We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
by Modest Mouse
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Mar 20, 2007
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 256 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 226 out of 256
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 256
  3. Negative: 12 out of 256

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  1. JustinV
    Apr 25, 2007
    10
    people are basing their opinions on past albums. Thats stupid. Every band evolves. You guys are just pissed that there will never be another moon and antarctica or lonesome crowded west. We were dead is one of their best. You try writing the lyrics that Isaac writes himself, but it to the music that they make themselves, and put a cd out and stay around for as long as they have. You people are basing their opinions on past albums. Thats stupid. Every band evolves. You guys are just pissed that there will never be another moon and antarctica or lonesome crowded west. We were dead is one of their best. You try writing the lyrics that Isaac writes himself, but it to the music that they make themselves, and put a cd out and stay around for as long as they have. You couldn't. So stop complaining it's a great album.… Expand
  2. BenG
    Apr 3, 2007
    8
    Entertaining, eclectic enough to give a few extra listens, but I've begun to give up on the possibility of another 'Lonesome Crowded West'
  3. sammodest
    Apr 4, 2007
    10
    takes a couple listen through, but once the songs start resinating in your brain IT'S WELL WORTH IT
  4. AlejandroE
    Apr 9, 2007
    8
    It's pretty great, but what i'm concerned about is that the sound gets a little like, the smiths
  5. AlexL
    May 10, 2007
    10
    Personally I love this album. I don't think people should forge opinions on what they expect to hear, rather on what they do actually hear. As far as selling out is concerned, I have to ask how you would define your argument. You can't be angry with musicians simply on the basis that they've become popular and made some money (it is slightly hypocritical considering that it Personally I love this album. I don't think people should forge opinions on what they expect to hear, rather on what they do actually hear. As far as selling out is concerned, I have to ask how you would define your argument. You can't be angry with musicians simply on the basis that they've become popular and made some money (it is slightly hypocritical considering that it was your fanship that made them so, with the exception of greenday, they are rubbish now). If anything you should be happy that this allows them to develop music with better equipment and produce essentially better music. The best tracks on this album (in my opinion) are Florida, Dashboard, Spitting Venom and We've got everything.… Expand
  6. GregS
    May 7, 2007
    9
    I'm disgusted that Marr is referred to as a, "Hook specialist," by the Village voice. Rating this album 60 out of 100 clearly shows some hostility as the Village voice is normally unbiased. My hat goes off to Brock and Marr for putting this album together without expectation. They relied on their talent and intuited their fans would appreciate their music. I enjoy most songs to the I'm disgusted that Marr is referred to as a, "Hook specialist," by the Village voice. Rating this album 60 out of 100 clearly shows some hostility as the Village voice is normally unbiased. My hat goes off to Brock and Marr for putting this album together without expectation. They relied on their talent and intuited their fans would appreciate their music. I enjoy most songs to the point of feeling included on their journey of the human experience. Sometimes assault is the only way to get a point accross.… Expand
  7. VidM
    Aug 13, 2007
    8
    Solid.
  8. VinceK
    Feb 26, 2008
    8
    Love the first 6 songs. Rest of the album is good too, but kinda blended together for me. My favorite by far is the last minute of Parting of the Sensory...fiddle-tastic!!!!!!!!
  9. G_do
    Dec 29, 2007
    9
    I expected some more Johnny Marr signature in the guitar sound, but it's a great record. Everything sounds so fresh and lively. Not all songs are really great and I think it was even better when 2 or 3 tracks were not included , but the finest moments are simply damn brilliant.
  10. kendallj
    Feb 16, 2007
    9
    modest is pure bliss.
  11. JohnStamos
    Feb 17, 2007
    10
    I love this album more than my mom
  12. tylerc
    Feb 19, 2007
    10
    Good News was somewhat dissapointing to me but not bad. This album more than makes up for it.
  13. ryanh
    Feb 19, 2007
    10
    The culmination of their carreer. While it's not their best album, it sitll encompasses pieces of everything they've done.
  14. Robert
    Feb 19, 2007
    10
    Another Great MM album
  15. Kyle
    Feb 27, 2007
    10
    Great!! Modest Mouse was obviously not dead before the ship even sank.
  16. GeorgeH
    Feb 28, 2007
    10
    Awsome. Their killer discography grows and grows.
  17. codyg
    Feb 28, 2007
    10
    absolutely amazing
  18. Ben
    Mar 12, 2007
    10
    Long awaited. Unexpectedly lives up to lofty expectations.
  19. nicoleh
    Mar 14, 2007
    5
    I must be going bananas because everyone else loves this album where as I see it as a one of there worst. I find the album to be too poppy, sloppy, and unbalanced. Some say its there most approachable album but is that a good thing? Issac's talent for songwriting has always stood out to me and I feel this time around he isnt writing music that means something to him- but instead for I must be going bananas because everyone else loves this album where as I see it as a one of there worst. I find the album to be too poppy, sloppy, and unbalanced. Some say its there most approachable album but is that a good thing? Issac's talent for songwriting has always stood out to me and I feel this time around he isnt writing music that means something to him- but instead for the masses and that troubles me.… Expand
  20. supersean
    Mar 16, 2007
    10
    best album yet
  21. Scott
    Mar 16, 2007
    8
    Blew me away with its greatness
  22. LyleR
    Mar 16, 2007
    10
    Awesome
  23. TylerT
    Mar 16, 2007
    7
    Am I crazy?? This album is ok at best. I have been a rabid fan for 7 years, and I believe this is their weekest point. It is not "bad" but it nowhere compares to the other albums... even good news. It feels rushed as hell, and little poppy, and a little too slow. I just saw them live on wednesday, and the songs are better live, but nothing compared to the older songs they were playing.
  24. Rick
    Mar 16, 2007
    10
    Excellent album, well worth the wait. Favorite tracks are "Parting of the Sensory" and "March Into The Sea".
  25. RyanM
    Mar 16, 2007
    5
    So this what Modest Mouse sounds like mainstream? After GNFPWLB you had to figure this was the direction they were headed.
  26. dang
    Mar 17, 2007
    2
    are you people crazy? this album is terrible. it's a bunch of attempts at another float on, and none of them are anywhere near as good. it has a few good tracks though.
  27. MalcolmP
    Mar 17, 2007
    9
    Sublime - what a year for indie!
  28. JoeH
    Mar 17, 2007
    10
    This album was surprisingly stellar upon firs listen. I am drunk, and it's St. patty's day, so I'll be brief. The album is fantastic, a little bit more conceptually coherent than Good News, yet there's a lot more of an overall identity between the songs. Standouts are 'We've Got Everything' (NEEDS TO BE A SINGLE), Steam Engenius, Missed the Boat, Parting This album was surprisingly stellar upon firs listen. I am drunk, and it's St. patty's day, so I'll be brief. The album is fantastic, a little bit more conceptually coherent than Good News, yet there's a lot more of an overall identity between the songs. Standouts are 'We've Got Everything' (NEEDS TO BE A SINGLE), Steam Engenius, Missed the Boat, Parting of the Sensory, and Dashboard. Ps. Music fans of all ages will be in a total state of listening bliss for atleast the first 13 seconds of People as Places as People. That song is a masterpiece.… Expand
  29. Seeds13
    Mar 18, 2007
    3
    This album frankly sounds awful and very unsatisfying compared to Modest Mouse's prior work. However, I can see this one having a great benefit if you are looking for a headache. For some reason, Modest Mouse continues to crank up the bass and stray away from creativity and the poignancy that made them great in the first place. The shock upon first hearing this album can be compared This album frankly sounds awful and very unsatisfying compared to Modest Mouse's prior work. However, I can see this one having a great benefit if you are looking for a headache. For some reason, Modest Mouse continues to crank up the bass and stray away from creativity and the poignancy that made them great in the first place. The shock upon first hearing this album can be compared to that of first hearing the Dave Matthews Band tribute to selling out several years back. But M.M. did come away with a couple of decent songs in Fire It Up and Fly Trapped In A Jar. These two don't feel entirely soulless and perhaps are the only ones with directions from the band's past. I will say that Modest Mouse is looking ahead, but in a way that is not befitting. Why have they now taken a dark path away from the things that made them so pure and original. It's of course the path of the industry and the money. I think I am going to go scalp my ticket of interest for the neo-Modest Mouse.… Expand
  30. fwa
    Mar 19, 2007
    4
    this album is painfully mediocre. Worst mm album yet.
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed Album of 2007
56
#56 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Blender
    90
    Is there another "Float On"? It scarcely matters: 10 years into their career, Modest Mouse have stumbled into their best album yet. [Mar 2007, p.137]
  2. Under The Radar
    90
    Not just an album that revisits the dancey guitar-pop that made "Float On" an unlikely #1 hit, but sharpens and emboldens it for their most accessible album to date. [#16, p.93]
  3. Rolling Stone
    70
    Like everything the band has released since signing with Epic in the teeth of a millennial panic, it's louder and somewhat less twisty than the group's indie output.
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