This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About
This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About is the debut studio album by American rock band Modest Mouse. It was released on April 16, 1996, through Up Records.
Musical style
This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About is an indie rock album that incorporates elements of punk rock, grunge, heavy metal, twee pop, surf rock, jazz, and chamber music. Ryan Schreiber of Pitchfork remarked that Modest Mouse show influence from Pixies and Jane's Addiction. with certain elements on the album also drawing comparisons to Built to Spill and Pink Floyd.
Lyrically, many of the album's tracks focus on traveling by automobile and the loneliness associated with rural life.
Critical reception
The Albuquerque Tribune called the album "intricate, brainy pop sneaking back into old-time ballads, honky-tonk slide and folk pluck." Robert Christgau remarked that Modest Mouse are "so insularly indie they're incomprehensible to anyone who hasn't been softened up by Wowee Zowee and the Meat Puppets".
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Isaac Brock; all music is composed by Modest Mouse
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dramamine" | 5:42 |
| 2. | "Breakthrough" | 4:06 |
| 3. | "Custom Concern" | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Might" | 1:30 |
| 5. | "Lounge" | 6:34 |
| 6. | "Beach Side Property" | 7:00 |
| 7. | "Ionizes & Atomizes" | 4:21 |
| 8. | "Head South" | 4:22 |
| 9. | "Dog Paddle" | 2:02 |
| 10. | "Novocain Stain" | 3:42 |
| 11. | "Tundra/Desert" | 5:24 |
| 12. | "Ohio" | 6:00 |
| 13. | "Exit Does Not Exist" | 4:57 |
| 14. | "Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset" | 5:50 |
| 15. | "Make Everyone Happy/Mechanical Birds" | 6:04 |
| 16. | "Space Travel Is Boring" | 1:53 |
Vinyl edition
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dramamine" | 5:42 |
| 2. | "Breakthrough" | 4:06 |
| 3. | "Custom Concern" | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Might" | 1:30 |
| 5. | "Lounge" | 6:34 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beach Side Property" | 7:00 |
| 2. | "Ionizes & Atomizes" | 4:21 |
| 3. | "Head South" | 4:22 |
| 4. | "Dog Paddle" | 2:02 |
| 5. | "Novocain Stain" | 3:42 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tundra/Desert" | 5:24 |
| 2. | "Ohio" | 6:00 |
| 3. | "Exit Does Not Exist" | 4:57 |
| 4. | "Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset" | 5:50 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Make Everyone Happy/Mechanical Birds" | 6:04 |
| 2. | "Space Travel Is Boring" | 1:53 |
| 3. | "Edit the Sad Parts" | 7:04 |
| 4. | "A Manic Depressive Named Laughing Boy" | 5:03 |
Personnel
Modest Mouse
- Isaac Brock – guitar and vocals (drums on "Dog Paddle")
- Jeremiah Green – drums (bass on "Dog Paddle")
- Eric Judy – bass (guitar on "Dog Paddle")
Additional musicians
- Steve Wold – slide guitar, mandolin, guitar, backup vocals
- Brent Arnold – cello
- Nicole Johnson – vocals on "Custom Concern", "Ionizes & Atomizes", and "Head South"
- Calvin Johnson – extra vocals on "Head South"
Other
- Produced by Steve Wold
- Engineered by Scott Swayze & Steve Wold
- Photography by Isaac Brock