Liars

Now, don't get me wrong, I think Liars are ok, and that self-titled album of theirs is pretty solid, but they've always been a bit style-over-substance for me.

They Were Wrong, So We Drowned, is one of my all time favourite album names (up there with Tomorrow We Will Run Faster and This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About, so yeah, I'm a sucker for long album names, so shoot me), but I found it musically lacking. All texture, no soul. Or something.

Anyway this new track (and video) is actually rather awesome. From their upcoming album Sisterworld (rather forgettable in terms of album names, isn't it?), this is Scissor:

Liars - Scissor (Official video) via Stereogum

Oh and HAI.

EP REVIEW: Modest Mouse - No One's First And You're Next

Modest Mouse are one of those bands who demonstrate the uncannily ability to completely change between albums yet remain immediately recognisable as one of the world's greatest Indie bands. Even Johnny Marr agreed, with this EP marking the end of his short-lived and highly sursprising tenure with the band.

It is a collection of B-sides and unreleased tracks from the sessions surrounding the release of their latest two albums, Good News For People Who Love Bad News and We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, continuing the tradition of the prolific band to release almost everything they ever record, with most being of such impressive quality you can see why it befitted release.

Opener "Satellite Skin" is classic Modest Mouse, rip-roaringly anthemic without screaming to the stadiums, obliquely negative whilst being depressingly optimistic. One of those tracks that never seems like its loud enough, with Brock's vocals competing with the carefully crafted, yet excitedly delicate arrangements behind. Modest Mouse songs are veritable house of cards of a strong breeze, constantly on the brink of falling apart but ending up being stubbornly amazing.

"Guilty Cocker Spaniels", released as a single as well as the previous track, is not quite as impressive, and as the EP continues it becomes clear that many of these would have, indeed, not fitted very well with the latest two albums, and hark back somewhat to the Modest Mouse of Lonesome Crowded West or This Is A Long Drive... days, especially with whose video was to become Heath Ledger's directorial debut, "King Rat".

The final track exemplifies Modest Mouse's skill for the quietly self-effacing tracks which litter their amazing discography, but only brushes with the brilliance of tracks such as the understated "The Good Times Are Killing Me".

Overall, this EP is far from the poppy introduction to the band that the last two major label albums have displayed, but is of interest to any and all fans of the band already. Although, arguably, completists will have all these tracks in some form already, this collection is still a worthwhile purchase.

6/10

No One's First And Your Next is out now on Epic.

Monday Mixtape 12/01/09

Hey, remember this? Its that feature I started a week ago.

Todays theme is North American indie rock from the 1990s.

What, not specific enough?

Tough

DATE: 12/01/09
THEME: North American Indie Rock of the 1990s
LENGTH: 10 tracks, 45:42

1. BUILT TO SPILL - Randy Described Eternity (6:04) (Perfect From Now On, Warner 1997)
   
2. LOW - Fear (2:16) (I Could Live In Hope, Vernon Ward 1994)
   
3. DINOSAUR JR. - Puke + Cry (4:27) (Green Mind, Blanco y Negro/Sire 1991)
   
4. HUM - Green To Me ( 3:55) (Downward Is Heavenward, RCA 1998)
   
5. SONIC YOUTH - Mary-Christ (3:11) (G00, DGC 1990)
   
6. PAVEMENT - Shady Lane (3:51) (Brighten The Corners, Matador/Capitol 1997)
   
7. MODEST MOUSE - Lounge (Closing Time) (7:05) (Lonesome Crowded West, Up 1997)
   
8. SMASHING PUMPKINS - Drown (4:30) (single, Epic 1992)
   
9. SEBADOH - Careful (2:44) (Bakesale, Sub Pop 1994)
   
10. SLINT - Good Morning, Captain (7:39) (Spiderland, Touch & Go 1991)

Admittedly, this one doesn't flow quite as well as it should, but oh well, enjoy, and this feature might well return next week....