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Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Epic

Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank is one of the most anticipated releases of 2007. Their last album, 2004's Good News for People Who Love Bad News, yielded a radio hit, VH-1 support and even a Kidz Bop tribute, but upon first listen, their follow-up gives the impression the members of Modest Mouse are chafing at their newfound success in a typically indie fashion.

With the ante upped by addition of former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, their fifth album is denser and more layered than its predecessors, the tunes, on the surface, deceptively elusive. But digging deeper, the band hasn't lost any of their pop sensibility, obvious on stellar tracks such as "Missed the Boat", "Education" and "Little Motel". Here, challenging rock and quirky, buoyant pop are given equal time. Could there be another "Float On" in the mix? With the gorgeous vocals of "Florida", contributed by guest James Mercer (The Shins), inevitable comparisons are rendered irrelevant.

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Blondie returning with a new album and a show at the Keswick in October

Blondie are releasing a new album, and have announced its No Principals Tour playing the Keswick Theatre on Thursday, October 3rd with...Read More

Make Music Philly Spotlight: Joy Ike

Here’s another great artist you don’t want to miss at Make Music Philly this Friday: Joy Ike.  This Pittsburgh...Read More

The Week So Far: 12 must-read stories on The Key (incl. Big Footprints Project, Make Music Philly, Light...

  The Dead Milkmen continue their sudden streak of new recordings with Welcome to Undertown  Light Heat recorded a...Read More

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Release new single “This Life” (playing XPoNential Fest in July and Longwood Gardens in...

Last week, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic  Zeros released the music video for “Better Days,” the first single from...Read More

Photos: Black Flag goes hard at Union Transfer

All photos by Abi Reimold | abireimoldphoto.com On the occasion of its first new music in 28 years, the reformed Black Flag played...Read More