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Every time Modest Mouse releases new music, I always wonder whether this will be their sell-out moment. Will they decide that poppy radio hits a la ‘Float On’ are more desirable than drawn out musical journeys (‘Truckers Atlas’, anyone?). That worry is always floating around the back of my mind, that they’ll go the way of so many other bands and opt for stadium-ready anthems and a mainstream fan base. However, my worries have thus far been unnecessary. Brock & Co. continue to make original, interesting songs while keeping their own musical identity intact.

Their newest EP, No One’s First & You’re Next, is comprised of eight unreleased tracks and B-sides from the previous two albums. All of the songs are different in their own way, but all of them sound exactly like you’d expect Modest Mouse to sound. You’d think that this might get tiring after a while, but for some reason, Brock and crew seem to be the only band who can sound so much like themselves in every song without me getting tired of them. The songs are self-referential to the point where they’re recognizable, but they fall short of redundancy. Listening through the EP is like having deja vu. It sounds so familiar, and it’s extremely accessible, but at the same time, it’s entirely original and new.

Even though all the tracks are fresh, there is a reason they didn’t make the cut on either of the last two albums. They’re all solid songs, but I can’t see any of them replacing any of the tracks on Good News For People Who Love Bad News or We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. If you’ve never really listened to Modest Mouse before, don’t start here. If, however, you already know and love them, these eight tracks are a great addition to an already outstanding catalog.

Check out their website and their myspace for more good stuff.

Modest Mouse – Guilty Cocker Spaniels
Modest Mouse – History Sticks To Your Feet
Modest Mouse – Perpetual Motion Machine

Tags: EP