Modest Mouse remains rooted in the ethos of the Pacific Northwest. Notoriously gray and cloudy, it’s fittingly a region where themes of depression, mortality, and struggling optimism flow in its art and music as freely as the rivers in nearby forests.
Formed in 1992 in land of grunge rock, Modest Mouse was at once welcomed as both outcasts and unsuspecting heroes. The band’s twin identity supported their rise from unknown darlings to major players of indie-rock. Yet, no matter how far the group may rise, the band knows there are some things that can’t be escaped.
An Eraser and a Maze is the band’s first album since the tragic passing of co-founding drummer, Jeremiah Green. As the lone remaining founding member, frontman Isaac Brock isn’t shy about acknowledging the shadow of his friend’s death.
The album’s brisk pace mirrors Brock’s discomfort with this new reality. He ponders the afterlife. He doubts the acceptance of grief. He questions the worth of his existence.
Each are familiar fears for anyone who’s experienced loss. The caverns of depression and grief are well grooved, yet they rarely come with any sense of navigation.
It’s fitting that Brock selected an eraser and a maze as dueling images. He so desperately wishes to erase what’s happened, yet he can’t escape the maze this tragedy created. In his mind, all that’s left is to wallow, reflect, and fight against the onslaught of emotion.
On “Third Side of the Moon,” when remembering the life of his friend who has died, Brock recalls a piece of wisdom from his mother: “Harsh words from my mother, but it turned out they were nice/She said, ‘If you continue down this path, you’re not the only one who dies.’”
“Knocked Down by Waves” is a rare moment where Brock strikes a hopeful tone. Despite life knocking him down he says, “I’m not just any door” hinting that he’s ready to get back up again.
“Impossible Somedays” questions the true meaning of life as Brock sings, “Well everything is impossible if you don’t try.” His hopefulness lingers as he sings, “it’s not enough just being here, just simply being alive.”
Several songs position Brock’s grief as a seesaw of emotions swinging him from hope to harm in one breath. “Remember Yourself” sees him confront thoughts of self-harm as he sings, “Sometime I’ll be dead and gone/Sooner than I hope, but I hope I’m wrong.”
“Third Side of the Moon” reveals Brock’s processing of hearing the news of his friend’s death. The song carries intense descriptions of finding his friend’s body as well as vulgar lines such as, “Well, things get crazy shaky sometimes, way too f—– up/If I’d been in my right mind, I would’ve called the whole thing off.”
“Can’t Talk Right Now” continues Brock’s note of regret and wishing he could turn back time. He claims he’ll send a “goodnight text” to pass the time to hopefully push away darker thoughts.
“Picking Dragons’ Pockets” attempts to justify why humans are such “tricky little animals.” Brock wails, “We’ve been eating our own young/Idle hands around the devil’s throat/A suicide note that another hand wrote.” He concludes with a twinge of sadness singing, “And we’re used to this.”
“Stoner Party” is a vain rock song focused on one thing: “Party hardy! Rock n roll!” A claim that Modest Mouse pairs with “smoking a bowl” and the aggressive retort, “You f— with us, we’ll f— with you.”
“Rotten Fruit” meditates on the inevitability of death as Brock gets personal with his reflection. He sings, “Inside of every grave, I know I’ve found a favorite friend.” Though piercing for its honesty, these moments remain foreboding and depressing.
Several songs contain f-words and misusing the Lord’s name, as well as references to h— and the afterlife.
There’s a Greek myth that’s always captured my imagination.
Sentenced for a crime against the gods, Sisyphus must roll a rock up a hill only for the rock to fall back to the bottom once he’s finished. This continues for eternity, and Sisyphus is destined to repeat his punishment with nothing but the same result.
Modest Mouse has located its own version of a Sisyphean task.
The act of living following as deep and painful a loss as described across An Eraser and a Maze is a lot like Sisyphus and his rock. Brock realizes when he thinks he’s left the grief behind, it rolls right back to him.
If only he had a different way of confronting his grief instead of profanity-filled tirades against death and tempting fate in the same way.
Modest Mouse’s hopeful moments are sparse and quickly overshadowed by depressing portrayals of dealing with emotional turmoil. It is clear the band is trapped in the maze of life-changing loss. Listeners who follow Modest Mouse’s lead looking for an eraser to change a past that can’t be undone risk finding lasting hope.
Jackson Greer is a High School English Teacher in the suburbs of Texas. He lives in Coppell, Texas with his wife, Clara. They love debating whether or not to get another cat and reading poetry together. Also, he is a former employee of Focus on the Family’s Parenting Department.
