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.
So Much Beauty in Dirt
Modest Mouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the couch. Woman says let's take a drive down south, roll down the
Windows and open our mouths taste where we are and play the music loud. Stop
The car, lay on the grass, the planets spin and we watch space pass.Walk a
Direction, see where we get. I never knew nothin' so there's nothin' to
Forget. Get real drunk and ride our bikes. There's so much beauty it could
Make you cry. The rich get money but never what they want. Find ourselves a
Away. Go night swimming, leave our clothes on the ground, when we get busted
We just stand there proud. It's the truth we all been wrong make it up and
Let's move on. Playing cards we all get to act sly there's so much beauty it
Could make you cry.
The song "So Much Beauty in Dirt" by Modest Mouse explores the idea that even in the mundane and dirty aspects of life, there is still beauty to be found. The lyrics describe a couple who are out of cash and watching the show M.A.S.H every night. However, when the woman suggests taking a drive down south, they embark on a journey that leads them to discover beauty in unexpected ways.
The couple rolls down the car windows, tastes the air, and listens to loud music, reveling in the experience. They stop the car, lay on the grass, and watch the stars pass by. They walk aimlessly, experiencing life without worrying about the destination or the purpose. They get drunk and ride their bikes, finding beauty in the small moments of life. The song also touches upon the fact that money cannot buy happiness or fulfillment.
The lyrics of the song suggest that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places if one is open to the experience. It reminds us to appreciate life for what it is and to find joy in the little things. It is a message of hope for those struggling through tough times as it reminds us that even in hard times, beauty can still be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of breath and out of cash, find yourself watching M.A.S.H., every night
On the couch.
Feeling exhausted and broke, the only entertainment is watching TV show M.A.S.H. every night from the comfort of the couch.
Woman says let's take a drive down south, roll down the
Windows and open our mouths taste where we are and play the music loud.
A woman suggests taking a road trip towards the south, enjoying the local taste with loud music while driving with windows rolled down.
Stop
The car, lay on the grass, the planets spin and we watch space pass.Walk a
Direction, see where we get.
After stopping the car, lying on grass, the feeling of watching the spinning planets while strolling towards an unfamiliar direction is a new experience.
I never knew nothin' so there's nothin' to
Forget.
Lacking knowledge, there is nothing to forget or regret.
Get real drunk and ride our bikes. There's so much beauty it could
Make you cry.
Getting drunk and riding bikes, witnessing the true beauty of the surroundings can bring tears to one's eyes.
The rich get money but never what they want. Find ourselves a
New place to haunt.
The wealthy may accumulate money, but they may not necessarily acquire what they desire. Therefore, finding a new place to visit becomes essential.
Climb up the fire escape do it 'til the ground looks far
Away.
Climbing a fire escape until the view from the ground becomes minimal is a challenging and fun experience.
Go night swimming, leave our clothes on the ground, when we get busted
We just stand there proud.
Taking a dip at night and getting caught naked is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed.
It's the truth we all been wrong make it up and
Let's move on.
Admitting the truth that everyone has made mistakes and moving forward, focusing on better things.
Playing cards we all get to act sly there's so much beauty it
Could make you cry.
Playing cards and observing the beauty surrounding us can bring on emotions powerful enough to make one cry.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC JUDY, ISAAC BROCK, JEREMIAH GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind