Modest Mouse discography explained

Artist:Modest Mouse
Studio:7
Live:1
Compilation:2
Ep:6
Singles:25
B-Sides:21
Music Videos:16
Option:9
Option Name:Reissues
1Option Name:Cassettes
1Option:4

The discography of Modest Mouse, an American indie rock band, consists of seven studio albums, six extended plays, two compilation albums, four low fidelity cassette releases, one live album, 25 singles, and nine reissues. Three of their releases have been certified at least gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of 500,000 copies. One release has further been certified double platinum, for shipments in excess of 2,000,000 copies.

Modest Mouse formed in 1992 in Issaquah, Washington. This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About was released as the band's debut album in April 1996. Sad Sappy Sucker was originally intended to be released instead, but was shelved. Second album The Lonesome Crowded West followed in November 1997, and helped to earn the band a cult following; it has been cited by several publications as one of the best albums of the 1990s. After the album's release, Modest Mouse signed to major label Epic Records; The Moon & Antarctica, the band's major-label debut, was released in June 2000 to widespread acclaim from critics. The album was a harbinger of increased mainstream exposure to come; it was the band's first to chart in the United States, peaking at No. 120 on the Billboard 200. Following the success of The Moon & Antarctica, Sad Sappy Sucker was finally released in April 2001, several years after it had initially been shelved.

Mainstream recognition of Modest Mouse accelerated in 2004, with the release of Good News for People Who Love Bad News in April. The album charted at No. 18 in the United States and was their first to chart outside of their home country, peaking at No. 37 in Scotland and No. 40 in the United Kingdom. Lead single "Float On" was the band's first hit, peaking at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 on the same publication's Alternative Songs chart. Follow-up single "Ocean Breathes Salty" was a modest success, reaching No. 6 on Alternative Songs; both singles have since been certified gold by the RIAA. March 2007's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank was the only Modest Mouse album to feature former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as a member of the band. The album peaked at No. 1 in the United States and Canada, and also charted in several other countries. Lead single "Dashboard" currently stands as the band's highest-charting song to date on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 61; it also peaked at No. 5 on Alternative Songs.

In 2014, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About and The Lonesome Crowded West were re-released by frontman Isaac Brock's record label, Glacial Pace. The following March, Strangers to Ourselves was released as Modest Mouse's first studio album in eight years. "Lampshades on Fire", which had been released as the album's lead single in December 2014, was a No. 1 hit on Alternative Songs, with the album itself peaking at No. 3 in the United States and appearing on several other album charts elsewhere.

Albums

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"
DetailsPeak chart positionsSalesCertifications
US
[1]
AUS
[2]
BEL
[3]
CAN
[4]
GER
[5]
IRL
[6]
NOR
[7]
NZ
[8]
SCO
[9]
UK
[10]
This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About
  • Released: April 16, 1996
  • Label: Up (UP027)
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
The Lonesome Crowded West
  • Released: November 18, 1997
  • Label: Up (UP044)
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
The Moon & Antarctica
  • Released: June 13, 2000
  • Label: Epic (EK 63871)
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
120
Good News for People Who Love Bad News
  • Released: April 6, 2004
  • Label: Epic (EK 87125)
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
183740
  • US: 1,500,000
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
  • Released: March 20, 2007
  • Label: Epic (82876 86139 2)
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
1121652222263547
  • RIAA: Gold
  • MC: Gold
Strangers to Ourselves
  • Released: March 17, 2015
  • Label: Epic (88875049122)
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
31512534726393128
The Golden Casket
  • Released: June 25, 2021
  • Label: Epic
  • Format: CD, 2×LP, Cassette
8770
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Cassettes

YearTitle
1992/1994Uncle Bunny Faces' Useless Analogy Involving Distance, Freight Trains, and Half Ripe Limes (It Doesn't Matter, Limes Are Sour Either Way)
Tube-Fruit, All Smiles and Chocolate[18]
A Mouthful of Lost Thoughts
Sad Sappy Sucker Chokin' on a Mouthful of Lost Thoughts

Compilation albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"
DetailsPeak chart positions
US
US
Ind.

[19]
Building Nothing Out of Something
  • Released: January 18, 2000
  • Label: Up (UP073)
  • Format: CD, LP
13
Sad Sappy Sucker
  • Released: April 24, 2001
  • Label: K (KLP131)
  • Format: CD, LP
21
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title! scope="col" style="width:18em;"
Details
Baron von Bullshit Rides Again
  • Released: April 13, 2004
  • Label: Epic (EL 92089)
  • Format: CD

EPs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"
DetailsPeak chart positions
US
US
Rock
[20]
AUS
CAN
Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect?
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: K (IPU58)
  • Format: 7" LP
Interstate 8
  • Released: August 6, 1996
  • Label: Up (UP035)
  • Format: CD
The Fruit That Ate Itself
  • Released: May 13, 1997
  • Label: K (KLP 63)
  • Format: CD
Night on the Sun
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Rebel Beat Factory (RBFM-1240), Up (UP090)
Everywhere and His Nasty Parlour Tricks
  • Released: September 25, 2001
  • Label: Epic (EK 62104)
  • Format: CD, LP
147
No One's First, and You're Next
  • Released: August 4, 2009
  • Label: Epic (88697 46289)
  • Format: CD, LP
1539114
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Reissues

Title! scope="col" style="width:18em;"
Details
The Moon & Antarctica
  • Released: March 9, 2004
  • Label: Epic (EK 92034)
  • Format: CD
Good News for People Who Love Bad News
  • Released: October 11, 2005
  • Label: Epic (EN 97711)
  • Format: DualDisc
The Moon & Antarctica[21]
  • Released: April 17, 2010
  • Label: Epic/Legacy
  • Format: LP
The Fruit That Ate Itself[22]
  • Released: November 9, 2010
  • Label: Glacial Pace
  • Format: CD, LP
Sad Sappy Sucker
  • Released: November 9, 2010
  • Label: Glacial Pace
  • Format: CD, LP
This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About[23]
  • Released: October 28, 2014
  • Label: Glacial Pace
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
The Lonesome Crowded West
  • Released: November 4, 2014
  • Label: Glacial Pace
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
Interstate 8
  • Released: 2015[24] [25] [26]
  • Label: Glacial Pace
  • Format: CD, LP
Building Nothing Out of Something
  • Released: 2015
  • Label: Glacial Pace
  • Format: CD, LP
Night on the Sun[27]
  • Released: July 29, 2016
  • Label: Glacial Pace
  • Format: CD, LP
Good News For People Who Love Bad News: 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition
  • Released: April 6, 2024
  • Label: Epic
  • Format: CD, 2×LP

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[28]
US
Alt.

[29]
US
Pop

[30]
US
Rock
[31]
AUS
CAN
[32]
CAN
Rock

[33]
MEX
[34]
SCO
[35]
UK
[36]
"Broke"[37] 1996× × Building Nothing Out of Something
"A Life of Arctic Sounds"[38] [39] 1997× ×
"Birds vs. Worms"× × Sad Sappy Sucker
"Other People's Lives"[40] 1998× × Building Nothing Out of Something
"Never Ending Math Equation"× ×
"Whenever You See Fit"
× ×
"Heart Cooks Brain"[41] 1999× × The Lonesome Crowded West
"Float On"200468 1 32 94 31 24 × 48 46
  • RIAA: 5× Platinum
  • BPI: Silver
Good News for People Who Love Bad News
"Ocean Breathes Salty"20056 × × 96
  • RIAA: Gold
"Dashboard"200761 5 56 38 12 × 36 111We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
"Missed the Boat"24 40 ×
"We've Got Everything"× ×
"Satellite Skin"[42] 2009No One's First, and You're Next
"Autumn Beds"[43]
"Perpetual Motion Machine"[44]
"White Lies, Yellow Teeth"2014rowspan="2"
"Too Many Fiestas for Reuben"
"Lampshades on Fire"1 12 3 42 Strangers to Ourselves
"The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box"201519 40
"Poison the Well"[45] 2019rowspan="2"
"Ice Cream Party"[46]
"We Are Between"[47] 20211 33 7 × The Golden Casket
"The Sun Hasn't Left"[48] 21 ×
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
"×" denotes periods where charts did not exist or were not archived.

Promotional singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeaksCertificationsAlbum
US
Rock
"The World at Large"2005×
  • RIAA: Gold
Good News for People Who Love Bad News
"Little Motel"[49] 2007×We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
"King Rat"[50] 2009No One's First, and You're Next
"The Whale Song"[51]
"Coyotes"[52] 201548Strangers to Ourselves
"The Best Room"[53] 44
"Of Course We Know"[54]
"Leave a Light On"[55] 2021The Golden Casket
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
"×" denotes periods where charts did not exist or were not archived.

Other appearances

Year Album Song
1998 Zum Audio Vol. 2 "Buttons to Push the Buttons"
1999 I Love Metal "South of Heaven" (Slayer cover, with Califone)
2000 The Unaccompanied Voice "Leaflets Gabe"
2002 The Giant Rock 'N' Roll Swindle "White Lies, Yellow Teeth"
2011 Live From Nowhere Near You Vol. II "Dead End Job at the Dead Letter Office"
Rave On Buddy Holly "That'll Be the Day" (The Crickets cover)

Music videos

YearTitleDirector(s)
2004"Float On"Christopher Mills[56]
"Ocean Breathes Salty"Chris Milk[57]
2007"Dashboard"Mathew Cullen[58]
Grady Hall
"Missed the Boat"Walter Robot[59]
"We've Got Everything"Joe Stakun[60]
"Little Motel"Justin Francis
"People as Places as People"Andy Bruntel[61]
"Fly Trapped in a Jar"Adam Toht[62]
"Invisible"Terri Timely[63]
2009"King Rat"Heath Ledger[64]
Daniel Auber
"Satellite Skin"Kevin Willis[65]
"The Whale Song"Nando Costa[66]
2015"Coyotes"
"Lampshades on Fire"Jorge Torres–Torres[67] [68]
"The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box"
2021"We Are Between"Kyle Thrash[69]

Notes and References

  1. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=modest mouse|chart=tlp}} Modest Mouse – Chart history: Billboard 200]. Billboard. July 7, 2021.
  2. Peaks in Australia:
    • All except noted: Web site: Discography Modest Mouse. australian-charts.com.
    • No One's First, and You're Next and "Float On": Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia. PDF. 192.
  3. Web site: Modest Mouse albums (Flanders). . 12 June 2018.
  4. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=modest mouse|chart=cna}} Modest Mouse – Chart history: Canadian Albums]. Billboard.
  5. Web site: Discographie Modest Mouse. GfK Entertainment. April 27, 2021.
  6. Web site: Discography Modest Mouse. irish-charts.com. Hung Medien.
  7. Web site: Discography Modest Mouse. norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien.
  8. Web site: Discography Modest Mouse. charts.nz. Hung Medien.
  9. Peaks in Scotland:
  10. Web site: Modest Mouse full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. February 1, 2021.
  11. Epic to Mine Indie Base For Modest Mouse Set. Billboard . 24. Jonathan. Cohen. 17 June 2000. 9 September 2019.
  12. Rock Climbing. Billboard . 26. Jonathan. Cohen. 14 October 2006. 9 September 2019.
  13. United States. Modest Mouse. March 8, 2024.
  14. United Kingdom. Modest Mouse. September 6, 2022.
  15. Web site: Gold/Platinum. Music Canada. September 6, 2022.
  16. Upcoming Releases – HITS Daily Double. Hits Daily Double. https://web.archive.org/web/20150211084522/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases. 11 February 2015. 29 August 2016.
  17. Modest Mouse Debuts With No. 1 Rock Album; Hozier Ties Record. Billboard. 26. Emily. White. 26 March 2015. 9 September 2019.
  18. Web site: Modest Mouse Building Something Out Of Nothing . Lindsay . Cam . March 26, 2015 . . February 9, 2017.
  19. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=modest mouse|chart=ind}} Modest Mouse – Chart history: Independent Albums]. Billboard.
  20. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=modest mouse|chart=rck|access-date=May 1, 2022}} Modest Mouse – Chart history: Rock Albums]. Billboard.
  21. Web site: Record Store Day Vinyl Reissue of Modest Mouse's The Moon & Antarctica. Mark. Richardson. March 17, 2010. May 13, 2017. Pitchfork.
  22. Web site: Modest Mouse Reissue Two Records. Tom. Breihan. October 21, 2010. May 13, 2017. Pitchfork.
  23. Web site: Modest Mouse Reissue The Lonesome Crowded West and This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About. Minsker. Evan. September 3, 2014. Pitchfork. March 17, 2017.
  24. Web site: Modest Mouse to Release More Vinyl Reissues?. Gregory. Adams. Exclaim!. March 9, 2015. May 15, 2017.
  25. Web site: Modest Mouse on Twitter: "Glacial Pace will reissue "Building Nothing Out Of Something" and "Interstate 8" on vinyl.". Modest Mouse. Twitter. March 25, 2015. May 15, 2017.
  26. Web site: Modest Mouse on Twitter: "In stores today: reissues of 'Building Nothing Out Of Something' and 'Interstate 8' on vinyl.". Modest Mouse. Twitter. April 14, 2015. May 15, 2017.
  27. Web site: Modest Mouse finally release Night on the Sun EP in the US — listen. Ben. Kaye. August 5, 2016. May 13, 2017. Consequence of Sound.
  28. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Modest Mouse|chart=hsi}} Modest Mouse – Chart History: Billboard Hot 100 ]. . March 1, 2015.
  29. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Modest Mouse|chart=mrt}} Modest Mouse – Chart History: Alternative Songs ]. . June 2, 2021.
    • For "Float On": [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Modest Mouse|chart=tfm}} Modest Mouse – Chart History: Pop Airplay ]. . December 13, 2021.
    • For "Dashboard": Web site: Modest Mouse – Awards . AllMusic . August 18, 2022 . July 31, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120731000234/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/modest-mouse-mn0000480086/awards.
  30. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Modest Mouse|chart=ark}} Modest Mouse – Chart History: Hot Rock Songs ]. . June 2, 2021.
  31. Peaks in Canada:
    • For all except noted: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Modest Mouse|chart=can}} Modest Mouse – Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100 ]. . June 12, 2018.
    • "Float On": Web site: Singles : Top 50. https://web.archive.org/web/20040804091708/http://www.jamshowbiz.com:80/JamMusicCharts/SINGLES.html. dead. August 4, 2004. Broadcast Data Systems. November 29, 2023.
  32. Peaks on the Canada Rock Chart:
    • For all except noted: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Modest Mouse|chart=car}} Modest Mouse – Chart History: Canada Rock ]. . June 14, 2021.
    • For "Float On": R&R Canada Rock Top 30. Radio & Records. 1566. 75. July 30, 2004. October 7, 2019.
  33. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Modest Mouse|chart=min}} Modest Mouse – Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay ]. . November 29, 2021.
  34. Peaks in Scotland:
  35. Web site: Modest Mouse Top Songs . MusicVF . March 1, 2016.
  36. Web site: Five Noteworthy Facts You May Not Know About Modest Mouse . Linsday . Cam . March 13, 2015 . Exclaim! . March 9, 2017.
  37. Book: Goldsher, Alan . Modest Mouse: A Pretty Good Read . Macmillan . 2006 . 63 . 9780312356019 . Alan Goldsher . March 9, 2017.
  38. Web site: Career Discography: Modest Mouse . Up Records . https://web.archive.org/web/20110529171942/http://www.uprecords.com/artists/modestmouse/ . May 29, 2011 . March 9, 2017.
  39. Web site: Up Records: "Other People's Lives" . Up Records. https://web.archive.org/web/20110530022406/http://www.uprecords.com/discography/047/ . May 30, 2011 . March 7, 2017.
  40. Web site: Matador Records . . March 17, 2017. Note: enter "Modest Mouse" into the search bar.
  41. Web site: Modest Mouse "Guilty Cocker Spaniels" . Lindsay . Cam . May 23, 2009 . Exclaim! . March 15, 2017.
  42. Web site: "Autumn Beds" by Modest Mouse Review . Young . Susannah . June 19, 2009 . Pitchfork . March 15, 2017.
  43. Web site: Stream a New Modest Mouse Song: "History Sticks to Your Feet" . Breihan . Tom . July 16, 2009 . Pitchfork . March 15, 2017.
  44. Web site: Modest Mouse - Poison the Well . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190320043236/https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/11742 . March 20, 2019 . March 20, 2019.
  45. Hear Modest Mouse's Sparkling New Song 'Ice Cream Party' . Rolling Stone. 15 November 2019 . March 8, 2020.
  46. Web site: We Are Between by Modest Mouse on Apple Music . Apple Music . January 5, 2022.
  47. Web site: The Sun Hasn't Left by Modest Mouse on Apple Music . Apple Music . January 5, 2022.
  48. Web site: POPSCREEN: Modest Mouse, "Little Motel" . Xu . Denise J. . October 19, 2007 . . March 16, 2017.
  49. Web site: MODEST MOUSE ANNOUNCES EP RELEASE FOR AUGUST. July 23, 2009. 105.7 The Point. March 17, 2017.
  50. Web site: The Whale Song by Modest Mouse on Apple Music . Apple Music . January 5, 2022.
  51. Web site: Coyotes by Modest Mouse on Apple Music . Apple Music . January 5, 2022.
  52. Web site: Modest Mouse Share "The Best Room", Detail Tracklist, Push Back Release Date. Pitchfork. February 3, 2015. March 17, 2017.
  53. Web site: Modest Mouse Share "Of Course We Know", Announce Tour. Camp. Zoe. March 3, 2015. Pitchfork. March 17, 2017.
  54. Web site: Leave a Light On by Modest Mouse on Apple Music . Apple Music . January 5, 2022.
  55. Web site: Modest Mouse: "Float On" – Below The Surface . D'Angelo . Joe . 2004 . MTV.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20040826182203/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/modest_mouse/news_feature_071404/ . August 26, 2004 . February 5, 2017.
  56. Book: Hanson, Matt . Reinventing Music Video: Next-generation Directors, Their Inspiration, and Work . Gulf Professional Publishing . 2006 . 74 . February 5, 2017. 9780240808345 .
  57. Web site: 'Dashboard': Charting the High Seas With Motion Theory and Modest Mouse . Gottlieb . Steven J. . February 27, 2007 . AWN.com . February 5, 2017.
  58. Web site: Death Cab for Cutie Releases "Good Help (Is Hard To Find)" Music Video . McIntyre . Valerie . April 12, 2016 . Beyond the Stage Magazine . February 5, 2017.
  59. Web site: Student directs Modest Mouse video . Viola . Jimmy . September 4, 2007 . The Temple News . February 5, 2017.
  60. Web site: AB/2014 . Vimeo . April 25, 2022.
  61. Web site: Saline Project - Modest Mouse . Saline Project . April 25, 2022.
  62. Web site: Modest Mouse - Invisible . IMVDb . April 25, 2022.
  63. Heath Ledger's Video For Modest Mouse's "King Rat" Premieres . Kreps . Daniel . August 4, 2009 . Rolling Stone . February 5, 2017.
  64. Web site: New Modest Mouse Video – "Satellite Skin" . Singh . Amrit . May 15, 2009 . Stereogum . February 5, 2017.
  65. Web site: Modest Mouse: "The Whale Song" (Video) . Neyland . Nick . October 8, 2009 . prefixmag.com . February 5, 2017.
  66. Watch Modest Mouse's Visceral 'Lampshades on Fire' Video . Kreps . Daniel . March 20, 2015 . Rolling Stone . February 5, 2017.
  67. Web site: Modest Mouse's Fantastical "The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box" Video Stars Isaac Brock as a King . Camp . Zoe . July 1, 2015 . Pitchfork . February 5, 2017.
  68. https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-modest-mouse-get-stuck-in-a-junkyard-traffic-jam-in-we-are-between-video-2955941 Modest Mouse get stuck in a junkyard traffic jam in 'We Are Between' video