Strangers to Ourselves
by Modest Mouse
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Mar 17, 2015
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
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  1. NOW Magazine
    Mar 12, 2015
    20
    Songs you'd expect to swell and boil over--which is what Modest Mouse are good at--often end up trudging humourlessly (Ansel, Be Brave), and things get far worse in the moments where humour is actually the goal.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Most Discussed Album of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 84 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 84
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 84
  3. Negative: 2 out of 84
  1. revillo
    Mar 19, 2015
    9
    It's always funny to watch reviewers scramble to make heads or tails of a slow burner like this on the day after it comes out. Notice thatIt's always funny to watch reviewers scramble to make heads or tails of a slow burner like this on the day after it comes out. Notice that everyone seems to be in agreement that the album is pretty good but no two people can say which are the best tracks or which one is unequivocal failure. "Pistol?? That's so unlike them to sound so trashy. Sugar Boats is a demented haunted carnival ride! Where's the Modest Mouse that made such radio friendly singles as Float On or Missed the Boat." And the best track? Is it Ansel, Coyote, Best room, Lampshades, The Ground Walks!?! Well I got news for y'all, it's one of the best Modest Mouse albums ever and for the first time in a long while we're getting something approaching sincerity from Brock, with this apocalyptic, agonizing, indeterminate, un-obsessive nuclear meltdown, that sounds like it was recorded in spontaneous spurts over a lifetime. Be brave! Be Brave!… Full Review »
  2. Custom_Concerns
    Mar 23, 2015
    5
    Modest Mouse is my absolutely favorite band. The Moon & Antarctica is my favorite album with The Lonesome Crowded West right behind. However,Modest Mouse is my absolutely favorite band. The Moon & Antarctica is my favorite album with The Lonesome Crowded West right behind. However, their latest effort, Strangers to Ourselves, is disappointingly average - especially for these veteran indie rockers. There are a few highlights, but I feel this is undeniably their worst album to date.… Full Review »
  3. jboknows
    Mar 19, 2015
    7
    After a near-decade hiatus, I'm happy to report that Modest Mouse is still... Modest Mouse. This album contains a few gems: specificAfter a near-decade hiatus, I'm happy to report that Modest Mouse is still... Modest Mouse. This album contains a few gems: specific favourites thus far include Lampshades on Fire and the Tortoise and the Tourist, but there are a few songs just feel like they don't belong. Perhaps the biggest mistake I can think of on any recent album (album ever?) is Pistol. Why in the world did they choose to allow this on an otherwise pretty-good new album? Very, very, frustrating, especially if you will be listening on vinyl like me. The digital version on my phone and computer have already deleted this song... I get nostalgia and wanting to show something from your earlier catalogue... but at least make sure it's a decent track. Without that one song, this album goes from a 7 to an 8.… Full Review »
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