UGLY CASANOVA
"Sharpen Your Teeth"
(Sub Pop)

Sharpen Your Teeth is the latest release by Isaac Brock. This CD, released May 21, 2002 - SUB POP, is certainly reminiscent of Modest Mouse. Isaac Brock shares the production credits with Brian Deck of Idful Studios and Red Red Meat/Califone. Tim Rutili of Califone/Red Red Meat also plays on this disc along with John Orth, and The Black Heart Procession's Pall Jenkins. “Sharpen Your Teeth” shares the cadence and trash style of Modest Mouse, maybe a little more rootsy/country. Having Califone included, of course, encourages this sound. Many songs hint to a primal Tom Waits style. Found sound and sing/song melodies can be heard throughout. Brock’s style is ever apparent; his voice is strong and can’t be mistaken. The musicianship is more and more complex, however, it remains lo-fi. This type of musical oxymoron makes Ugly Casanova a pleasure to listen to. Only Brock could get away with electronic and classical instruments in a low fidelity rap-slang country concept. All the songs are unique and lazily melodic. The tracks on this are easy to listen to and some would be obvious Modest Mouse songs/releases. “Diamonds in the Face of Evil” & “Things I Don’t Remember” just plain rock. This disk is less glossy than “The Moon and Antarctica” and has a more independent sound. (A bit more in line with early Modest Mouse releases.) This keeps Ugly Casanova refreshing and enjoyable. It is a must buy for the Modest Mouse fan and I think that is anyone into independent rock and roll.

-Marc