Track 1 Strangers to Ourselves:
Really nice intro the project with some haunting singing and lyrics to match up. Really digging the instrumentals on here and it ties the whole beginning up nicely. One of the standouts for sure of the whole album
8/10
Track 2 Lampshades on Fire:
The whole feeling of this song I really don't feel tbh. Can't really pinpoint my dislike for this joint, but it just feels off to me. The vocals are kind of annoying hear and the whole song kind of feels like part radio pop and part experimental. Just kind of blah
5/10
Track 3 sh** In Your Cut:
Liking this mood a lot better with the little twinkling that comes in and back again as well as a little more depressing feel to this one. I like Modest Mouse the best when it goes for the less catchy and plain sad sh**
7/10
Track 4 Pistol:
God damn this song is just awful in nearly every way for me. The intro is honestly one of the worst things I have ever heard and it just keeps going on in a fit of sh**tiness. Not catchy, not mind provoking, just horribly bad
2/10
Track 5 Ansel:
Not really great but luckily not bad either. Sort of middle of the road for them but I like the little bit of country flair feeling that this track brings and the instrumental work is nice on this too. Also some good lyrical work as well
6/10
Track 6 The Ground Walks, With Time In a Box:
Easily the most catchy song they had on here that succeeded in being memorable and fun to listen to as well. Just really damn fun to listen to and results in being really easy to bop to. The instrumentals on here is great with some slight change-ups and the nice tinkling noise in the background. The lyrics aren't necessarily great, but this still ends up being one of the standout songs on here for sure
8/10
Track 7 Coyote:
Probably the most beautiful sounding of all the songs on here, the instrumental is k**er gorgeous and lyrically this definitely on point. I kind of wish the whole album sounded like this, but I'm just glad this was on here to bless my ears. Seriously a downright beautiful song
9/10
Track 8 Pups to Dust:
Another solid track that has started to make the middle section of this album really solid. The whole feeling of this is really top notch and the very slight female vocals and string work in the background sends this over the top for me
8/10
Track 9 Sugar Boats:
Not a fan of the piano on here as it feels more in place at a saloon then this album. This track k**s the pacing of the album a little bit but it still has a nice instrumental once I get past the piano. The whole thing still feels a little bit off for some reason, but it still has some replay value to it
6.5/10
Track 10 Wicked Campaign:
Another track that is just meh feeling for me. It has legitamite emotion and lyrics to it, but it is just too sugary to me and really doesn't have any replay value to it, I actually struggled through this on the return listens
4/10
Track 11 Be Brave:
This track has some definitely nice build up qualities to it but can be a little annoying on multiple listens. I get really frustrated with this song because it has amazing moments and cringe worthy moments on it at the same damn time
5/10
Track 12 God Is an Indian and You're an a**hole:
A really weird and short little track that really doesn't do much for me personally as it is too short to grow on me much, but it does offer up a nice little break in the album and sets up the next song well
6/10
Track 13 The Tortoise and the Tourist:
God this song was pretty disturbing tbh. I actually f**ed with this song for the most part but really hated the chorus hear which had his vocals spread out a little thin for me. The song is pretty hardcore though
6/10
Track 14 The Best Room:
This is a polar of the opposite for me, I didn't really care for the verses which I felt were a little throw away ish for me, but I really really f**ed with the hook on here. Another frustrating song on this project that is both a mixture of good and bad moments
6/10
Track 15 Of Course We Know:
Now this was a great way to close out the album on a great note rather than a sour one. The piano is very nice on here and goes well with the soaring instrumental. Nice lyrics to end things up and ties everything up nicely
8/10
BOTTOM LINE:
A decent project by Modest Mouse that while by no means competes with their better projects, is definitely not the worst thing they have put out. I feel like this is one of their better projects to come out recently and has some really strong moments that harken back to their original times. The only bad thing with this is how so many of the songs on here have weak moments thrown into them as well as having the ear cancer of Pistol polluting the tracklist. Not great but not horrible either, just a middle of the road release for me
6/10