The Quirky Sound Of Ugly Casanova
Recorded under the moniker Ugly Casanova, Modest Mouse lead Isaac
Brock's solo debut, Sharpen Your Teeth, is due out May 21 on
Sub Pop. Solo, Brock's sound is like a darker, down-tempo,
countrified version of Modest Mouse. Collaborating with Black Heart
Procession's Pall Jenkins, Tim Rutili (of Red Red Meat and Califone)
and solo indie artist John Orth, Brock and Brian Deck (also of Red
Red Meat and Califone) produced the album at Glacial Pace Studios in
Oregon.
The name Ugly Casanova is derived from an old Modest Mouse tale about
a mentally disturbed fan who introduced himself to his heroes by
breaking through a backstage window at a show. This fan, according
the band's Web site, became a central, albeit bizarre, inspiration
for the Seattle indie-rockers by sending pages of lyrics, poetry and
ramblings. Ugly Casanova is also the name of Brock's publishing
company.
Led by Brock's idiosyncratic singing, the somewhat sedating 13-song
album is full of twangy acoustic strings, quirky sound effects
(clanks, bangs, claps and whistles) and low-fi snail's-pace rhythms.
The sleepy, slightly gritty production feels like a bedroom recording
textured by dreamy background echoes, droning dissonant melodies and
experimental songwriting.
The record opens with scratching sounds of movement — the sort
that sound like what watching the road pass by looks like —
which transforms into the infectious melody and swinging rhythm that
drive lead track "Barnacle." For its contagious, flowing lyricism and
matter-of-fact nasal-y vocals, "Parasite" feels most like Modest
Mouse; "Hotcha Girls" is the most minimalist and melancholy with its
sad, swaying melody, acoustic guitar and half-whispered singing, so
intimate it feels as if Brock's lips are right against the microphone.
Introduced by saxophone cries, the dark and raw "Diamonds on the Face
of Evil" is backed by what sounds like a chain gang and led by
heavily distorted vocals. The tranquil yet stomping and infectious
record closes with the spacey, psychedelic-tinged "So Long to the
Holidays," which feels as if it's sung from the house next door and
leaves the listener with one question: So, is Ugly Casanova just a
vacation then? In that case, it's time to get to work on another
Modest Mouse record. — Jenny Tatone [Tuesday, April 23, 2002]
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