The next two weeks are the busiest (and most important) time of the whole year for me, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see any updates. Anything I do post will likely to be very short and will simply represent a song I’m enjoying at a time when I have five minutes to spare.
Given that, I won’t be able to talk about the new Modest Mouse until April, though I’ve already had a couple people ask me what I think. Short version: it’s alright, but a pretty serious disappointment compared to their previous work. With only one exception (the execrable “Fly Trapped in a Jar” which I still have not managed to make it through without almost injuring myself by lunging to hit the “next” button and make the hurting stop), the songs are at least decent, and quite a few are solid. But there’s very little that excites me. I’ll continue to listen to it, and maybe it’ll grow on me and you’ll get a more positive review in a few weeks. But for now, I give is a solid, but not particularly impressive 7.1.
If you want to see something that is impressive, check out this goal by the oft-maligned Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko…
Simply stunning.
Finally, while I’m at it, here’s my 5-words-or-less reviews of a couple other records that will get greater attention soon:
Laura Veirs – Saltbreakers : Major step forward; beautiful
Cloud Cult – The Meaning of 8 : Best album of 2007? Perhaps
Voxtrot – Voxtrot : Stick to EPs
Son Volt – The Search : Haven’t had time to open