Keeping indie flame burning
Metromix
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“No One’s First, and You’re Next”
Modest Mouse, Epic
The buzz: The impassioned cynic's champs since their smart-ass 1996 debut, "This is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About," and 1997 follow-up, "The Lonesome Crowded West," Isaac Brock's Modest Mouse have persistently kept the indie faith for the faithless.
The verdict: It's good to see that Brock is still interested in burning out rather than fading away, as success hasn't screwed his pooch in the slightest. The wailing guitars of "Whale Song," the best track on this EP, attest to that fact, as does the rambunctious vitriol of "Guilty Cocker Spaniels." Meanwhile, the horn-fueled alley stomp of "Perpetual Motion Machine" keeps things smart — "We all try harder as the days run out," Brock wisecracks, sharp as ever — while "I've Got It All (Most)" mashes Brock's accomplishments and doubts with skill. Even the homespun banjo of "Autumn Beds" stands out like a sore existentialist.
