Sharpen Your Teeth
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Sharpen Your Teeth Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

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  • Summary: Ugly Casanova is the alter ego of Modest Mouse singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, who makes his solo debut with this release. The 13 tracks were produced by Brian Deck (Tortoise, Sea and Cake), and the backing band includes Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession) and Tim Rutili (Red Red Meat), butUgly Casanova is the alter ego of Modest Mouse singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, who makes his solo debut with this release. The 13 tracks were produced by Brian Deck (Tortoise, Sea and Cake), and the backing band includes Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession) and Tim Rutili (Red Red Meat), but it sounds a lot like a Modest Mouse release.… Expand

Top Track

Barnacles
I don't really need to see, So I don't need to see so I'll paint, I don't know, I'll paint it black. I don't need to see, I don't see how you see... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

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]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Uncut
    80
    Terrific stuff. [Aug 2002, p.122]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. AllMusic
    80
    Cuts into raw indie rock with spells of country and folk, while allowing Brock to explore a varying scope of sounds.
  4. Q Magazine
    80
    An oddity for sure, but much too good to be restricted to specialist alt-rock record retailers. [July 2002, p.122]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Pitchfork
    73
    The collaborative nature of Sharpen Your Teeth, of course, yields a few missteps.... There are some damn fine moments here, though.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. DaveB
    Oct 3, 2003
    10
    With the exception of "Beesting," this is, without a doubt, an album worth buying and listening to over and over again. Isaac Brock at his With the exception of "Beesting," this is, without a doubt, an album worth buying and listening to over and over again. Isaac Brock at his most drunken and at his best.… Expand
  2. ryanm
    May 18, 2003
    10
    strangely beautiful...and it is still growing on me... a superb musicianship...
  4. 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.… Expand
  5. KellyWalrus
    Mar 7, 2005
    10
    Simply amazing... I've just found this album and have fallen in love.
  6. 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.… Expand
  7. 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.… Expand
  8. TimB
    Jul 16, 2003
    9
    Do you like Modest Mouse? If so, you might like this. No guarantees, however. As usual, Isaac Brock isn't going to make things to easy Do you like Modest Mouse? If so, you might like this. No guarantees, however. As usual, Isaac Brock isn't going to make things to easy for you. The first track ("Barnacles") sounds like classic MM, but the second ("Spilled Milk Factory") veers abruptly into another realm, and by the time the nearly-sixteen-minute-long third track ends, you'll likely be wondering what sort of controlled substances were involved in the construction of this album. A variety of rhythm-focused tracks (all of which will pop into your head while you're trying to do other things) fill out much of the very enjoyable remainder of the album, with a few interludes, which are also wonderful. If I weren't so lazy, I'd describe them in more detail. The next-to-final track "Things I Don't Remember" is one you will certainly remember -- it's arguably the highlight of the album and a brilliant closing track. (The next track, "So Long to the Holidays" simply fails to impress me quite as much.) This album is not a Modest Mouse release, but it's no less brilliant and no less than we'd expect from Mr. Brock.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best Album of 2002

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