Building Nothing Out of Something
collects
Modest Mouse
singles and rare tracks from the group's indie-label years, including the studio tracks from the
Interstate 8
EP and their contributions to the
Sub Pop
Singles Club. Despite the songs' motley origins,
works well as an album, balancing the group's quirky and often poignant pop songs with their more abrasive rock side. The wonderfully dreamy, off-kilter
"Interstate 8"
and
"Workin' on Leavin' the Livin'"
(which cleverly quotes
Eraserhead
's
"Lady in the Radiator Song"
) are two shining examples of the group's elastic, loopy guitar pop, while
"All Nite Diner,"
"A Life of Arctic Sounds,"
"Other People's Lives"
define their high-strung rock sound. Slower songs like
"Grey Ice Water"
and the
Santo & Johnny
homage
"Sleepwalkin'"
round out this look at
's diverse but consistently worthwhile indie output. [
was re-released on LP in 2015.] ~ Heather Phares