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TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

Modest Mouse album offers songs for all

Good news for people who love music; Modest Mouse may have been “dead before the ship even sank,” but the band had us hooked before it even set sail. Successful musicians everywhere have one huge worry when releasing a new album: Will people like it as much as the last album? Allow us to ease the worries of Washington’s own Modest Mouse. Its newest release, “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank” is a strong, desirable and enticing album that has at least one song for everyone.Perhaps the most exciting surprise on this latest musical venture is the addition of a new guitarist. Johnny Marr, legendary guitarist for The Smiths, adds his own atmospheric and unique level to the album. His musical stylings are blatantly obvious on tracks, such as “Fire it Up” and “Missed the Boat,” and rather complement front man Isaac Brock’s charismatic vocalization.

While some of the musical aspects have changed – though we aren’t complaining – the lyrics have remained as beautiful and enigmatic as before. For one, “Ship” can boast an extended theme to go along with the title; each track is filled with nautical metaphors and references. Lyrics such as, “While we’re on the subject, could we change the subject now?” and “looking toward the future, we were begging for our past” illustrate Brock’s ability to bring out the confusion in life and have them make some sort of sense.

If you listen to the sixth track, “Missed the Boat,” you may recognize a familiar voice that belongs to The Shin’s frontman James Mercer. Mercer’s voice is one that is unlike any other in music and is a perfect addition to the already breathtaking album. He adds a stunning harmonic match to Brock’s low-pitched inflections.

Not to worry, Modest Mouse retains its love for mixing and matching completely different styles of music. On the track “Florida,” by the end of the song we have a mixing of soft rock, early Pink Floyd and a little bit of heavy metal connected in at the end.

This album has something that will entrap anyone. For first-time Modest Mouse listeners, the band gives us the track “Dashboard,” which is admittedly catchy, and the soft “Little Motel.”

Even after repeated listens, it is hard to stop pressing repeat on this album. Modest Mouse has found its perfect follow-up in “Ship,” and now we are all reaping the benefits.

Five out of five stars.

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