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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2004)
New Modest Mouse CD neglects former sound Modest Mouse’s latest release, ‘Good News,' is well done but lacks the intensity of past albums Helen Schumacher Pulse reporter I owe a lot to Modest Mouse. It was after a friend forced me to listen to "Lonesome Crowded West" in high school that I stopped listening to what was on the radio and actively started to search for more fulfilling sources of music. I bought the album the next day and listened to it obses sively for the next six months. I've had several friendships begin with a conversation about the band's music, which had an ironic way of helping people who felt unable to connect to modern society connect with each other. In short, no other band played as in tegral a role in my late teens as Modest Mouse did. That's why I approached the April 6 release of "Good News For People Who Love Bad News" with great trepida tion. After waiting four years to follow-up their last full-length release of new material and losing founding member and dmmmer Jere miah Green, I doubted the new album would be able to live up to the high REVIEW standard my sentimentality had placed on the band's work. Thankfully, the long-delayed "Good News For People Who Love Bad News" is an excellent album, but at the same time it abandons much of the band's signature sound and fails to reach the same intensity of previous albums. f~ ■■ Courtesy Modest Mouse's "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" came out April 6. The Issaquah, Wash., band’s first full length release in four years is excellent, featuring radio-friendly tunes such as “Float On" and "Ocean Breathes Salty." Instead of sounding like a Modest Mouse album, the new release sounds like a zydeco-inspired collection of songs written for singer/guitarist Isaac Brock's solo project Ugly Casanova. Brock's concern seems to have shifted from exorcising his demons to refin ing his craft. The album is in the same vein as their last major release, 2000's "The Moon & Antarctica." Like that album, this one has shorter songs and more layers than their earliest work. The first single from the record, "Float On," bounces along like the catchy "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes" but without the cynicism. Instead of conjuring up apocalyptic visions of gray dust, Brock sings "We'll all float on OK, don't wor ry... good news is on the way." Other stand-out tracks include "The World At Large," "Ocean Breathes Salty" and "The View." All are delivered almost flawlessly and will certainly re ceive significant air time on college ra dio stations. The end of "Ocean Breathes Salty" showcases the work of new drummer Benjamin Wiekel (of Beaverton's The Helio Sequence), and proves he can fill Green's shoes. Missing from the new album is the winding and pounding interplay be tween Brock's guitar and Eric Judy's bass that carried earlier songs like "Doin' The Cockroach" and exploded in "Tundra/Desert." It could be argued the new sound is due to Brock's progress as a songwriter. But for a band whose music has consis tently lamented the open space progress destroys, is this a good thing? "Good News For People Who Love Bad News" was released Tuesday and is available at record stores everywhere. Contact the Pulse columnist at helenschumacher@dailyemerald.com. PULSE BRIEF Maude Kems Art Center now accepting applications The Maude Kems Art Center is cur rently accepting applications for its first Gallery Guide Program, a volun teer opportunity for art lovers interest ed in learning the ins and outs of working at an art museum. The art center will choose between 15 and 20 volunteers to begin train ing May 26. Participants will meet with artists, leam museum pedagogy (the processes museums use to teach and discuss art during tours), attend lectures on museum education issues and practice giving guides and an swering questions about art. In late June, volunteers will begin monitoring galleries and giving tours at the Maude Kerns Art Center while continuing training. They also will be responsible for advertising and doing community outreach for shows at the art center. Anyone can apply and there are no requirements aside from a pas sion for art. "It will be a great experience for any one interested in the arts, particularly in our museum because we give an op portunity to meet with artists," museum operations manager Jessica Foote said. Program participants also will have the chance to collaborate with guides at the University of Oregon Museum of Art, which reopens in the fall. Foote said Maude Kerns guides will attend tours at the University museum, and vice versa. Those interested should download the application off the art center's Web site, http://www.mkartcenter.org, or contact Foote at 345-1571. Appli cations are due May 18, and those ac cepted must commit to at least six months of work. — Natasha Chilingerian We’ve got sp< at vwwv.dailyemerald.com FOR MOM WHEN SHE DESERVES THE MOON & THE STARS START WITH THE MOON! OPEN: MON-FRI 10-6 SAT 10-5 Quality Made For A Lifetime 115 West 6th Avenue Eugene, OR 97401 Call us at: 541.687.7859 Hot Nights. Cool Trips. Advisors with Piercings. Why Grandpa doesn't book hisEJjJfflSnfflBwith us. Paris.$537 London.$528 Cancun.$466 Costa Rica.$366 Hostels & transfers: FIJI 5 nights, 3 islands From: $304 cnncun 5 night accomm. Fare ia round trip from Eugene and prices are per person. Subject to change and availability. Tax not included. Restrictions and blackouts apply. Fares are valid for students, faculty and youth under 26. From: $275 One stop. No hassles. 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