2012.09.20 Modest Mouse - The Moon And Antarctica

Color: Black

Released: 2000, June 13

Label: Epic / Matador

To me this record is somewhat of a modern classic. I know some people would argue that this album signaled their eventual decline, but this was my formal introduction to the band. I’m pretty sure I first heard this in the Uptown apartment of my friend Jessica Gockley - the same place where Built To Spill first came across this set of ears. My girlfriend Samantha is partly responsible for my renewed interest in the band some years later. Shortly after our relationship began I purchased this copy of The Moon and Antarctica on vinyl. The first time I listened to this copy, was when I lived with my friend Tyler in his house he lovingly referred to as “The Cabin.” Even Tyler - who’s not much of a “rock guy” (but definitely a music guy) - could appreciate how good this record is and it’s bid at timelessness. It’s not the record that would bring them to a new level of commercial success, but it’s album that would propel them towards that while remaining a high artistic benchmark. It’s opens with a track that is instantly memorable long after the record has finished. Stopping short of giving every track a miniature review, I’ll say that “Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes” seemed a bit absurd to me at first… but I think that’s part of its charm. If memory serves, the artwork went through a couple of versions and this was actually deemed the least favorite version. Personally I have no qualms with it, and always thought of the cover as sort of the cosmic cousin of June of 44’s Tropics and Meridians artwork.