This is a great piece. I have to say, though, that the "um, singing" is a problem for me--less perhaps on its own (I've slowly made peace with Modest Mouse because of the strong songwriting) than for its illustration of an annoying (and ongoing) indie rock trope that seems to equate knowing how to sing with selling out. Brock's hardly the worst offender (I'm narrowing my eyes at Doug Martsch and John Atkins as I type--also good songwriters, but too traditional to transcend the sense that they should, you know, practice more), but he's one of the more high profile offenders. Which is, I suppose, a backhanded compliment to the man.

I was happy to see Johnny Marr join the party. I'm a little, erm, old, and the Smiths served a similar function in my adolescence as Modest Mouse apparently served in yours.

This is a great piece. I have to say, though, that the "um, singing" is a problem for me--less perhaps on its own (I've slowly made peace with Modest Mouse because of the strong songwriting) than for its illustration of an annoying (and ongoing) indie rock trope that seems to equate knowing how to sing with selling out. Brock's hardly the worst offender (I'm narrowing my eyes at Doug Martsch and John Atkins as I type--also good songwriters, but too traditional to transcend the sense that they should, you know, practice more), but he's one of the more high profile offenders. Which is, I suppose, a backhanded compliment to the man.

I was happy to see Johnny Marr join the party. I'm a little, erm, old, and the Smiths served a similar function in my adolescence as Modest Mouse apparently served in yours.

Sorry for the double post. Computer's being funny, and I'm overcaffeinated. Perfect storm, of a sort.

Nicely written article/summary. I too, have followed MM since 1997, as they opened many shows for BTS that year. Yes, objectively, MM is a great band.
Yamhound - funny you should mention John Atkins. In the woulda-shoulda-coulda world, 764 Hero could have been huge, if they had followed MM chain of events. I'm sure John is happy working at the Cha-Cha, but damn, that guy could have been a major rock-star.