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Sad Sappy Sucker
by
Sad Sappy Sucker Image
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

  • Summary: This "lost album" from Modest Mouse was originally recorded in 1994 to be the band's debut album, but was eventually shelved. This release contains additional tracks recorded during the same time period as the original 'Sad Sappy Sucker.'

Top Track

It Always Rains on a Picnic
No, I don't suppose Downpour, downpour It always rains on a picnic Downpour, downpour Don't let go quite yet Downpour, downpour... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Pitchfork
    70
    Overall, Sad Sappy Sucker feels as if it was sort of put together in a hurry, despite it having sat around in the warehouse for seven years. The album part has plenty of good songs, though, and any completist will want to hear it.
  2. Shredding Paper
    70
    Solid, if somewhat dated, material. [#11]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. PopMatters
    60
    The breadth of material is both a curse and a blessing.
  4. Blender
    60
    Instead of the rumbling epics of their later records... we get patient but ultraconcise miniatures. [Jun/Jul 2001, p.113]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. AllMusic
    50
    The thick textures, crazy drawl vocals, and grand flair of later Modest Mouse albums such as The Lonesome Crowded West and The Moon & Antarctica are not fully realized on Sad Sappy Sucker.
  6. Magnet
    40
    The songs on Sucker aren't the greatest tunes Brock has ever committed to tape... [#51, p.103]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Splendid
    40
    Aside from being tracked incorrectly (on my copy anyway) and not always being of the choicest sound quality, Sad Sappy Sucker shows that Modest Mouse’s rise to the pinnacle of indiedom started at the bottom, just like everybody else.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. tinam
    Oct 8, 2005
    10
    this album rocks
  2. amyc
    Sep 26, 2003
    10
    i was so excited to find this album. modest mouse has yet to disappoint me.
  4. Tom7
    Jul 12, 2001
    9
    This album is great. It is completely honest and full of energy and great songs. They were really having fun when they made this. In that This album is great. It is completely honest and full of energy and great songs. They were really having fun when they made this. In that respect is on par with the other great low-fi recordings of the mid 1990s (Pavement and GBV come to mind, though the K sound is unmistakable). As Modest Mouse descends into major-label ennui, this is a much needed reminder that they were once a real indie rock band. My favorite of theirs!… Expand
  5. DotComGaming
    Oct 26, 2018
    8
    Somehow, Modest Mouse at their worst is still better than most bands at their best. Still, this album rocks.

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