Modest Mouse pt.1 (the early years) 

Phil Ek's role as a producer for Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, and DUster alone puts him into a legendary status of producers, insanely underrated

I've been reflecting a lot on Modest Mouse ever since I saw them on the Lonesome Crowded West anniversary tour and Jeremiah passed away only a few weeks later. While I was drawn to their emotional intensity as a teenager, as an adult I find it remarkable when I sit down and analyze all the different things that made their music so good. When you look at all the different bands around that time, you can see how Modest Mouse absorbed the best parts of various movements without ever falling into cliche or genre. They captured the rawness of grunge and metal without becoming overly dramatic; they wrote musically complex compositions but never became stuffy or twee like the "indie" rock of the time; and they dabbled in the social commentary of post-punk while never being preachy or "political." All of it melded so perfectly that it created a band who feels out of time, even today. All three of the original members were quiet virtuosos of their instruments. While never showing off, they wrote parts in their songs that when isolated are full of technical prowess and raw creativity. Nowadays everyone will readily credit Jeremiah being one of the best drummers in rock history (that's a fact!), but can we also take a second to appreciate Isaac's skills on the guitar? His approach to dissonant melody is brilliant, and he has an amazing ear for adding just the right touch of bizarre noisemaking to the tracks (his famous style of bending being a prime example). In sum, Modest Mouse is a band that just works on every level. You can jam out to them, get depressed from their lyrics, or get lost in the complexity of their songwriting. They just do everything so well.

This band is incredibly unique to me. I never liked them. I didn't like their songs, their music, I didn't like Issac's vocals, in fact I'd say I highly disliked everything about them. Then one day, I think I was listening to building nothing out of something and it just 'clicked'. It didn't grow on me, it was like a light switch flipping. Suddenly my least favorite songs became my favorite songs, and one of my least favorite bands became my favorite band of all time! I've had bands grow on me, but no band has ever pulled me in complete polar opposite directions like this band has. I think they are absolutely brilliant & I finally get to see them for the first time in August. Modest mouse is more then a band to me, and Issac is more then a vocalist. This band blew my mind. I love everything about them. I try to get people into them and they say ''I hate them'' and I get it, because that was me once as well. Great video here bud, well done!

so Isaac (the lead singer) is actually my cousin. he's a pretty odd fellow if you wanna put it that way but I admire the hell outta him and the boys from modest mouse. their creativity has such a quiet beauty to em. great video! I'll watch from now on with GREAT INTEREST haha

He was so right about the malls. The mall was everything as a kid. And when you really think about it. Pointless lol

Just came back to watch this video because incase nobody heard the news Jeremiah Green the drummer of modest mouse from day 1, sadly past away today... He was secret battling an undisclosed form of cancer. He went to sleep and just didn't wake up. He was a monster drummer, truly shined in lonesome crowded west.

Subbed for The Beach Boys videos. Stayed for everything else. You rule.

the lonesome crowded west is one of the best albums made.

Isaac lived alone in a partially flooded house when he was younger. It influenced a lot of his lyrics.

The drummer of everyone's favorite band is always "the greatest to ever to do it" and "play at a level no one has ever done before".

Just found the lonesome crowded west on vinyl at my local record store for $20. Best money I’ve ever spent on an album. Great video!

Modest Mouse never won a Grammy actually. Was listening to an interview with Isaac just yesterday and the interviewer brought it up to him. He said they never won, they were only ever nominees. And that he didn't give a shit anyway, that it's a lot like winning an award for something you didn't know you were a part of initially. It's pretty easy to look up as well, on the main site for the Grammy it says they never won.

I really got into them in 2006 and 2007 went to some shows in Texas and Oklahoma when I was in the Army. One night I scored some Good Rolls (Thank You Tatu I respect you) and my friend Alisha and I listened to them after she cooked a fine stake dinner. She draped a blue sheet over the big screen and played CDs through the DVD player which also had a blue standby screen it totally set the mood for the first time to hear the Moon and Antarctica. I'll never forget how good it felt.

I’ve seen this 2-parter many times before. Revisiting for the first time since Jeremiah Green’s death. He was, and will always be, one of my favorite drummers. Trucker’s Atlas will always be one of the greatest drum parts ever written, regardless of genre.

Easily the most influential band in my life.

I don't recall subscribing to this channel, but I'm so glad I did! Sick video!

It's amazing how band shirts can change the course of your life. I met my sons father when we were kids and he said he liked my band shirt 😂

Modest mouse is something I stumbled into never regretted it

This is extremely interesting and well made, I always like modest mouse but never scratched beneath the surface. Inject part two into my earballs whenever you feel so inclined

damn dude first the beach boys now modest mouse, you’re covering all my bases

Malls are real ghost towns these days

Ohh boy the hype is real. Although really completely different bands 'modest mouse' and 'king gizzard and the lizard wizard' are some of the most creative and a prolific modern bands.

Modest Mouse is so fantastic. A top 25 band for me easily

Wow great job, I'm massive geek fan of all things K. I had a roommate who dated Isaac in Eugene. He gave her some old cds with odd recordings, she gave them to me. Pretty much just old versions of songs but still pretty cool. I've met Calvin too, really tried to get him to listen my albums but I think he wasn't feeling it hahaha

OK, if you're going to post something like this about my favorite band, I guess I'll have to subscribe. Edit: You grew up in Issaquah? Do you get back often? Been to the location of the photo on the cover of Long Drive? It's at 47°21'28.7"N 121°54'26.9"W. Second Edit: You know, his mom's house is still painted that same shade of blue.

since you’re related to phil, any chance you have the scrapped version of doing the cockroach off LCW? i’ve been looking for it for ages lol

If any of y’all are ever lookin for something that sounds like old modest mouse you should check out my band Sapwood :^)

Dude yes. dramamine baby! perfect opening

I’m a guy that likes to search a lot about music, that are entire days that I spent discovering bands and songs. But there’s a downside, sometimes I don’t pay enough attention to some of those great bands or artists. Modest Mouse was one of that bands that I loved at my first hearing. I spent a week listening to their music, completely in love with it, but then came a new band/artist, and I completely forgot about them... until now. thanks for this video, it made me want to revisit the band and some of my memories.

Isaac, Jeremiah, and Eric were only like 18-19 when they made Broke, my favorite Modest Mouse song to this day. Thanks guys! You’ve been a lot of help my entire life.

How this has so little views and linkes is beyond me. I think any fan of the band would appreciate this passion-driven video series of yours, and if I were the band I would be happy to see it!

Dramamine was the first song I ever heard, was 13 getting high with my neighbors and my neighbors friend in high school was listening to this song when it just stuck forever

I love the effort on this, well done on your hard work. I can't wait for the rest of their story!

I'm more embedded in tradition Lol Elliott

Dude broke is a masterpiece

The link for your original music did not work but I love the video

Modest Mouse is the best band of all time. There's no doubt in my mind. Their work covers the totality of human doubt, emotion, and self-destruction. This band is only for people who think about lyrics.

This is a good band

Great videos man. Found your Beach Boys videos today and then this video just now. Insane you're related to Phil Ek. Cowboy Dan and Wild Pack of Family Dogs are some of my favorites MM songs. Was Wild Pack of Family Dogs influenced by In The Aeroplane Over the Sea, maybe I'm the only one who hears it...

Elliott said he was more embedded in tradition? WHOS FUCKING TRADITION?

Omg Broke makes me cry every time I hear it

Name another band that sounds like Modest Mouse. You can't. They're original and downright amazing. RIP Jeremiah

Isaac Brock is Brian Wilson if he came from Washington instead of California, took way more acid, and was responding to grunge and indie rock instead of The Beatles. No, I will not elaborate further

Holy shit your cousin is Phil Ek? You should do an interview with him on your channel

Anyone know what model that ibanez guitar isaac is playing?

"he's also my cousin." oh ok. yeah. that's normal.

We love to see some love for The Chieftains

It's amazing to see another Modest Mouse video, and one that's well made too! I just absolutely cannot wait for more parts to come!

The fact that you indicated Lonesome Crowded West as one of the greatest hooked me :) Not that I wasn't going to watch this, but yeah.

Still hoping for that part 2

They're definitely one of the best noise pop bands next to Pavement, My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus & Mary Chain, they were the band that combined 90s emo and Noise pop together during there early career.

love how im checking out your beach boys videos like i regularly do when i need some inspiration and you've uploaded less than a day ago lol, love u dude

Elliott smith talking about modest mouse?? Oh my heart

Starting to wonder if you're going to connect it to Ugly Casanova at any point :) Going a bit slow in watching this, because I don't want it to end fast.

"a lot of people have written that theirs was the single best response to the grunge movement" Please cite your sources for that. I said in my 2004 documentary that "while the Seattle grunge scene was just taking off, Isaac Brock was making a very different sound". Show me where anyone else has said something similar. You are clearly just quoting me. This is just a crap copy of my movie.

WOOOOOW YOUR COUSIN WAS A PRODUCER FOR MODEST MOUSE MID-90S STUFF. This channel just reeks of nepotism... where's the integrity nowadays?

According to Isaac directly, a lot of your facts are just wrong. He says it started as he and Jeremiah, Eric came later. And I thought they were only nominated (multiple times), but haven't won a Grammy. Pretty sure about that, as Isaac has said it several times that I've heard.

Modest mouse is like a post punk post rock kind of band with philosophical and cynical lyrics about life

Is Phil Ek related to Jerry Ek? I went to s hool with Jerry. Class of 94. Moved,, but should've graduated in 94. When did you graduate?

Wait, did you just insinuate Lonesome Crowded West was a better album than We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank? 🤦‍♀

It feels so weird to say this because it feels cliche but I feel like I relate to Isaac on a personal level through what I hear in his lyrics and I think that’s what makes them that important to me. Their lyrics fill those empty parts of me that nobody understands. that makes me feel whole…And maybe I don’t relate to him at all and he’s just that damn good of a writer🤷🏽‍♀️ he is an interesting guy for sure and needs to studied lol

How did I find a modest mouse documentary posted while on a modest mouse binge?

Another amazing video! Beach Boys and Modest Mouse are two of my favorite bands so this a dream basically. Any idea what song very briefly plays in the background at around the 9:05 mark?

Not the content I necessarily expected, but I'm very excited to see where the next installments go. Your Patreon link goes to a 404 btw.

Second lol

4:44 perfect timing and so needed.. I'm in the hospital currently recovering from some gnarly surgery and that was just perfect. I've had my skateboard stolen from me I have nowhere to go when I leave the hospital so that was really needed I guess I'll help more than I thought it was or maybe I just really am broken

Lonesome credit West and building nothing out of something we're really great I'm not a big fan of good news for people who love bad news because that's when they started to change sad sappy suckers choking on a mouthful of lost thoughts one of the best

Ross video lasted 4 minutes, now deleted. Damnit. The world needs to see that.

My heart beats differently when I listen to Modest Mouse. 💗

Modest mouse has been a constant in my life since 2004. I caught an Austin City Limits TV airing in 7th grade and never looked back.

I had a dream last night I shot the shit with isaac for a few hours. They are an integral part of my growing up, and this documentary is a joy.

Love your videos but i would rly appreciate if u could put the name of the song up while it's playing

1:41 didn't know there was gonna be a popcorn classics segment!

Amazing video, you mentioned you grew up in Issaquah. I'm planning on visiting this summer for about a week, any ideas for cool places I could visit while in town related to their lore, or anywhere cool at all?

I've got nothing to say about this particular video. But love the info. Thank you!

They look like such dorks in the thumbnail lol

You think by now they can afford a health insurance plant that works when it comes to anti psychotic medication .

Great job 👏 I’m stoked for Part Two!

15:25 duster shirt holy shit

What is Modest Mouse's ties to freemasonry and the occult?

They had nothing to do with grunge sene. They are the the most unique music in n the world

Absolutely awesome my man, thanks for this. What's the song at 1:50?

Everytime I think of modest mouse I can't shake how amazingly talented they are. Jeremiah Green is absolutely one of the best rock drummers out there

It’s infuckingsane how timeless early modest mouse is. God damn I enjoyed this video man. You’re doing gods work here

Drums usually follow Isaac’s cadence

I love this, can't wait for part 2. Hope you liked the new song too!

top 3 lyricist of the generation.

part 2 dropping tonight!!

I’m 4 minutes in and this is fucking well put together. Love the use of nothing new.

I grew up in North Bend and with Modest Mouse. I rolled with friends of their friends type stuff. Went to skate ramps in home yards in Issaquah were they were there. I went to Highschool with the lead singer of the straight edge band Undertow John Pettibone who got me listening to alot of local bands. I remember listening to Seaweed for the first time in his car riding in town.

RIP JG, truly a legend

best channel ever! stoked to see you cover these dudes.

Subbed for film but very excited for part 2 and the future of your content!!

Econochrist does not suck! 😂

My favorite band of all time.

would love to know where I can find the footage @3:27 and or what song that is. It's incredible drumming.

So many people are missing out

What's with the crowd situation at 1:29 ?

Truly excellent content on the bands I adore. Been a fan for years Jeffrey and thought I’d comment for once to let you know.

This was really well made, thank you for making this :DD