then compare them to Black Sabbath, because that really doesn't help anyone. The reason for this is that there really is no precedent for 'The Lonesome Crowded West', except perhaps other Modest Mouse records.
Modest Mouse, you see, are the type of band that only come along once in a while: a truly unique one. Sure, they've obviously been listening to the Pixies, Guided by Voices, etc. but that doesn't mean they sound anything like them. Modest Mouse are like Radiohead, Pere Ubu or indeed the Pixies in that they seem to care not at all for paying homage to anything that has come before them, establishing a completely new sound. To be honest, I'm actually quite glad Modest Mouse aren't more popular, because else it might catch on like Radiohead and the Pixies did, and then we'd be flooded with cheap Modest Mouse knock-offs, and that would just detract from what is probably the most exciting and interesting band in the last few years.
The Lonesome Crowded West is the sound of a band already at the height of their powers despite only recently having perfected their sound. Some prefer The Moon and Antartica, its follow-up, but I don't. The reason for this is that The Moon and Antartica lacks 'Teeth Like God's Shoeshine', without doubt the most bombastic album opener since... I dunno, 'Bone Machine' on Surfer Rosa, or 'Secrets' from Vs (Mission of Burma). What we're talking about here with 'Teeth' though is an almost perfect song, one which satisfies both the part of your brain that demands something layered and complex and the part that wants to be able shout along as well. Oh, and the part that hates anthems. Yeah, it's brilliant, and so's the whole record, really, just less so. It's a bit like all the other songs are just little bits of 'Teeth' expanded upon into whole songs, although in reality they're almost just as good- the album's not really about songs in the same way a pop album is. All the songs are good, but they work much better as a unified whole (as does Moon And Antartica), except with The Moon And Antartica you have Modest Mouse contemplating all the mysteries of the universe. Here you have them on some sort of roadtrip across the midwest. It's compelling stuff.
It dawns on me that I haven't actually told you much about what Modest Mouse sound like. But I can't. You'll have to hear them to truly know, anyway. All I'm saying is that if you consider yourself as fan of good music- and yes I know pretty much everyone does, but I mean if you really RESPECT your musical taste, then you will love this album. And, if in doubt you can just download a song or two off the internet. It's not hurting anyone if you wouldn't have bought it anyway. Serves them right for not playing it on the radio. But enough complaining about the contradictions present in our attitudes towards intellectual properties in the music business. Here are some instructions to finish: 1. Buy The Lonesome Crowded West. 2. Enjoy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good quality CD
Good quality CD that I couldn't find anywhere else - delivered within the time period. Although it would have been helpful to have it before Christmas, I didn't expect to get it so... Read more
Published 16 months ago by naomi_pennington
this is a good album for people who like good music
in regards to this album, my feelings are like kittens, indeed i am just giving them away.
we all know that MM are fantastic. Read more
we all know that MM are fantastic. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2005
what can i say?
firstly, for the self concious person in me, forgive the public name. dont label me as an idiot young kid, just its been a while since i've done this. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2005 by David minshull
Emo-hardcore-post-grunge-core
Strange disfunctional guitar styling and powerful dymamics. This band varies from emo-core to straight out hardcore stylings, think jello biafra singing softly to refused voacals... Read more
Published on 14 Nov 1999
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