Modest Mouse Pulls Back The Curtain To Reveal a Stage-Savvy Sound

Modest Mouse shows off its flair for the theatrical throughout its new single "Lampshades On Fire". Right away you know these guys are skilled at reeling you in. What's true in the case of both albums and songs themselves is a clever bit of wordplay ups your chances of luring potential listeners in. They're forgiven for not panning the spotlight over to drummer Jeremiah Green. We need that extra space to prepare for what's going to be anything but your average alt-rock creation. "Lampshades On Fire would position itself quite well as a track from any one of a number of New York theater productions. That's because it's got a ragamuffin scrappy to it that dares you not to be on its side as it quests towards impossible victory in the face of insurmountable odds. Not uncommon to other alt-rock bands' playbooks is the gradual downward spiral of guitar chord selections. When lead guitarist Isaac Bruce does it he adds curiosity to a track that already makes you enter this band's shop of unusual delights wondering what you've stumbled upon. Bassist Eric Judy's earned his right not to be some unsung hero. You eliminate him from the equation and the body of "Lampshades On Fire" vanishes without a trace. Modest Mouse isn't out to enlighten you. They don't want to get your brain power elevating to Mensa proportions. Leave that to some other busking for change unit. Let it be declared Modest Mouse seeks pleasure, a good time, a fanciful potion to neutralize everybody's workaday blues. The opening lyrics remind you they're not proceeding with malice aforethought. That is unless contributing to the lunacy of their own festival of strangeness counts as lurid criminal action. Drink this in if you'd be so kind. "Well, the lampshades on fire when the lights go out. The room lit up and we ran about. Well, this is what I really call a party now. Packed up our cars and moved to the next town." The only person missing is Mr. Running With Scissors guy. How many of you out there celebrate existence in practical darkness with only a flaming lampshade to guide you? Didn't think that would be a high number. "We have no shame at all" scores as the most accurate character assessment in this lyric loony bin. Why else would they go to another celebratory site and ignite a lampshade all over again. My how their folks must be beaming with pride. "Lampshades On Fire" doesn't have any of the alt-rock special effects that would instantly hint that you had a potential attention grabber on your hands. To me that's why it's charming as the dickens. You know how many of us have that one friend who steps into our lives whose aura tells us this is the one in a million guy who is actually making the world better than when he found it instead of boasting about what he's going to do? Even today actions still speak louder than words. The band's earlier effort "Float On" strode right into your living room, bopped you over the head and made you notice how deeply it wanted to impress you. "Lampshades On Fire" inches into its bag of tricks. Think of the drumming from the earlier going as the ignition stoking this flame. Momentum officially having been increased there's nowhere to go but upward. This burn is controlled and comes out of the chaos better off. Do you want out of the ordinary? Do you champion theater over thrash? "Lampshades On Fire" holds out its hand and rewards with rock walking on the ragged edge.