From The Top Of The Ocean

I speak the truth when I say that Modest Mouse’s “The Moon and Antarctica” is an exceedingly excellent album.  Some would even go so far as to say that it “Super Exceeds” most expectations of the little band from Seattle, and blasts away nay-sayers and critics alike with a great dark tale told in a swirling, whirling circular motion wrapped in swirly goodness. The album I received was released as a tenth anniversary commemoration, but I am happy to report that MM have much more than this title on vinyl. What a treat! And so I can cross off just one of many albums on a long list of “wants” and “must haves” hanging on my fridge, some of which I already have on CD.

What I am most impressed with are the well chosen breaks in the album decidedly necessary due to the A-B-C-D sides.  When listening to the CD one can tell that these breaks are present through the changes in mood, tempo, and subject matter as defined chapters are underlined, though it seems the “sound” of this tale never really seems to stop.  The difference between mediums leaves me wondering about how I would have experienced the record had I heard one or the other first, like one reading a book before or after the movie is out.  This is especially wondrous as I ponder these effects on the “Lonesome Crowded West”, determined to be my favourite MM package ever!

Note: I have reserved the longer debate on wax vs. CD for another blog. Let’s keep this one short, people! I know you’re thanking me, and so I’ll boldly say “you’re very welcome”.  How very polite.

So what of this album, eh? What difference might the warm tendrils of a vinyl record offer to the already colossal movement of LCW? Perhaps I shall never know it for, although there are many titles to choose from, this particular selection has turned out to be the rarest on vinyl, which surprises me a great deal considering the seemingly mounting surge of vinyl re-releases that have saturated the alterna-cool small-time-record shop crowd. Boo-urns. Whats more is that it shall not be coveted for less than $180.00 American dollars. Alas, out of reach, I’m afraid.  What to do?

I’ve since joined an online sort of record-wish-list club called  www.discogs.com to keep tabs on the availability of the album, as well as the usual big web stores.  I have also declared to my husband that should I find it in one of our local digs, or abroad, that I shall purchase it no matter the price. This is just one of those things that I can’t do without. I’ve been raised to a higher echelon of listening bliss!  Time for saving pennies has never been more important.