The Moon & Antarctica

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One of the most widely beloved indie rock albums of the 2000s—and of all time—Modest Mouse’s landmark third record <i>The Moon & Antarctica</i> is both a towering work of ambition, and a portal through which the Pacific Northwest legends transformed into one of modern rock’s most beloved acts to this day. At the time of its release in 2000, Isaac Brock and co.’s major-label debut was undoubtedly approached by some fans with trepidation, especially following the rough charms of 1997’s <i>The Lonesome Crowded West</i>, rightly considered a classic itself amongst the band’s growing number of acolyte. But, as Brock told the pre, <i>The Moon & Antarctica</i> wasn’t intended to be a slick bid for mainstream success; in fact, he said, the members had spent their time in the studio looking for crazy new sound. He wasn’t kidding: Recorded over the course of months—during which time Brock was hospitalized for a week after a violent assault, forcing his jaw to be wired shut—and co-produced by Chicago indie rock lifer Brian Deck, <i>The Moon & Antarctica</i> is a strange, sweeping record where disco grooves collide with acoustic junkyard chants and psychedelic guitar freak-out. It’s the type of album that, even after hundreds of listen, still offers small details that take listeners by surprise. Little of Modest Mouse’s previous work suggested the scope on display here, from the moony-eyed warped pop of “Gravity Rides Everything” to the epic sway of “The Stars Are Projector,” which itself switches between myriad sonic moods across its nearly nine-minute framework. .

via Apple Music

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