All the world’s a stage, and Modest Mouse’s 2004 album is presented like a play. Good News For People Who Love Bad News is equipped with a horn intro, scene changes (“Dig Your Grave”), and even an interlude with a restless baby in the background- and don’t forget dramatics! There are plenty of dramatics.
“Dance Hall,” a breathless display of adrenaline, is perhaps the most dramatic. Half the time, I’m wondering what language he’s speaking. I can make out the chorus, but the rest is nearly incoherent. “I’m gonna dance all, dance hall every day/I’m gonna dance all, dance hall every day!” And was that something about a pill?! I could look up the lyrics, but what fun is that?
Frontman Isaac Brock’s dry sense of humor drenches the album, particularly in “Bukowski.” His alter-ego sneaks in, growling in the undertones. “Evil- me? Oh yeah, I know/What good curves can you throw?” The conversational tone engages listeners to consider questions that don’t demand answers. What I want to know, however, is how he combines ideas so effortlessly. “See what you want to see- you should see it all/Take what you want from me- you deserve it all,” he sings. By pairing clashing ideas together, he changes the dynamics of them entirely.
On a lighter note, “The World At Large” is a grandiose song that retains its simplicity through delicate instrumentation. It starts with the steady strumming of an acoustic guitar. Brock’s vocals are added next. Then, the backing vocals come in with the percussions. The birdlike whistling adds flighty overtones, and the strings tie everything together.
While “The World At Large” reflects, “Float On” looks more to inspire. “Alright already, we’ll all float on/Okay don’t worry, we’ll all float on/Even if things get heavy, we’ll all float on,” Brock sings over a feel-good swing. “Float On” sparks a jolt of inspiration. Alright already!
Good News For People Who Love Bad News is both thinking music and feeling music. It covers a spectrum of emotions- some are analyzed, and others are felt without question.
Read the rest of Isaac Brock’s interview by clicking here: [http://www.avclub.com/articles/modest-mouse,13862/]
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