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.
Heart Cooks Brain
Modest Mouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's coal mine, it's a bad thought
On the way to God don't know
My brain's the burger, and my heart's the coal
I'm trying to get my head clear
I push things out through my mouth, I get refilled through my ears
I get refilled through my ears
I'm on my way to God don't know or even care
My brain's the weak heart, and my heart's the long stairs
My heart's the long stairs, my heart's the long stairs
Inland from Vancouver shore
The ravens and the seagulls push each other inward and outward
Inward and outward
In this place that I call home
My brain's the cliff, and my heart's the bitter buffalo
My heart's the bitter buffalo
We tore one down, and erected another there
The match of the century, absence versus thin air
On the way to God don't know
My brain's the burger, and my heart's the coal
On this life that we call home
The years go fast and the days go so slow
The days go so slow, the days go slow
On the way to God don't know
My brain's the burger, and my heart's the coal
I'm tried getting my head clear
I push things out through my mouth, I get refilled through my ears
I get refilled through my ears, I get refilled through my ears
I'm on my way to God don't know or even care
My brain's the weak heart and my heart's the long stairs
My heart's the long stairs, my heart's the long stairs
Inland from Vancouver shore,
the ravens and the seagulls push each other inward and outward
Inward and outward
In this place that I call home
My brain's the cliff, and my heart's the bitter buffalo
My heart's the bitter buffalo
We tore one down, and erected another there
The match of the century, absence versus thin air
Absence versus thin air
On this life that we call home
The years go fast and the days go so slow
The days go so slow
The lyrics to Modest Mouse's "Heart Cooks Brain" provide a glimpse into the mind of an individual in search of clarity in their life which seems to be filled with contradictory emotions and thoughts. The song is a beautiful exploration of the concept of dualism, and how the desires of the heart and the logic of the brain can often be at odds. The opening lines, 'Slow walk, it's land mine, it's coal mine, it's a bad thought,' suggest that the singer treads lightly because their thoughts are volatile, and they are unsure of the path they've chosen in life. The repeated refrain 'On the way to God don't know,' alludes to the fact that the individual is unsure of their spiritual path and whether they're headed in the right direction.
The lyrics 'My brain's the burger, and my heart's the coal' are repeated throughout the song, and they create a powerful metaphor for the conflict within the singer's mind. They suggest that the brain, with its ability to reason, is the source of nourishment and sustenance, while the heart, with its capacity for emotion and passion, is a source of fuel for the singer's journey. The lines 'I'm trying to get my head clear, I push things out through my mouth, I get refilled through my ears' suggest the singer's struggle to articulate their thoughts clearly, despite their best efforts. They are aware of the need to clear their mind and obtain clarity, but are uncertain if they can rely on themselves to do so.
The lyrics also make reference to the paradox of time - 'On this life that we call home, The years go fast and the days go so slow.' This is a widely relatable sentiment that speaks to how our perception of time can vary wildly depending on the circumstances. The song ends on the same note it started, with the singer still unsure of their spiritual path but also expressing the desire to continue guiding themselves with their heart and their brain.
Line by Line Meaning
Slow walk, it's land mine
Taking things slowly is dangerous and could lead to unexpected consequences.
It's coal mine, it's a bad thought
The situation is reminiscent of a coal mine, a place to extract valuable resources from destructive surroundings. It is also indicative of bad thought, something that mines one's inner self.
On the way to God don't know
The direction of life and one's fate is unknown, and ultimately, one's journey may end in a spiritual outcome.
My brain's the burger, and my heart's the coal
The brain is the energy source which keeps the body functioning, and the heart provides the passion which keeps the brain active.
I'm trying to get my head clear
Attempting to break free from confusion and unclear thinking that is hindering growth.
I push things out through my mouth, I get refilled through my ears
Opening up and sharing personal insights allows the individual to invite feedback and acceptance that helps eliminate confusion and misunderstanding.
I'm on my way to God don't know or even care
Life's trajectory is unknown or unclear, but it does not lead to worrying or anxiety; instead, it is faced bravely with a clear mind and a clean heart.
My brain's the weak heart, and my heart's the long stairs
The mind, especially when it's weak, is a hindrance to the soul's upward climb to enlightenment. And the heart seems to have an endless journey to fill the void left by the mind's deficiency.
Inland from Vancouver shore, the ravens and the seagulls push each other inward and outward
Wild creatures trying to occupy the same space, fighting over their territorial instincts, similar to the chaos present in human society.
In this place that I call home, my brain's the cliff, and my heart's the bitter buffalo
The home, although it's a place of comfort and security, is also where inner turmoil intensifies, and emotions roam free like a bitter buffalo that causes harm. The brain and heart are the obstacles present within, hindering stability and peace of mind.
We tore one down, and erected another there. The match of the century, absence versus thin air
An attempt to get rid of a problem to erect one. A larger war is present, where no one is focused on the actual problem, instead arguing over their differences.
The years go fast and the days go so slow
Time passes by quickly, but the struggles present on a daily basis make it seem like they're stuck in a never-ending path.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC JUDY, ISAAC BROCK, JEREMIAH GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind