Modest Mouse’s The Moon & Antarctica

by Zachary Petit

In 1999, Modest Mouse struck out for Chicago to record their major-label debut for Epic Records. Amid indie circle cries of “sellouts,” a largely untested producer, and a half-built studio, the trio recorded the instrumental basics of The Moon & Antarctica … and then singer/songwriter Isaac Brock got his face smashed by a hooligan in a park.

With barely any vocals recorded, Brock emerged from the hospital with his jaw completely wired shut, and returned to a mostly empty studio. And there, on a diet of painkillers, in a neighborhood that wanted to purge the band from its borders, a creative alchemy took place that would redefine Modest Mouse and indie rock at large.

The fact that the band finished the album at all is surprising. The fact that it is now considered by critics as “hands-down one of the greatest records ever made” (NME) is perhaps an utter miracle.

The Moon & Antarctica is an album so strange and enigmatic, from those sweet opening notes, to the plunging depths of the middle, to the shocking, furious end, that you almost hesitate to listen to it again for fear of it losing its chaotic magic. But then you do, and you discover all-new sounds-a lost harmonic here, a stray percussion element there, a fresh interpretation of a lyric that leaves you thunderstruck.

And that ever-looming question, years How the hell did Modest Mouse pull this off?!

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2024

About the author

Zachary Petit is an independent journalist and editor. Previously, he served as the content director of the HOW+PRINT brands, editor-in-chief of the National Magazine Award–winning publication PRINT, managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine, and executive editor of several related newsstand titles.

Alongside the thousands of articles he has penned as a staff writer and editor, covering everything from the secret lives of mall Santas to creative legends, his words have appeared in Fast Company, National Geographic, Smithsonian, National Geographic Kids, Mental_Floss, Eye on Design, Melissa Rossi’s What Every American Should Know book series, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and many other outlets. He is also the author of The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing: How to Write, Work and Thrive On Your Own Terms and Treat Ideas Like Cats.

Reviews

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that Issac is a maniac.

I’ve always hoped to meet him one day to have, even if brief, one of these wandering conversions this book describes, and that I hear he typically has. I’ve read a few books about the band and can never get enough. I like how this one really captures the essence of “no one really remembers how this album was made,” but continues to piece it all together and actually ends up painting a pretty good picture of it all. It felt like I was there with the band, cigarette smoke, booze, “fucks” and “shits” and all.

Like most reading this review, this album is special to me. Was only a wee teen when I found MM and I have been addicted to them since the release of this album (I literally discovered them Summer ‘00 just a few months after release of TM&A when a friend said “dude, you gotta listen to this, it’s amazing,” he was right, and I’ve been hooked ever since). So when I heard there was going to be a 33 1/3 covering it, well I was over the moon… and Antarctica.

I know that a lot of people hate on some of the more recent stuff but I love everything they ever put out and it all started with TM&A. While I have of course gone back and fell in love with earlier albums, this one is the one that did it for me, sellout or not. Issac, Eric, and Jeremiah (RIP) changed the game and the lives of many with this album and it’s about damn time someone really documented it for posterity. I had known about the jaw, but I didn’t know that it was at literally the exact same time of the recording, and I certainly didn’t know he removed the wires himself. I’m listening to the album as I’m writing this and I feel like there’s an entire new dimension to it now (1,000+ listens later) that I never realized now having this newfound knowledge.

I got lucky and got a signed copy, it’s now one of my most treasured possessions. Thanks for putting this together, Zachary. I’m jealous of the time you got to get with these legends. The book is, how would Isaac put it… pretty fucking good.

[Alex Bielovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a blast to read - a deep, dark dive into one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite bands that I was lucky enough to see live back in 2010. The shattered jaw story was completely new to me and so ridiculous/hilarious/significant.

[Matt Haeske · Rating 4 out of 5]

“And the one thing you taught me bout human beings was this
They ain’t made of nothing but water and shit”

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very worthwhile companion to one of my favorite records. Zachary Petit did a great job here with a challenging subject and awful timing since Jeremiah Green died just as he was getting started.

Isaac Brock is an awesome guy and great songwriter and musician, but a maddening interview. Petit doesn’t shy away from talking about the difficulties here but he got a lot of good information from Isaac, who thankfully was game and supportive.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think books about music are inherently flawed. Music is larger than life and reading the domestic circumstances surrounding a certain recording or musician can kind of strip the magic from the music. I don't often feel like I gained much from reading a book about music. But I did really like this, probably because I believe Modest Mouse to be the greatest band to ever do it.

I think the story surrounding the recording of the Moon & Antarctica is pretty interesting, but I value this book for deepening my understanding of the album's meaning and some of the overall themes of Modest Mouse. Brock often talks about the inevitability of death and how, given the fact that life ends, we must not take everything so seriously. Songs like Gravity Rides Everything and Float On feel like a reassuring pat on the back. It sucks, but it won't suck forever... we are all headed in the same direction. However, before reading Zachary Petit's book, I hadn't really picked up on the significance of the album's closer. "And the one thing you taught me 'bout human beings was this - They ain't made of nothin' but water and shit. Alright." There is a departure from the nurturing consolation Brock gives on other tracks. He tells it to you straight, he thinks you need to hear it. I think it makes the less harsh tracks more beautiful, Brock is firm when he feels he must be.

Ohhh and Paper Thin Walls feels like an entirely different song after reading the deep dive on it. The Moon & Antarctica was and remains the 4th best Modest Mouse album, but I do have a newfound respect for it.

[Bernard Laugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
Another great entry into the great 33 1/3rd series. This book tackles modest mouse’s major label debut, the moon and antarctica. Like my favorite entries in the series, the author explains the historical circumstance of the record, shares his thoughts and insights on the records and its songs, and thankfully steers clear of making the book about him. Extensive input from Isaac Brock, Brian Deck and others involved provide great first hand details. I would’ve liked to hear more from Eric Judy, whose presence in the band I greatly miss, and obviously, it would’ve been wonderful to hear Jeremiah’s memories. That being said, the book does a nice job of honoring Jeremiah (rest in peace).

[Mike B]

Really cool companion to a great record. I appreciate that it gives some deep backstory but doesn't engage in interpretation per se more what themes and events drove the creation of the music. Fun behind the scenes stuff. Great read for any music fans or MM fans (obvs).

[Rob Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything I can read in depth about my favorite band...
I took my time on this one, relishing through the songs and such while I read other books. I'll be sure to bring it back out to share lyrics in my class's poetry unit.

[Becky Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic romp down Memory Lane. As a lifelong Modest Mouse fan, I already knew a lot of the lore presented here, but it was great to revisit it (and get Isaac Brock's ever-evolving takes on some of these events). I wasn't aware of the 33 1/3 series prior to learning of this book, but it's the perfect way for nostalgic music nerds like myself to re-immerse ourselves in these classic albums that informed our youth.

Let's face facts: Any Isaac interview is guaranteed to be entertaining. Add to that the input and conflicting recollections from others who worked on this seminal album, and you have quite the tale. Learning of the weird odds and ends that were used as percussive elements on these songs was especially fascinating (found light casings, dildoes, etc.) as was all the confusion involving the construction of the unfinished studio it was recorded in. Reading this has definitely given me a new appreciation for this album, which seemed impossible before picking it up.

I highly doubt all books in this series are quite this lively. Zachary Petit did a great job making sense of the chaotic bits and pieces he had to work with and wove it into a fantastic homage to this legendary album. I hope he does the rest of the Modest Mouse discography, too.

RIP Jeremiah Green, you were missed in this telling but live on in these words and songs. Slug Life forever.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possibly more of a 3.5, but rounding up for posterity...and because I didn't hate it. The book began really strong, and I was definitely pulling for that to continue, but it seemed that either the subject or the author ran out of steam, as the latter half of the book completely lost the energy of the book's beginning, so much so that there's a lot of quoted text used to fill the pages. Now, that said, there's also the death of Green that hangs over the interview/book, so not sure if there's fault at any of the gaps that were forced to be filled in here. Still, reminder of how the longevity of this album lives on, some 25 years later.

[Ryleigh Wann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of 33 1/3 books, and while I went in a bit skeptical (favorite album by my favorite band…I was eager to be a hater—I’m only human!) I really admired and appreciated the writer’s ability to pick and choose which songs to dive into, when to leave the reader wanting more, and his interview style. The tone was mellow and kept me interested the whole time. The music criticism and storytelling of the interview, album, and past made me feel like I was in the room chain smoking and guzzling beers with them.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

My all time favorite album so I enjoyed this book but it didn’t have a whole lot to add beyond what one could find from researching the band or album online. The interviews with Issac Brock are neat but don’t really add much as he either doesn’t remember anything interesting about the recording process, won’t talk about what a song means or just makes something up in the spot. If Jeremiah Greene had been alive to provide interviews this would have been a much different book.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, I mean, wow... I knew nothing going in except that so many people I like love this band. I know so much more after finishing, including the wild fact that one of my favorite records, Sun Kil Moon's Tiny Cities, is an entire album of covers of Modest Mouse songs. This wasn't even mentioned in the book but after reading some of the song titles, it all clicked in. Would have been 5 stars except I'm never a fan of track-by-track breakdowns on individual songs and listing lyrics.

[Jordan Sibley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can a half-remembered anecdote of how Isaac Brock got his jaw broke by antagonising Chicago youths while piss-drunk, be stretched out over 130-odd pages?
Read this book about Modest Mouse's most 'oh yeah, that's one of them' albums to find out.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information about the making of the record! I was also impressed by the themes of collective memory/gaps in memory (especially tied in with Jeremiah Green's passing). Interesting conversation around authorial intent. I can imagine Brock's take on the "death of the author" debate.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good look at a hard to write about album. If nothing else, this made me want to dig back into the band’s catalog all over again.

[nikki grebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for fans of Modest Mouse and their best album ever.

[Joe Ream · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invaluable information on the album, though the author can be a little much.

[rat · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a short break I devoted the rest, like the music, I thought deeply and was challenged by what I read. Wouldn’t change it for the world.

[Dragan Nanic · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Petit says "(...) I ask for your grace when I dip into (hopefully rare) moments of personal interpretation" and he stays true to his word - there are rare moments of personal interpretation; then there is the famous lack of remembrance on the side of Isaac Brock, to that extent that he tried to be hypnotized in order to remember more under hypnosis - it didn't work - and then there is a decision not to repeat the information easily available on internet...

So, that does not leave much after all - a bit of the background and history, a bit of the interviews digging into some of the specifics of the recording itself, a bit of the current setup of Ice Cream Party, Modest Mouse's headquarters (that can be seen on the YouTube as well). The most memorable part for me was reprinting of the texts done in remembrance of Jeremiah Green, who passed before this book was greenlighted.

On the side note, having read (and owning) a couple of 33 1/3 books, the original attraction seems to be wearing off. For most of them I don't remember particular things I read in the book itself. Ironically, few that had personal interpretation at least left bigger mark.

[bug looker · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some fluff here, akin to an ENG 101 student padding out an essay for which they only really have material to write something half the length, but a good read regardless. I enjoyed the chapter at the end dedicated to Jeremiah Green.