The band's current configuration is Isaac Brock (vocals, guitar), Tom Peloso (strings, horns, bass, keyboards), Jim Fairchild (guitar), and Eric Judy (bass)). Plummer has recently become the new drummer for The Shins.
Brock came up with the name "Modest Mouse" when he read the Virginia Woolf stream of consciousness essay The Mark On the Wall in which the author described the working middle class as "modest mouse-coloured people"
Brock frequently moved around with his mother when he was a child. Around this time, his mother left his father for his father's brother (Brock's uncle). Brock's mother's house flooded and forced them to move into his mother's new husband's trailer, but there was no room for Brock. Brock stayed behind, living in the second story of the flooded house, until he was eventually evicted by police. He then moved into a shed next to his mother's house and it is said this is where Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green and bassist Eric Judy first began playing music.
In 1994, the band recorded their debut EP, Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect?, at Calvin Johnson's Dub Narcotic Studios, which was then released on Calvin's record label K Records. Then followed a single with Sub Pop that was recorded by producer Steve Wold at Moon Studios. Wold, who in the mid-2000's would begin to perform under the name Seasick Steve, would also perform on the band's albums, but was never an official member of the band. After moving to Up Records Modest Mouse put out several releases recorded at Moon Studios, including 1996's This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About. This double LP was produced and recorded by Steve Wold. The next offering on UP was Interstate 8; also produced by Steve Wold. 1997's The Lonesome Crowded West, (also recorded at Moon Studios, by Scott Swayze) turned out to be the band's breakthrough album. The Lonesome Crowded West gained the band a cult following and is now widely considered by many critics to be one of the defining albums of mid-90s indie rock.
In 2000, Modest Mouse released The Moon And Antarctica, their first album on a major label (Epic Records). The band enjoyed some success on alternative radio with the singles "3rd Planet" and "Gravity Rides Everything." Lead singer Isaac Brock has since put out an album with his side project Ugly Casanova on Sub Pop Records.
In 2003, drummer Jeremiah Green quit the band; the official word was that he was quitting to work with his side project, Vells. He was replaced with two members, drummer Benjamin Weikel (who also drummed for The Helio Sequence) and guitarist Dann Gallucci (Murder City Devils). Weikel being new to the band and Gallucci returning to the band for the first time since This is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About. On April 6, 2004, Modest Mouse released the platinum-selling Good News For People Who Love Bad News, which scored two hits with "Float On" and "Ocean Breathes Salty". In 2004 Jeremiah Green returned to the band, and Benjamin Weikel now drums exclusively for The Helio Sequence. Dann Gallucci left the band in August, and they toured with Hutch Harris of The Thermals during the fall of 2004.
Modest Mouse was mentioned by name in the 2005 Supreme Court decision in the case of MGM v. Grokster. Justice Souter wrote that on the Grokster P2P network, "Users seeking Top 40 songs, for example, or the latest release by Modest Mouse, are certain to be far more numerous than those seeking a free Decameron, and Grokster and StreamCast translated that demand into dollars."
In 2005, multi-instrumentalist Tom Peloso, who already played various instruments on Good News For People Who Love Bad News, officially joined the band. In 2006, Johnny Marr, former guitarist for The Smiths, became an official member of the band.
On March 20, 2007, the band released their fifth album, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. Four singles were released from the album: "Dashboard", "Missed the Boat", "We've Got Everything" and "Little Motel". The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. James Mercer of The Shins provides backing vocals on three songs.
In 2009, they released No One's First And You're Next, an EP of unreleased songs from around the time Good News and We Were Dead were recorded, and two songs that had already been released, "I've Got It All (Most)" and "King Rat". The video for King Rat was directed by late actor Heath Ledger.
In 2009, Johnny Marr left the band and was replaced by Jim Fairchild, formerly of Grandaddy. The band performed at several festivals throughout 2009 and 2010, including the main stage of the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2010.
After an 8 year wait, the band's latest full-length is "Strangers To Ourselves", released March 17th, 2015- two weeks after the original release date, March 3rd, 2015. The album art is an aerial photo of an RV resort located in Mesa, Arizona. Five singles were released before the album, "Lampshades on Fire", "Coyotes", "The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box", "The Best Room", and "Of Course we Know".
Drummer Jeremiah Green passed away from cancer on December 31, 2022 at the age of 45.
Bukowski
Modest Mouse Lyrics
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That every night turns out to be
A little more like Bukowski.
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.
But God who'd want to be?
God who'd want to be such an asshole?
God who'd want to be?
God who'd want to be such an asshole?
Well we sat on the edge of the river,
The crowd screamed, "Sacrifice the liver!"
If God takes life, he's an Indian giver.
So tell me now why, you'll tell me never.
Who would want to be?
Who would want to be such a control freak?
Well who would want to be?
Who would want to be such a control freak?
Well see what you want to see. You should see it all.
Well take what you want from me. You deserve it all.
Nine times out of ten our hearts just get dissolved.
Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.
But one time out of ten, everything is perfect for us all.
Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.
Here we go!
If God controls the land and disease,
Keeps a watchful eye on me,
If he's really so damn mighty,
My problem is I can't see,
Well who would want to be?
Who would want to be such a control freak?
Well who would want to be?
Who would want to be such a control freak?
Evil home stereo, what good songs do you know?
Evil me, oh yeah I know, what good curves can you throw?
Well all that icing and all that cake,
I can't make it to your wedding, but I'm sure I'll be at your wake.
You were talk, talk, talk, talkin' in circles that day,
When you get to the point make sure that I'm still awake, OK?
Went to bed and didn't see
Why every day turns out to be
A little bit more like Bukowski.
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.
But God who'd want to be?
God who'd want to be such an asshole?
The lyrics to Modest Mouse's song Bukowski explore the themes of control, disillusionment, and the darker aspects of life. The singer wakes up to the realization that every day seems to be becoming more like the work of writer Charles Bukowski, famous for his raw and gritty portrayals of life's harsh realities. The singer acknowledges Bukowski's literary talent but questions who would want to be such a nihilistic and unpleasant person.
The song continues with the singer questioning the nature of God and his supposed control over life and disease. The crowd around them screams for a liver sacrifice, and the singer wonders who would want to be such a controlling force. The lyrics then shift to a plea for a better world, where hearts aren't dissolved, and things are perfect one in ten times. The song ends with the singer acknowledging the futility of talking in circles and hoping to stay awake when someone gets to the point.
Overall, Bukowski is a complex and layered song that speaks to the struggle for control in a world where chaos often reigns supreme. The lyrics explore the tension between accepting life's harsh realities and striving for a better future, ultimately highlighting the difficulties inherent in living a fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning and it seemed to me,
The singer began the day with the realization that every night is becoming similar to the work of Bukowski, the writer known for his dark and tragic stories.
That every night turns out to be
A little more like Bukowski.
The singer has noticed that every night is increasingly resembling the stories Bukowski wrote.
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.
But God who'd want to be?
God who'd want to be such an asshole?
The singer acknowledges the literary value of Bukowski's work, but questions who would actually want to live a life filled with as much pain, drinking, and misery as the author experienced.
Well we sat on the edge of the river,
The crowd screamed, "Sacrifice the liver!"
If God takes life, he's an Indian giver.
So tell me now why, you'll tell me never.
The artist describes being at a river and hearing the crowd chant for someone to make a self-destructive sacrifice, while questioning the hypocrisy of God taking away life and then giving it back unasked.
Who would want to be?
Who would want to be such a control freak?
The artist questions why anyone would want to have so much control over others, like a god or a tyrant.
Well see what you want to see. You should see it all.
Well take what you want from me. You deserve it all.
The singer suggests that people should be able to see and experience everything they want in life, and that others are entitled to take what they want from the singer.
Nine times out of ten our hearts just get dissolved.
Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.
The singer reflects on how often relationships and love end in heartbreak, and expresses a desire for a better outcome or way to handle it.
But one time out of ten, everything is perfect for us all.
Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.
Here we go!
Despite the prevalence of heartbreak, the artist believes that there are still moments of perfection in life, and repeats their desire for a better way to handle difficult situations.
If God controls the land and disease,
Keeps a watchful eye on me,
If he's really so damn mighty,
My problem is I can't see,
The artist ponders the power and existence of God, questioning if they truly control everything and if their power is truly good or just a form of control.
Evil home stereo, what good songs do you know?
Evil me, oh yeah I know, what good curves can you throw?
The artist addresses their negative thoughts by asking their home stereo to play positive music, but then reflects on their own negative behavior and thoughts.
Well all that icing and all that cake,
I can't make it to your wedding, but I'm sure I'll be at your wake.
You were talk, talk, talk, talkin' in circles that day,
When you get to the point make sure that I'm still awake, OK?
The singer expresses disinterest in attending a wedding and implies that they don't believe the relationship it represents will last, while also criticizing someone for talking in circles and not getting to the point of their conversation.
Went to bed and didn't see
Why every day turns out to be
A little bit more like Bukowski.
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.
But God who'd want to be?
God who'd want to be such an asshole?
The artist goes to bed reflecting on how every day seems to resemble Bukowski's stories more, despite acknowledging him as a good author, and questioning who would want to live a life as miserable and tragic as the characters he often wrote about.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANN GALLUCCI, ERIC JUDY, ISAAC BROCK, TOM PELOSO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind