Ugly Casanova - Barnacles

I don't know me and you don't know you

So we fit so good together

Ugly Casanova is Issac Brock's of Modest Mouse side project. Legend has it that Brock was inspired by a Modest Mouse fan named Edgar Graham who followed the band around on tour, writing lyrics in a journal and recording songs. He then disappeared but his music lives on in Brock's recordings that are supposedly based on Graham's journal/recordings. Graham went by the name "Ugly Casanova."

Only one album was ever released under this moniker and that was in 2002--titled Sharpen Your Teeth. "Barnacles " was a track that was requested by someone during one of my shows while DJ-ing at KSCR. I was always worried that someone would request a song and it would turn out to be garbage and I wish I'd never played it. But I really liked this song and decided to listen to the rest of the album. If you like Modest Mouse, I can't imagine why you wouldn't like Ugly Casanova.

Wolf Parade - California Dreamer

I carved your ever fading figure

Into the ever dying snow

Wolf Parade released their debut album in 2005 and it was great. It wasn't until 3 years later that they finally released their sophomore LP, At Mount Zoomer, which also turned out to be great. So thus far, the band of 4 from Montreal do not disappoint. After opening for The Arcade Fire and releasing an EP, they got the attention of Isaac Brock--front-man of Modest Mouse and A&R rep for Sub Pop Records. He signed them to the label and then helped produce Apologies to the Queen Mary. "California Dreamer" is one of my favourite tracks from Apologies. The album was recorded at Petite Église, the church in Quebec owned by the Arcade Fire.

Favourite Part: The entire second half of the song beginning with the explosion around 3:10.

California Dreamer - Wolf Parade

Modest Mouse - Parting of the Sensory

Some day you will die somehow

And something's going to steal your carbon

"Parting of the Sensory" is definitely my favorite track off of Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. It's a little more raw than some of the other tracks but still contains all the musical elements that make them so good. Formed in '93 in "The Shed" (practice space next to Brock's mother's trailer) in Issaquah, WA, they've come a long way for an "indie" band. Their 6th album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News had a top 40 hit and was well received by a large audience. Their latest album reached #1 on US Billboard 200 charts and features the Smith's former guitarist, Johnny Marr, who also toured with them as a member of the band.

Earlier this year Brock told Rolling Stone magazine that Modest Mouse will be releasing an EP of polished unreleased tracks from their last two LPs. He also mentioned that he's been going fishing with the Shin's lead singer. Fast forward 9 months: the front-men are proud father's of a new baby boy! Just kidding. Billboard magazine released rumours of a possible Modest Mouse/Built to Spill/Love As Laughter album covering each other's songs. Whether or not this is actually true is uncertain but fans should keep their fingers crossed.

Check out live performances of four of their songs on AOL Live Sessions (as if you couldn't just YouTube them).