As Virginia said

Are you sad and depressed? Yes?! Oh my God! Me too! You know who else is sad and depressed? Modest Mouse.

Modest Mouse is an American band from Washington state that has been around since the early/mid nineties. So you probably know them already, if not, this week you’re getting my favourite – well some of my favourite – of their songs!

They became one of my favourite band as soon as I heard the song Whenever You Breath Out, I Breath In (Positive/Negative). I fell for the lyrics and how incredible it was to be able to make a song that sounded just like what I felt.

For the curious ones: the name Modest Mouse comes from a Virginia Woolf  story. Here’s the quote: “I wish I could hit upon a pleasant track of thought, a track indirectly reflecting credit upon myself, for those are the pleasantest thoughts, and very frequent even in the minds of modest mouse-coloured people, who believe genuinely that they dislike to hear their own praises” – want to read Virginia Woolf now?

Dance Hall (Good News For People Who Love Bad News, 2004)

This song is great to dance to and shout along with Isaac Brock – the singer and shouter for Modest Mouse.

Cowboy Dan (The Lonesome Crowded West, 1997)

What I like about this song is how most of it is so harsh and full of tension and aggressive, and then boom! The bridge come and it’s so sad and dreamy.

King Rat (No One’s First, And You’re Next, 2009)

Man, look at those awesome album titles! I like that this one was released in August as well, what a summery listen it is. Oh, and great horns on this track!

Classy Plastic Lumber (Sad Sappy Sucker, 2001)

I love all the short tracks at the end of this album. But Classy Plastic Lumber really stuck out in my mind on the first listen. I love the lines “This is about ugly lovers, and this is about pretty songs”

Ohio (This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About, 1996)

Coming from near Seattle, WA, it would be a long long drive to get to Ohio.

Baby Blue Sedan (Building Nothing out of Something, 1999)

Every time I hear this song, I feel as though I am in that weird place they describe where an unknown band is playing and Henry tries to dance and I’m having the shittiest night thinking about being alive.

The Good Times Are Killing Me (Good News For People Who Love Bad News)

Oh the ageing rock stars have it hard.

Bankrupt on Selling (The Lonesome Crowded West)

So sad and broody, it has to be my favourite on this album.

March Into The Sea (We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, 2007)

I think this song is about death – as I usually do – so obviously, it was an instant favourite. I like when he sings a fake laughter like a crazy man. Now that’s truly cool!