more Modest Mouse rarities

i found that "never ending math equation" alt. version. also just did a comparison with the released version so i could point out the differences. generally the alt (earlier) recording is rawer. you can hear it in the guitars. the best thing about this version though is that the record they're scratching at the end is modest mouse's own "head south" from "...long drive...". the re-recorded version that was released as a 7", and later collected on "building nothing out of something" only has shortened, generic scratching outro. also i remember a friend at up records telling me that isaac was thinking of changing the title to "the infinite math equation" because "never ending..." was too close to "the never ending story". i'm glad he stuck with the original title.

modest mouse "never ending math equation" (alt. earlier version. unreleased)

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

modest mouse "white lies, yellow teeth" an outtake from the "lonesome crowded west" sessions that ended up on an obey giant compilation "the giant rock n roll swindle". not one of my favorite songs at the time, it doesn't sound so bad now.

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

modest mouse "manic depressive named laughing boy" the vinyl only bonus track from "...long drive...".

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

modest mouse "grey ice water" (live at the RKCNDY 5-29-98) i just really like this even lower-key live performance of this song.

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

and then here's a documentary my friend rick made of the band way back in 1997.


-
-

Modest Mouse rarities

two pics i took of modest mouse at spaceland circa 97/98

i went through a bunch of old unlabelled cdrs i have of modest mouse stuff from my late 90s obsession with the band over the weekend and found some stuff that i forgot existed. there's 3 cds of stuff that was unreleased at the time. songs isaac recorded in the earliest days of the band, a lot of them maybe even pre-modest mouse. not isaac's best time as a songwriter. a lot of the best tracks ended up on k records "sad sappy suckers". the rest aren't really worth posting. still, i did find some good unreleased stuff in there; some early versions of songs that were later re-recorded for release.

"jesus christ was an only child" i believe this was originally meant to be an ugly casanova song, but ended up re-recorded and released on "the lonesome crowded west". i prefer this version as it doesn't include the annoying fiddle present on the "lcw" version.

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

"the parasites will be excited when your dead" another ugly casanova track, this time an early version of one that was re-recorded and released as ugly casanova. and again, minus the frills.

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

"too many fiestas for reuben" i mentioned this one earlier and figured i may as well put it up. recorded during the "lcw" sessions but never released. or maybe it was, as people online seem to have it. but i case you've never heard it:

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

"cowboy dan" the scratch tracks recorded during the lcw version. the differences are small, like the shakers on the opening, but you'll notice the addition of female backing vocals on the "standing in the tall grass" section. that's nicole johnson who previously appeared on a few "....long drive..." tracks (right?) as well as "interstate 8"'s "sleepwalking".

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

" ? " i don't think this song appeared on "sad sappy suckers" but i don't it have to check. oh well, i'll put it up anyways. the "(banjo)" title is my own.

Powered by www.myfabrik.com

and as soon as i find it, i'll post an alternate (and in my opinion, superior) version of "never ending math equation" that has a much longer scratching outro. and then at some point i'll get "sss" and cross-check it with what i have so that i know what was and wasn't released and see if there's anything left worth putting up.
-
-