We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
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This article documents a current album. Information is likely to change as the album remains on the charts. |
| We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank | ||
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| Studio album by Modest Mouse | ||
| Released |   March 20, 2007 March 17, 2007 March 30, 2007 April 2, 2007 |
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| Recorded | 2005-2006 | |
| Genre | Alternative Indie Rock |
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| Length | 62:33 | |
| Label | Epic | |
| Producer(s) | Dennis Herring | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Modest Mouse chronology | ||
| Baron von Bullshit Rides Again (2004) |
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007) |
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We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank is the fifth studio album from American band Modest Mouse. It was released in America on March 20, 2007. It is their first studio album since 2004's Good News for People Who Love Bad News, and it is also the first album with former The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.[1] Jeremiah Green, Modest Mouse's original drummer, has returned for this album.[2] Furthermore, James Mercer of The Shins sings backup vocals on the tracks "We've Got Everything", "Missed The Boat", and "Florida".[3] This album is the second consecutive Modest Mouse album recorded at Sweet Tea Studio in Oxford, Mississippi with producer Dennis Herring.[4]
In an interview[1], Isaac Brock said of Johnny Marr, "He made a cautious commitment to write and record with us, and then the tighter we got, he was like, ‘okay, let's tour too.' Then he was pretty much a member of the band-- not pretty much. He's a full blown member of the band. It's really fuckin' nice." According to Brock, Marr was involved in songwriting on the album, and will even tour with the band in support of it. In the interview, Brock described We Were Dead as a "nautical balalaika carnival romp." Johnny Marr later responded to Brock's comments by saying, "Isaac contacted me and asked if I'd help Modest Mouse write the new album. I was intrigued and played with the band in Portland a couple of times. We hit it off and wrote three great songs straight away, something clicked, it felt right from the off. I have a new Healers album pretty much done, but we've been having such a good time playing these new Modest Mouse songs. When people hear the record they'll see why, we're very good together."[2]
The album's title comes from a lyric in the track, "Fly Trapped in a Jar," and could possibly be referencing the lyrics to "Shit Luck," off of The Lonesome Crowded West.
Contents |
[edit] Singles
"Dashboard" is the first single off of the new album. On January 3, 2007, the Modest Mouse email list was sent a link to the finished track, which is currently available for listening at the official MySpace. The song was released to radio on January 16,[3] and made available at the iTunes Store on January 29.
A presell CD single with three tracks from the album was released at US Best Buy stores and BestBuy.com on March 7, containing the tracks Dashboard, Education, and Little Motel, and respectively titled as Dashboard/Education/Little Motel. [4] Unlike typical promotions of presell CD singles that contain coupons for $1.99 off the full album when it is released (reimbursement for the cost of the single, making it essentially free), this CD does not consist of live or otherwise unobtainable/unreleased tracks.
[edit] Release date
The album was originally planned for release on December 19, 2006 but in an e-mail sent to members of Modest Mouse's e-mail list on October 6, 2006, it was stated that "The forthcoming record, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, is set for release early next year..." The album was released on March 20, 2007 in the US, and is currently set for release on April 2, 2007 in the UK. [5]
Two releases of We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank are available for purchase; the regular version, which comes in a jewel case, and the deluxe digipak version which, "includes a digipack and a 32-page full color booklet all packaged in a deluxe slipcase" made of canvas[5].
A double gatefold (2 LP) 180-gram vinyl edition of the album is also available at SonyMusicStore for $18.98, and it includes "a CD (without case/packaging) with the music so that you can load the album onto your portable music player." [6]
The album was leaked to the Internet on February 15, 2007.
In anticipation of the album's release, Modest Mouse has been named March's Xbox Live Artist of the Month. Xbox Live users can now download the "Dashboard" music video and will soon have the chance to play against the band in an upcoming Game with Fame. There will also be a sweepstakes and other exclusive bonuses.
[edit] Track listing
- "March Into the Sea" – 3:30
- "Dashboard" – 4:06
- "Fire It Up" – 4:34
- "Florida" – 2:57
- "Parting of the Sensory" – 5:34
- "Missed the Boat" – 4:24
- "We've Got Everything" – 3:40
- "Fly Trapped In a Jar" – 4:29
- "Education" – 3:56
- "Little Motel" – 4:44
- "Steam Engenius" – 4:26
- "Spitting Venom" – 8:27
- "People As Places As People" – 3:42
- "Invisible" – 3:59
- Pre-ordered copies of the album on iTunes include the video "A Fisherman's Tale"
[edit] Credits
- Produced by Dennis Herring
- Engineered by Joe Zook & Clay Jones
- Assisted by Tom Queyja & Rob Cooper
- Recorded at Sweet Tea, Oxford, MS & Audible Alchemy, Portland, OR
- Additional Engineering by Kyle "Slick" Johnson, Reto Peter & Tom Queyja
- Mixed by Joe Zook & Dennis Herring
- Mixed at Sweet Tea, Oxford, MS, "Little Motel" mixed at AUS California, Studio City, CA
- Mastered by Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk, New York, NY
- Lyrics by Isaac Brock
Music by Modest Mouse
© 2007 Ugly Casanova (ASCAP) / Tschudi Music (ASCAP) / Crazy Gnome (ASCAP) / Marr Songs Ltd. (BMI) / Party Pants Music (BMI) / Robot Horse Music (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. - Modest Mouse is Isaac Brock, Jeremiah Green, Eric Judy, Johnny Marr, Tom Peloso, Joe Plummer
- Clay Jones - Shaker on "Dashboard", Programming on "Florida", Acoustic Guitar on "Missed The Boat"
- Dennis Herring - Claps & Stomps on "Parting Of The Sensory", Rhodes on "Little Motel", Backing Vocals on "Steam Engenius", Pump Organ on "Spitting Venom"
- Kyle "Slick" Johnson - Programming on "Dashboard", "Fire It Up", "Parting Of The Sensory", "Little Motel" & "Invisible"
- Naheed Simjee - Backing Vocals on "Florida", Claps & Stomps on "Parting Of The Sensory"
- James Mercer - Backing Vocals on "Missed The Boat" & "We've Got Everything"
- Art Direction by Isaac Brock, Christian Helms & Nahjeed Simjee
- Design by Christian Helms & Geoff Peyeto at The Decoder Ring
- Booklet Interior Illustrations by David Ellis & Casey Burns
- Thank You: Steve Lobdell & Mike Gillentine
- A&R: Kaz Utsunomiya
- Management: Ravenhouse Ltd.
- James Mercer of The Shins appears courtesy of Sub Pop Records
[edit] Chart positions
[edit] Album
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 1 |
| New Zealand Top 40 Album chart | 26 |
| Australia Aria Charts | 12 |
[edit] Singles
| Single | Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| "Dashboard" | U.S. Modern Rock Tracks | 5 |
| "Dashboard" | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 61 |
| "Dashboard" | U.S. Hot Digital Songs | 45 |
| "Dashboard" | U.S. Pop 100 | 56 |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Pitchfork: Modest Mouse Set Title, Release Date
- ^ The Seattle Times: Entertainment: The Rock Desk
- ^ Pitchfork: News - January 3, 2007
- ^ Pitchfork: Johnny Marr Officially a Member of Modest Mouse
- ^ SonyMusicStore: We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
| Preceded by Luvanmusiq by Musiq Soulchild |
Billboard 200 Number 1 Album April 7, 2007-present |
Succeeded by Incumbant |
| Modest Mouse |
| Isaac Brock • Eric Judy • Jeremiah Green • Johnny Marr |
| Dann Gallucci • Benjamin Weikel • Chris Majeras |
| Studio albums |
| This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About • The Lonesome Crowded West • The Moon & Antarctica • Good News for People Who Love Bad News • We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank |
| EPs |
| Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect? • Interstate 8 • The Fruit That Ate Itself • Everywhere and His Nasty Parlour Tricks |
| Compilations |
| Building Nothing Out of Something • Sad Sappy Sucker |
| Other albums |
| Night On the Sun • Baron von Bullshit Rides Again • The Moon & Antarctica (Reissue) |
| Singles |
| "Broke" • "A Life of Arctic Sounds" • "Birds vs. Worms" • "Other People's Lives" • "Never Ending Math Equation" • "Whenever You See Fit" • "Heart Cooks Brain" • "Float On" • "Ocean Breathes Salty" • "Dashboard" |
| Promos |
| "Polar Opposites" • "The Moon & Antartica" • "The World at Large" • "Dashboard" • "King Rat" |
