MODEST MOUSE
"No One's First, and You're Next"
Released: Aug. 4, 2009
Genre: Indie/Experimental Rock

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From poppy jazz to space rock, Modest Mouse have produced a wide-ranging EP easily as good as any of their earlier material.

GENERALLY, I WOULD start a review with some witty and innovative twist on the album's title, or a lyrical something or other.

But after listening to Modest Mouse's new EP, "No One's First, and You're Next," only one thing comes to mind:

I'm floored.

I'm floored by the single "King Rat" — one of my favorite Modest Mouse songs of all time. However, it's already been available as a promotional recording since 2007. Though still wonderful (incredible, original, gorgeous), if you listened to the radio even once last year, you've already heard it.

I'm floored by "Satellite Skin." Actually, I'm floored by its place on this album. I mean, it's OK, I guess. Very thoroughly mediocre. A good song for any other band, but barely worth mentioning in regard to Modest Mouse. Far from their best work.

And finally, I'm floored by "Whale Song." Of the seven new songs on this eight-track extended play, "Whale Song" is easily the best.

A bass-driven number with dissonant guitar is a pretty unexpected sound coming from Washington indie legends, but they've managed to pull it off with flying colors (yes, I'm mixing metaphors).

Starting out with a relatively simple melody, "Whale Song" slowly descends into a sprawling, colorful chaos. I'm not sure where whales come into it, though. Oh well.

But perhaps I should start with some background. "No One's First, and You're Next" is the collection of odds and ends left over after 2007's release of "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank." By definition, these were the songs that weren't good enough for the album … but with such a talented band, (most of) these tracks are fantastic.

Breaking away from recent trends, Modest Mouse decline to conform these tracks to fit some narrow, carefully defined theme. The sound changes from the jazzy, wandering "Perpetual Motion Machine" to the poppy "Guilty Cocker Spaniels," landing on everything in between (and a few things entirely unrelated).

As much as I enjoy concept albums, it's refreshing to hear something more focused on the music than the story, and Modest Mouse, with their typical genius, pull it off beautifully.

However, there are a few weak spots. "Satellite Skin," of course, is an incredibly average track, and "Autumn Beds" is not much better. Both are softer, with less driving force and musical innovation. In all honesty, they could belong to any other collection by any other artist and I would be the first to sing their praises. But coming from such a creative group, it's a little disappointing to hear that kind of standby.

All in all, "No One's …" is a fantastic album, with really marvelous range and depth for such a short piece. If you're at all interested in experimental rock, Modest Mouse are, of course, a must (two points for alliteration). But for the first time, I feel confident in recommending an alternative band to a mainstream audience. If anyone can pull it off, it's these guys.

"NO ONE'S FIRST, AND YOU'RE NEXT" TRACK LIST

Listen to Modest Mouse's latest release thanks to these embeds from grooveshark.com: