The Second In A Series Of Open Letters To Bands I Love That Have Either Broken Up Or Started Sucking

Dear Modest Mouse,

What the hell is going on over there? The year I struck out on my own in this world was the same year that

The Moon & Antarctica

came out, and it was incredible. I moved in with a couple of my buddies in a small place in downtown Santa Fe, NM and not a day went by without us listening to that album 10 times. We already loved

The Lonesome Crowded West

, and that came into play as well.

I even spent a bajillion dollars to see you live, and was not disappointed. Well, except by the jocks who were moshing during "Third Planet" and the idiot girl behind me who said, "I just hope they play a song I know. Like, something that I've heard on the radio."

Then

Good News For People Who Love Bad News

came out, and it only had a couple good songs. Try as I might to get into it, it was as if you guys listened to too much Tom Waits, and decided that you were going to be just like him.

But I gave you the benefit of the doubt. It's hard for bands to consistently put out awesome albums. I figured it may have been a fluke. Lord knows that Isaac Brock drinks more than anyone, and maybe he was just really drunk when he was writing those songs.

I continued listening to your good albums, discouraged but excited for your next release...

You really did it. You managed to put out an album that out-sucked the last one.

We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

stuck me as a desperate attmept to get back to your begginnings. Failure. I know that there can be pressure from record labels. I know that once a band starts getting hugely popular their art can suffer. And I know that you're all total weirdos. All I am saying is this: please don't release another album until it's the kind of record that I can put on, and not stop listening to forever. I know you have it in you. You can make it my birthday

and

Christmas present.

Your friend and fan,

Alex

P.s. Dump that jerk Johnny Marr, and stop ripping off Built To Spill. Thanks.

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