The Moon & Antarctica
by Modest Mouse
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Jun 13, 2000
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 150 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 136 out of 150
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 150
  3. Negative: 7 out of 150

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  1. Jack
    Jul 12, 2006
    10
    Oh yes... Ohhh yes.
  2. PhilV
    Jul 29, 2005
    10
    A very impressive musical blender. The Moon & Antarctica drives itself from the wandery first song - 3rd Planet, coasts through to a steep turn - tiny city's made of ash. Out of that twist, comes a race to end, with a wide open What People Are Made Of. Four more songs remain... "retellings" of 4 previous tracks, in case you do not have autorepeat. Go ahead press autorepeat now. It is A very impressive musical blender. The Moon & Antarctica drives itself from the wandery first song - 3rd Planet, coasts through to a steep turn - tiny city's made of ash. Out of that twist, comes a race to end, with a wide open What People Are Made Of. Four more songs remain... "retellings" of 4 previous tracks, in case you do not have autorepeat. Go ahead press autorepeat now. It is worth it. Having recieved this CD in Dec of 04 I am still popping it in Aug 05. Until iPods have lyric sheets, this disk will be traveling with me.… Expand
  3. AndrewK
    Sep 9, 2005
    10
    So just because lame music review sites in some drunken stupor rate this amazing album 30-70 it gets an 80????? That is incredibly stupid as this album is amazing. A tip for reviewing an album is to actually listen to ALL songs instead of the two widely advertised ones..... Anyway woohoo pitchfork media, best music site ever
  4. daver
    Oct 18, 2005
    10
    freking awsome!
  5. LawrenceP
    Mar 7, 2005
    10
    I think this will be one of the best LP's of the 90's. Spin magazine doesn't know what the hell they are talking about. It wouldn't surprise me if the same magazine praises their next LP!
  6. JulioP
    Oct 4, 2006
    10
    A fantastic album. You will listen to this over and over...
  7. JohannB
    Feb 21, 2008
    10
    It's an absolute masterpiece. If you grew up in the Rocky Mountains then you get it. Isaac and company capture what it was like to grow up and to come of age in those barren wastelands. I'm still a huge "Lonesome..." fan, but this edges it out.
  8. Kevin
    Nov 5, 2009
    10
    I first caught on to Modest Mouse after hearing Ocean Breathes Salty. For a while, all I listened to was their more mainstream albums. I thought they where great at the time, and they where, but they got old. That's when I came across this album. Compared to The Moon and Antarctica, Good News and We Were Dead are fluff. Sure they've got some pretty cool guitar jams and catchy I first caught on to Modest Mouse after hearing Ocean Breathes Salty. For a while, all I listened to was their more mainstream albums. I thought they where great at the time, and they where, but they got old. That's when I came across this album. Compared to The Moon and Antarctica, Good News and We Were Dead are fluff. Sure they've got some pretty cool guitar jams and catchy tunes, but they're nowhere near as deep and inquisitive as The Moon. I'm not saying that they're bad albums, they're definitely listen worthy, but The Moon and Antarctica is just so good.… Expand
  9. Sam
    Apr 12, 2010
    10
    Angst never felt so good.
  10. Dan
    Aug 31, 2002
    10
    well, let's start from the beginning. moon... opens with 3rd planet, easily among the most beautiful songs i've ever heard before continuing into the luscious pop hooks of gravity rides everything and the fiercely individualistic albeit catchy dark center of the universe and the simple, acoustic beauty of perfect disguise. from there on, the songs only grow bigger, more well, let's start from the beginning. moon... opens with 3rd planet, easily among the most beautiful songs i've ever heard before continuing into the luscious pop hooks of gravity rides everything and the fiercely individualistic albeit catchy dark center of the universe and the simple, acoustic beauty of perfect disguise. from there on, the songs only grow bigger, more expansive, and ultimately more beautiful. lives is a lovely isaac brock solo number, the stars are projectors a mind-blowing tour de force of mercury rev/yerself is steam intensity, and life like weeds a pained, unpretentious probing into the sadness at the heart. the "i could have told you all that i love you" verse is simply stunning for all of its poetic beauty. absolutely essential. the best offering from one of the best bands around. 3rd planet stands with sparklehorse's sunshine and son volt's windfall as one of the three best songs of the decade. buy this record!… Expand
  11. amyc
    Sep 26, 2003
    10
    leaves me breathless every time.
  12. DylanS
    Oct 21, 2004
    10
    Absolutely amazing production, and as always lyrics that make you think. This is a strange trip of an album i highly suggest checking it out if you like music that pushes boundaries.
  13. kenf
    Jan 11, 2005
    10
    One of the most interesting listens i've heard in a long time. The masterpiece has finally arrived in the bands most creatively brilliant album.
  14. yaright
    Jan 10, 2005
    10
    this is the best record ive heard in a long time. These guys are amazing.
  15. StevenL
    Oct 2, 2005
    10
    This is the greatest album I've ever heard in my life. End of story.
  16. MarcF
    Dec 15, 2005
    10
    Indie-Rock at its best! What more can I say.
  17. kayleec
    Feb 16, 2005
    10
    I ia and awesome album, with awesome vocals
  18. NagillyBumpkin
    Aug 11, 2005
    10
    The people who thought this album was emotionless couldn't be farther from the truth. Apparently their ears just aren't equipped to hear Brock's emotional depth. It's there - it may take a little effort on the listener's part, but music that requires effort on the part of the listener is the most worthwhile.
  19. davepv
    Sep 6, 2005
    10
    I've been listening to this album for 5 years since its release. It never gets stale; always enthralls. Such energetic vitriol through the fractured prism of young men trying to make sense of things. (Yeah, I was a young man when purchased; still am). Yet they never do-- make sense of it, I mean. They are on a ceaselessly eliptical loop here and it collapses into despair and darkness I've been listening to this album for 5 years since its release. It never gets stale; always enthralls. Such energetic vitriol through the fractured prism of young men trying to make sense of things. (Yeah, I was a young man when purchased; still am). Yet they never do-- make sense of it, I mean. They are on a ceaselessly eliptical loop here and it collapses into despair and darkness and desolation. Its all the more breathtaking for it. But, man, that energy. Did I mention it rocks!?… Expand
  20. TylerC
    Nov 1, 2006
    10
    I started listening to modest mouse about two years before "Good News" came out and the song that caught my ears to them was first "Mice Eat Cheese" and then I heard 3rd Planet, which i believe is easily one of there best songs. I love so many songs they have made and all there albums and this is easily there best. I love his voice and the music is so different and i could listen to this I started listening to modest mouse about two years before "Good News" came out and the song that caught my ears to them was first "Mice Eat Cheese" and then I heard 3rd Planet, which i believe is easily one of there best songs. I love so many songs they have made and all there albums and this is easily there best. I love his voice and the music is so different and i could listen to this album over and over and i do.… Expand
  21. AxelT
    Jan 31, 2006
    10
    This album will take you away from your current state of mind and make you think about the modern world. Amazing.
  22. FletcherB
    Jan 5, 2006
    10
    Ummm....3rd Planet.
  23. JayB
    May 18, 2006
    10
    uhh... the best album from one of my favourite bands is it perfect? of course not. there are even a few weak songs. but it's the most emotionally affecting album i've ever heard. absolutely essential.
  24. DaveO'D
    Sep 16, 2006
    10
    One of the few truly greay albums of the last few years
  25. JamesG
    Sep 6, 2006
    10
    This is my favourite Modest Mouse album, very closely followed by Lonesome Crowded West. Reading the critics reviews of this goes a long way towards reminding me why I've never paid any attention to music criticism, and it's definitely the best reason why you shouldn't either. Not to say that they're wrong, exactly, but that this album aptly demonstrates that the This is my favourite Modest Mouse album, very closely followed by Lonesome Crowded West. Reading the critics reviews of this goes a long way towards reminding me why I've never paid any attention to music criticism, and it's definitely the best reason why you shouldn't either. Not to say that they're wrong, exactly, but that this album aptly demonstrates that the experience of music is VERY subjective. For ME, this is one of the most powerful albums ever made, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to stretch their ears a bit.… Expand
  26. NajeebA
    Oct 27, 2004
    10
    The best album of all time.
  27. maxm
    Jun 29, 2004
    10
    i got the album in november of 2002 as a present. i have been listing to it almost every day since then and it never got old. and it makes me so angry to hear that spin would give such a good album the rating that they did. this album could save the world.
  28. NateH
    Nov 15, 2005
    10
    Absolute perfection. There is nothing better. There never was. There never will be. I mean, look at this and look at Kid A. Kid A is obviously an incredible album, capable of elliciting emotion so strong it will practically make you cry. The Moon and Antarctica is equally as good a piece of art, but the music is so breathtakingly beautiful that you are too busy being amazed to cry. The Absolute perfection. There is nothing better. There never was. There never will be. I mean, look at this and look at Kid A. Kid A is obviously an incredible album, capable of elliciting emotion so strong it will practically make you cry. The Moon and Antarctica is equally as good a piece of art, but the music is so breathtakingly beautiful that you are too busy being amazed to cry. The warmth that radiates from "Gravity Rides Everything" is dazzling, but somehow it still has this sentimentality that almost makes your heart ache. "Life Like Weeds" is one of the most profound metaphors ever written. "Eyes need us to see, hearts need us to bleed," Brock sings. Anyone who doesn't love this album has inferior tastes.… Expand
  29. drewk
    Sep 13, 2005
    10
    This is one of my three favorite albums of all-time (OK Computer & Kid A being the others). Spin magazine should be taken to the woodshed for giving this album such a poor review. M&A over time will come to be considered one the true masterpieces of the last 20 years. Unbelievable.
  30. TC
    Mar 24, 2007
    10
    omg teh best album evar
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best Album of 2000
9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2000
14
#14 Most Shared Album of 2000

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. The A.V. Club
    70
    A sort of concept album about cold and distant places--creepy sound effects and odd nods to science and space abound--these 15 songs rarely settle into one place for long, opening with the characteristically potent "3rd Planet" before veering off into weird cacophony, jarring interludes, mellow meanderings, and general tunelessness.
    Read full review
  2. Ink Blot Magazine
    80
    The music on The Moon & Antarctica is as lonely and desolate as the title suggests...
    Read full review
  3. Puncture
    90
    Clocking in at an hour, and incorporating much schizophrenic style-hopping, this is far from the concession to one-dimensional economy often required for a major-label debut. [#47, p.53]
See all critic reviews »