Life only seems to get weirder for Washington’s Modest Mouse. Ever since the Isaac Brock-led band unwittingly hit the big time nearly a decade ago, they’ve had their songs covered on American Idol, sold a shed-load of records and welcomed a revolving cast of iconic musicians (including Johnny Marr and Murder City Devils’ Dann Gallucci). Comeback record Strangers To Ourselves sees the band embrace their oddness further still. Eight years in the making, the opus is a mess, but more often than not, it’s a fun mess.
Brock takes plenty of risks. Unfortunately, some crash and burn. The deranged disco of ‘The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box’ is just too bizarre, while the percussive, hip-hop influenced ‘Pistol’ adopts a similar beat to Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’, but isn’t nearly as effective. Others tracks, though, soar to the stars. The circus-inspired ‘Sugar Boats’, for example, is a blast and full of squawking horns and oom-pah rhythms, as is the calypso themed ‘Ansel’. Modest Mouse’s weirdest record yet, Strangers To Ourselves is a wild ride. It’s not quite as inspired as Good News For People Who Like Bad News, but it’s a strong comeback from one of indie’s most inventive acts.

Key Track - 'Sugar Boats'