We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
by Modest Mouse
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Mar 20, 2007
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 256 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 226 out of 256
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 256
  3. Negative: 12 out of 256

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  1. ryanh
    Feb 19, 2007
    10
    The culmination of their carreer. While it's not their best album, it sitll encompasses pieces of everything they've done.
  2. Robert
    Feb 19, 2007
    10
    Another Great MM album
  3. Kyle
    Feb 27, 2007
    10
    Great!! Modest Mouse was obviously not dead before the ship even sank.
  4. GeorgeH
    Feb 28, 2007
    10
    Awsome. Their killer discography grows and grows.
  5. codyg
    Feb 28, 2007
    10
    absolutely amazing
  6. Ben
    Mar 12, 2007
    10
    Long awaited. Unexpectedly lives up to lofty expectations.
  7. supersean
    Mar 16, 2007
    10
    best album yet
  8. Scott
    Mar 16, 2007
    8
    Blew me away with its greatness
  9. LyleR
    Mar 16, 2007
    10
    Awesome
  10. TylerT
    Mar 16, 2007
    7
    Am I crazy?? This album is ok at best. I have been a rabid fan for 7 years, and I believe this is their weekest point. It is not "bad" but it nowhere compares to the other albums... even good news. It feels rushed as hell, and little poppy, and a little too slow. I just saw them live on wednesday, and the songs are better live, but nothing compared to the older songs they were playing.
  11. Rick
    Mar 16, 2007
    10
    Excellent album, well worth the wait. Favorite tracks are "Parting of the Sensory" and "March Into The Sea".
  12. MalcolmP
    Mar 17, 2007
    9
    Sublime - what a year for indie!
  13. JoeH
    Mar 17, 2007
    10
    This album was surprisingly stellar upon firs listen. I am drunk, and it's St. patty's day, so I'll be brief. The album is fantastic, a little bit more conceptually coherent than Good News, yet there's a lot more of an overall identity between the songs. Standouts are 'We've Got Everything' (NEEDS TO BE A SINGLE), Steam Engenius, Missed the Boat, Parting This album was surprisingly stellar upon firs listen. I am drunk, and it's St. patty's day, so I'll be brief. The album is fantastic, a little bit more conceptually coherent than Good News, yet there's a lot more of an overall identity between the songs. Standouts are 'We've Got Everything' (NEEDS TO BE A SINGLE), Steam Engenius, Missed the Boat, Parting of the Sensory, and Dashboard. Ps. Music fans of all ages will be in a total state of listening bliss for atleast the first 13 seconds of People as Places as People. That song is a masterpiece.… Expand
  14. JtothaAA
    Mar 19, 2007
    9
    A fantastically guitar driven album, that sums up their entire career. Supurbly catchy and complicated at the same time. A must own for all rock fans.
  15. EddM
    Mar 19, 2007
    10
    Modest Mouseisthe best band ever. I give everyone of there songs, albums, or videos a 10!
  16. MM
    Mar 19, 2007
    10
    Zach S just kill youeself this album is great. 100/10 if I could.
  17. pulpiepulpmaster
    Mar 22, 2007
    10
    I think this album's awsome. Even though I kinda miss their slower songs like The Good Times and most of the songs on The Moon & Antarctica, It's still a good album. People are sayin that It's poppier, but what about Float On and The View? And they're sayin that it's rushed, but what about the fact that it's been 3 years since Good News and between 2000 and I think this album's awsome. Even though I kinda miss their slower songs like The Good Times and most of the songs on The Moon & Antarctica, It's still a good album. People are sayin that It's poppier, but what about Float On and The View? And they're sayin that it's rushed, but what about the fact that it's been 3 years since Good News and between 2000 and 2001, they came out with 3 cds?(The Moon & Antarctica, Everywhere And His Nasty Parlour Tricks, Sad Sappy Sucker) All in all, great album.… Expand
  18. brookec
    Mar 22, 2007
    10
    I can't even begin to express the delight I have for this fifth album. It is varied, dark and light. They can do no wrong in my book. Issac Brock is a brilliant lyricist and no-rules singer.
  19. AdamB
    Mar 22, 2007
    10
    Ranks #1 or #2 on my Modest Mouse list.
  20. EricC
    Mar 23, 2007
    7
    Here's the problem Modest Mouse has created for themselves. They were once an amzing band. People who have been following them since they released The Lonely Crowded West know this. But they remained pretty much under the radar, until they created that one song, Float On. Then they obviously realized that this mainstreem sound sells better than their indy sound, though their previous Here's the problem Modest Mouse has created for themselves. They were once an amzing band. People who have been following them since they released The Lonely Crowded West know this. But they remained pretty much under the radar, until they created that one song, Float On. Then they obviously realized that this mainstreem sound sells better than their indy sound, though their previous stuff had been better. So now this is Modest Mouse, trying to appeal to the same people who listen to The Shins and The Arcade Fire, huge comercial successes. This isn't a bad cd, though. It's just no where near as good as Crowded West or The Moon in Antartica. If you got in to them with Good News for People Who Love Bad News, than you should be ecstatic to know that there's more of the same. But if you're like me and got in to them when they had their own amazing sound, than you can't help but be disapointed. Not bad, but hopefully we'll see a relapse in their style. No song on here comes close to older songs like Teeth Like God's Shoeshine or 3rd Planet.… Expand
  21. Brendan
    Mar 23, 2007
    10
    On the first listen, it's great. On the second listen, it's absolutely amazing. By the third listen, it's one of my favorite albums.
  22. JohnDoe
    Mar 26, 2007
    9
    Excellent. Really good, especially the tracks where James Mercer collaborates. Catchy, and more main stream than previous albums but still has the Modest Mouse edge. Not my favorite album from them (The Moon and Antarctica) but certainly a step in the right direction from Good News.
  23. maryv
    Apr 16, 2007
    9
    though this album comes off as all too packed at first, it pulls you in the next day and then never lets go. something that helped my listening was reading over the lyrics while the cd player was jamming...the lyrics are gorgeous, interesting but never shouting. i haven't stopped it in 4 days. (unussual for me)
  24. JaycobT
    Apr 23, 2007
    10
    Listened to the whole thing through about three times now and I'm floored. Not really a low point on the album, every song has its appeal. The strongest songs, in my opinion, were Dashboard, Motel and Spitting Venom. Regardless, they were all amazing :)
  25. gokhank.
    Jun 24, 2007
    10
    exclusive
  26. aSsh0le
    Dec 19, 2010
    10
    Very good album but to me Good News for People Who Love Bad News was better, although Little motel is one of their best songs IMO. I wish Autumn beds was released in this album.
  27. Ricko
    Sep 22, 2015
    7
    I love "The Lonesome Crowded West". "The Moon and Antarctica" is a great record. "Good News" is a close to the perfect indie rock record as you get. Unfortunately "We Were Dead..." doesn't entice me in the same way as those aforementioned records. Of course it Modest Mouse with the legendary Johnny Marr in tow so we were always going to have a good album but too often the songs (and theI love "The Lonesome Crowded West". "The Moon and Antarctica" is a great record. "Good News" is a close to the perfect indie rock record as you get. Unfortunately "We Were Dead..." doesn't entice me in the same way as those aforementioned records. Of course it Modest Mouse with the legendary Johnny Marr in tow so we were always going to have a good album but too often the songs (and the record) drags. Take "Fire It Up" for example - a great track but it just sounds repetitive after 3 minutes and we still get another 90 seconds of it. There are many other examples like this. It's when the band are sharp and snappy (take "Florida" for example) that they blow you away. It is a record that rewards repeated listens and is a worthwhile listen but primary issue is the fact that it clocks in at over an hour when for me it really only has the stamina and substance to be a 45 minute player.… Expand
  28. JoaoRodarte
    Nov 3, 2011
    10
    This album contains, in its tracklist (14 songs), 4 of my favorite songs and a couple of more awesome songs that everybody should listen to.

    I highly recommend this for anyone who likes to mix songs with feelings.
  29. starsbedivided
    Jul 7, 2013
    7
    Not as good as "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" or "The Moon & Antarctica", and definitely not as good as "The Lonesome Crowded West", but it's an ok album.
  30. Scratch
    Jan 23, 2017
    10
    It honestly is, to me, the perfect musical experience. It has a theme, it takes you on a grand adventure, it is musically astonishing by being both catchy and having depth, and it's just plain fun. There is no lack of Isaac Brock's style here; it is Modest Mouse through and through, and it doesn't get better than this.
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed Album of 2007
56
#56 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Blender
    90
    Is there another "Float On"? It scarcely matters: 10 years into their career, Modest Mouse have stumbled into their best album yet. [Mar 2007, p.137]
  2. Under The Radar
    90
    Not just an album that revisits the dancey guitar-pop that made "Float On" an unlikely #1 hit, but sharpens and emboldens it for their most accessible album to date. [#16, p.93]
  3. Rolling Stone
    70
    Like everything the band has released since signing with Epic in the teeth of a millennial panic, it's louder and somewhat less twisty than the group's indie output.
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