by Brandon Gentry
Expanding upon the themes of emotional and geographic isolation found in the band's previous work, This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About finds Modest Mouse mixing slow, brooding numbers such as &Custom Concern& and &Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset& with thrashing guitar workouts like &Breakthrough& and &Head South.& The general mood here is one of loneliness and desperation, eloquently expressed through both the lyrics and the rhythmic, sprawling instrumentation. &Dramamine,& for instance, with its driving, mid-tempo beat and ricocheting guitar line, sums up the hopelessness of a doomed relationship, while the frantic &Head South& deals with the feeling of &being ashamed of your old space.& The mandolin, slide guitar, and cello featured throughout the album give the songs a certain degree of depth that makes them stand out from average indie rock fare. In general, This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About is a fine album of guitar-based rock, and Modest Mouse distinguishes itself here with songs whose meanings are simultaneously universal and painfully personal.