Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Crowded West (VMP Exclusive)

The Lonesome Crowded West is the second studio album by the seminal Pacific Northwest indie rock band Modest Mouse, and the VMP Essentials Record of the Month for March 2022. It’s here on “Bottom of the Sky” colored vinyl with lacquers cut by Bob Weston of Chicago Mastering Service, Listening Notes by Scott Swayze and an art print by Violet Aveline.

“What really stands out about ‘The Lonesome Crowded West’ is this journey it takes you on. Less like a concept album and more like a road trip soundtrack. It meanders between feelings of grinding teeth and soothing calm, love and heartache, hope and despair, with the mood and emotion shifting like tumbleweeds on a gusty day. The words really make you think, with riddle-like complexity at times. There’s an endearing honesty and authenticity inherent to this album that doesn’t exist in a lot of popular music. It’s similar to a piece of beautiful framed art, sculpture or metalwork that is obviously handmade, due to the fact that it exhibits noticeable imperfections. Perfectly imperfect: ‘The Lonesome Crowded West.’” – Scott Swayze (VMP)