Sharpen Your Teeth
by Ugly Casanova
  • Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: May 21, 2002
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Mojo
    90
    An extraordinary album. [Aug 2002, p.95]
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  2. Q Magazine
    80
    An oddity for sure, but much too good to be restricted to specialist alt-rock record retailers. [July 2002, p.122]
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  3. Uncut
    80
    Terrific stuff. [Aug 2002, p.122]
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  5. Splendid
    80
    An excellent and memorable album.
  6. The A.V. Club
    80
    Neither Modest Mouse Redux nor off-putting side-project indulgence, Sharpen Your Teeth is a small but effective stretch for a songwriter with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of great ideas.
  7. AllMusic
    80
    Cuts into raw indie rock with spells of country and folk, while allowing Brock to explore a varying scope of sounds.
  8. Pitchfork
    73
    The collaborative nature of Sharpen Your Teeth, of course, yields a few missteps.... There are some damn fine moments here, though.
  9. CultureDose.net
    70
    The same studio experimentation that makes much of Ugly Casanova's music interesting also results in a handful of throwaway tracks enough to prevent Sharpen Your Teeth from becoming a wholly cohesive album.
  10. E! Online
    67
    A just-okay collection of mellow ruminations that, at its best, recalls Tom Waits' Bone Machine, and, at its worst, sounds like indie rock's answer to James Taylor.
  11. Drawer B
    20
    If you take Sharpen Your Teeth as the superfluous wank-off side-project that it is, you won’t be as offended by its utter lack of imagination and artistry.

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best Album of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. AndrewK
    Aug 3, 2007
    10
    This is an excellent CD, excellent band. Isaac Brock is at his best. I enjoyed this CD more than most Modest Mouse CDs excluding The Moon & This is an excellent CD, excellent band. Isaac Brock is at his best. I enjoyed this CD more than most Modest Mouse CDs excluding The Moon & Antarctica.… Full Review »
  2. BrandonS
    Feb 12, 2006
    10
    I really can't see how anyone who's given this CD a sit down could find it anything but amazing. Even those who are unseasoned with I really can't see how anyone who's given this CD a sit down could find it anything but amazing. Even those who are unseasoned with Isaac Brock will have to enjoy this trip into a calm but confusing world painted in beautiful harmonics and etching tones. There are 2 poles to this record, as apparent after the first 2 songs on the album. The melodic and catchy "Barnicles" is arguably my favorite song to date. This is followed up by a far more harsh, almost frightening "spilled milk factory" that reminds all of us that this band is a side project of Modest Mouse's lead singer. The rest of the album plays between these 2 poles, and does it amazingly well. This album, like The Moon and Antarctica, is a masterpiece as a whole. It's almost required that you listen to this CD with randomize off. The memorable tunes to this masterpiece include Hotcha Girls, a playful summertime melody, Ice On The Sheets, a very moving and progressive song that gives the listener a sense of accomplishment, and the amazing Parasites, a look into a more characteristic theme of death and the afterlife Isaac adores so much. Standing alone, the song "Things I Don't Remember" shines in a way that makes me hope we will hear another album from this project in the future. For the Modest Mouse fan, Ugly Casinova is a fresh feeling pop experience that can only enhance your love of Modest Mouse. All in all, this is an excelent album that deserves more attention then it's given.… Full Review »
  3. ATMmcinstuff
    May 9, 2005
    10
    i love ugly casanova. its a dark menacing version of modest mouse. if you feel like listening to a cheerier isaac brock (as cheery as brock i love ugly casanova. its a dark menacing version of modest mouse. if you feel like listening to a cheerier isaac brock (as cheery as brock can be) , you can throw in sharpen your teeth.… Full Review »
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