By Taylor Long

When it comes to defining an indie rock band, the criteria get a little fuzzy. Is a particular sound necessary? Does the band have to be on a certain label? What if they’re on MTV or MTV2? What does Pitchfork Media have to say about them? Modest Mouse have long been reaching outstanding heights for a band that can still be considered an indie rock band in many ways-even though their latest release is (gasp!) on Epic Records.

The band’s fifth full-length release, Good News For People Who Love Bad News hasn’t lost the Modest Mouse signature sound. Issac Brock’s distinct voice and the twangy guitars are still there (and original Guitarist Dann Gallucci is back, now that the Murder City Devils are defunct) and are still the essence of Modest Mouse. The one thing that seems to have changed is the pop content, as evidenced by the album’s single, “Float On,” which is arguably the catchiest song the band has ever written. However, the band’s increased pop sound may take a few listens to grow on long time fans.

The beginning stands up strongly with “The World At Large,” “Float On” and “Ocean Breathes Salty,” some of the best tracks on the album.

The middle takes a dip, but is then saved by “Bukowski,” named after the writer/poet. “Bukowski” shows that Brock hasn’t lost a touch of his creative lyrical integrity, with lines like, “If God takes life / he’s an Indian giver.” Soon thereafter, “Black Cadillacs” keeps the lyrical ingenuity on a roll with, “And it’s true we named our children after towns that we’ve never been to / and it’s true that the clouds just hung around like black Cadillacs outside a funeral.”

The Flaming Lips add “additional instrumentation” on the closer, “The Good Times Are Killing Me,” which proves to add an interesting quality to the track and makes it one of the stand-outs on thealbum.

Good News For People Who Love Bad News may be a great introduction to anyone who hasn’t yet caught on to the band. Luckily, the good news is that this album isn’t bad news for long time fans.