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Modest Mouse Biography
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A Story by James Stockstill

One evening at Denver’s Bluebird Theater, where Modest Mouse was playing on a bill with fellow Northwesterners Built to Spill, Graham broke a second-floor window and stole into the backstage area. As Modest Mouse came off stage, he was excitedly waiting for them, blood streaming from cuts on his arms and face that he’d received from stray shards of glass. Chanting “This’ll do it” under his breath, Graham introduced himself to the source of his enlightenment.

Here again the facts become obscured. While each band member remembers Graham saying “This’ll do it” repeatedly, they disagree on how he referred to him-self. According to Brock, he introduced himself as “Ugly Casanova.” Green remembers Graham saying “I’m Isaac,” and Judy remembers “I’m Ed.” Perhaps the only deciding factor would have been tour companion Chris Majerus, who had run off to get towels and bandages for Graham’s wounds.

Though Graham was obviously unbalanced—or because of the fact—Brock, Judy and Majerus all took an immediate liking to him. In an enchanted tribute to Graham, Modest Mouse began to use Ugly Casanova as their publishing name. The three even persuaded a few labels to release limited-edition 7-inch singles of the songs Graham had sent them. But after briefly visiting each label in the summer of ’98 to deliver his efforts, he disappeared and has not been seen since.

A year later, in the summer of 1999, the labels received belated thank-you notes from Edgar Graham in enve-lopes that had neither postmarks nor return addresses. At the same time, Isaac Brock received a sheaf of letters which profiled the running mental state of Graham/Casanova. Like the others, these letters had no indica-tion of when they had been written or delivered, except one which had been dated a week earlier. The first fifteen pages were filled with nonsensical rants indicating that Graham had lost all touch with reality. The remaining 13 pages contained 13 songs about Graham’s life and his barren home, his hopes and his delu-sions.

The lyrics and music were practically illegible, but over the next few weeks Modest Mouse tried to make sense of them. Starting from Graham’s scratchy messages, the band began to assemble their new album. Due to that illegibility, the resulting collection of songs have become more a illustration of Modest Mouse’s own musical and lyrical style than of Ugly Casanova’s submissions. But the spirit of the album is believed to be that which Graham/Casanova had meant to convey. The Moon and Antarctica is the name of the album.

Themes of lost identity, spiritual betrayal, social and mental isolation, occasional self-loathing and ques-tions to the origin, nature and intent of fate abound—as do the figurative portrayals of Graham’s own past. The opening track, “Dark Center of the Universe,” is an introduction to the frustration and social isolation felt by a man whose potential search for his own soul resulted in the adoption of all the facets of another’s life. Consequently, the song stands as a realization of the fragility and futility of his situation. Yet the album does not simply dwell on a feeling of isolation, but reveals---just as did Edgar Graham’s letters—the path and progress of his various transformations.

“The Cold Part” is the point of origin, the departure from a frigid physical surrounding and the hope for a change from all which fate has dwelt. “3rd Planet” traces the evolution of loss, as paranoia encroaches upon Graham’s psyche and a distorted vision of creation ends up as a lack of self-identity. While a sense of self-loathing is evident in the only set of lyrics Modest Mouse were able to recover (“I Came as a Rat”), Graham most often expressed a carefree nature in the face of obvious adversity. Always present behind “Paper Thin Walls,” it was this side of him that Modest Mouse first saw in Denver, and the one by which he will hopefully be remembered.

With Edgar Graham’s disappearance came feelings of personal betrayal on the part of one whose emergence had raised so many questions and concerns. Thus ended a melancholy existence, one ultimately led under the title of a “Perfect Disguise.”

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Review about Modest Mouse

my opinion | Reviewer: Laura | 7/5/2008

I think that modest mouse is a really great band.
I would have never heard them if it wasn't for my brother, he stole all my CD's and my ipod had broken. So the only CD i had was 'Good News For People Who Love Bad News" without a radio, ipod or other CDs it's all i listend to for about 3 monthes. In the beginning, it was just noise. But it grew on me so incredibly much. And the lyrics inspired me so much too. You don't quite understand the song untill you really listen, you peice it together.
I have tremdous respect for this band. The members are all wonderful artists. I'm sure each equally.
And thank you to them, in a lot of slightly random ways, many songs helped me though an akward stage of depression.

Modest Mouse Rocks!!! | Reviewer: Guess Who? "Two Sisters" | 4/15/2008

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that you guys ROCK!!! My sister and I are be seeing you in Chicago with REM. We like REM, but we love you guys. If you weren't opening, we wouldn't of bought the tickets. I can't wait til June 6, 2008.

The Power of Modest Mouse | Reviewer: Ric | 7/27/2007

Modest Mouse is truly an absolute amazing band. Isaac is the greatest lyricist I have ever heard. Their music has the ability to just take you away and leave you with a whole new perspective on all aspects of life. Isaac, Eric, and Jeremiah are wonderful artists and every song is a masterpiece.

Dear Rambo | Reviewer: James Ellis | 7/22/2007

This is what you said.

"Sometimes they get a bit too artsy and their "music" becomes noise, they need to know when to draw the line."

Bravo Rambo. You are a fucking idiot.
1. If you are trying to imply that modest mouse is noise music then you need to do us all a favor and learn what noise music is. Modest Mouse clearly is not.
2. Noise -n.- a sound of any kind..hhmmm..
3. Where do you fucking think music came from? It is a fucking art. Oh yes and wouldent vivid, artistic, music be a bit more interesting? you hear the sound "noise" and it creates an even more extravagant picture. Unless like many people you have a shut mind, and the beauty of this music does not even appeal to you because you are to fucking stupid to even think about what the band is actually creating. trust me..there is a line.
4. Take out the cd...if you even own any of their work. Go to your closest music store, look under fifty cent. You got what you need.

MOMO rocks | Reviewer: Heather | 7/20/2007

I love modest mouse. They have been my favorite band since I was ten. I am now 18 and love them even more, I have been to their concerts, but I wish they would have another for Moon and Antarctica.
That would be awesome! Perfect music no song that I do not like.

Universal | Reviewer: samson | 7/15/2007

The other day, all baked out, we were listening to modest mouse, and my friend was complaining about how isaac just writes about his own life and i got real indignant and started raving about how isaac brock is the spokesman for all of humanity. Looking back on my speech, I feel that i was dead on. Modest Mouse captures ideas an themes that everyone has felt at somepoint and that everyone can relate to, but not in a safe, lets-please-everyone way. They write truly sad and lonely songs which are at the same time absolutely beautiful both lyrically and musically. And thats the thing about MM, theyre completely paradoxical, in a logical manner, ya dig? The best, most genuine, most intelligent band ever.

Mouse is the most amazing band. | Reviewer: Meg | 6/18/2007

Without a doubt, they greatest band ever. I love Isaac, Eric and Jeremiah. They make amazing music with profound lyrics that really relate back to anyone who, I think, has the same kind of mind set and confusion that evryone else has that listens and truely appreciates this kind of music. It's strange, but that's wha makes it so unique and special, any old time fan would know that. It has definetly changed my life.

ModesT MousE | Reviewer: DeKoOoW | 5/25/2007

MOdest mouse is by far one of the most enigmatical groups i have ever heard,their music can make you rise in the worst of situations...yet they have the power to calm you down in others...Its true music...no doubt about that...just hope the crappy 15 minutes of fame artists of today dont shadow them in the Label world...cause they wont 4 the listeners...am i right?? Love Ur MUsiC

i love modest mouse | Reviewer: kaysheen | 4/13/2007

Modest mouse is such an amazing band.. their music is truly "art" to me.

no matter what kind of a mood i'm in, i listen to them and i'm happy again.
they are by farrrrr my favorite band in the universe

Artsy | Reviewer: Rambo | 3/28/2007

Modest is a good band granted, but it's not the "best" band as quoted above. Sometimes they get a bit too artsy and their "music" becomes noise, they need to know when to draw the line. Awesome band tho. Third planet, the stars are projectors are a must have

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