Modest Mouse › Similar Artists

Built To Spill - 43% match to Modest Mouse

An alternative rock trio formed in Boise, Idaho, USA, Built To Spill developed a considerable reputation for their energetic performances, strong songwriting and frenetic musicianship for a variety of independent labels before making the move to Warner Brothers Records in the mid-90s. Long-standing fans were divided about this development, though most were pleased that this tal Read more

Neutral Milk Hotel - 21% match to Modest Mouse

The creation of singer-songwriter Jeff Mangum, Neutral Milk Hotel formed part of the loose knit Elephant 6 Recording Company collective of psych pop bands based in Athens, Georgia, USA. Mangum grew up in Ruston, Louisiana with fellow 60s enthusiasts Will Cullen Hart, Bill Doss and Robert Schneider, playing in various bands including Maggot and Cranberry Life Cycle. In 1990, Man Read more

Andrew Jackson Jihad - 17% match to Modest Mouse

Bright Eyes - 17% match to Modest Mouse

Bright Eyes is one of many projects instigated by indie singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst (Conor Mullen Oberst, 15 February 1980, Omaha, Nebraska, USA). His recordings explore a similar lo-fi territory to the work of Will Oldham and Bill Callahan’s Smog, although Oberst’s tremulous vocals and almost adolescent verbosity sometimes betray his relative yout Read more

Why? - 17% match to Modest Mouse

Animal Collective - 16% match to Modest Mouse

Having adopted (for reasons they have been unwilling to explain) the curious names of Avey Tare and Panda Bear, high school friends David Portner (USA; vocals/guitar) and Noah Lennox (b. USA; vocals/drums) evoke the strange and the magical via a music that has traceable precedents in the rituals of shamanism, the textures/structures of minimal techno, and the gentle folk roc Read more

Pavement - 16% match to Modest Mouse

Darlings of the 90s US independent scene, Pavement were formed in 1989 in Stockton, California, USA, by college drop-outs Stephen Malkmus (30 May 1966, Santa Monica, California, USA; vocals/guitar) and Scott ‘Spiral Stairs’ Kannberg (guitar). Later they extended to a five-piece by adding Gary Young (b. 3 May 1954, Mamaroneck, New York, USA; percussion), a venerable Read more

Wolf Parade - 15% match to Modest Mouse

Canadian band led by two stalwarts of the North American indie rock scene, Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner. Keyboard player and vocalist Krug (who is also a member of Frog Eyes, Sunset Rubdown and Swan Lake) was joined by ex-Atlas Strategic guitarist Boeckner and drummer Arlen Thompson in the early line-up of Wolf Parade, formed in Victoria, British Columbia in 2003. The trio com Read more

Love as Laughter - 14% match to Modest Mouse

Formed in 1994 and originally based in Seattle, Washington, this indie rock band was conceived as a solo project by former Lync guitarist/vocalist Sam Jayne. The 1996 release The Greks Bring Gifts was a messy, four-track recording with few redeeming qualities. Former Lync bandmate Dave Schneider (drums) and Witchy Poo’s Jessica Espeleta (guitar) joined Jayne on the 1998 fo Read more

The Flaming Lips - 13% match to Modest Mouse

Formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, the Flaming Lips won a deserved reputation in the 80s and 90s for their discordant, psychedelia-tinged garage rock, and have recorded a fine body of off-kilter and unpredictable work. They are led by lyricist, vocalist and guitarist Wayne Coyne (Wayne Ruby Coyne, 17 March 1965, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA), who started playing music Read more

Broken Social Scene - 12% match to Modest Mouse

The inception of Canadian band Broken Social Scene came out of the demise of a number of Toronto’s indie bands, notably By Divine Right and K.C. Accidental. The band was formed in 1999 when Kevin Drew (Canada) and Brendan Canning (b. Canada) began jamming in various basements and bedrooms around the Toronto area. During the winter of 2000/1, they completed the Broken So Read more

Elliott Smith - 12% match to Modest Mouse

Steven Paul Smith, 6 August 1969 Omaha, Nebraska, USA, d. 21 October 2003, Los Angeles, California, USA. Raised in a musical family, acclaimed singer-songwriter Smith first recorded with Portland, Oregon-based alternative rockers Heatmiser. Despite achieving a modicum of success with this band’s generic Fugazi -inspired hard rock, Smith felt happier recording acoustic m Read more

The Shins - 12% match to Modest Mouse

Formed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, the Shins was originally envisioned as a poppier offshoot of indie band Flake Music. James Mercer (26 December 1970, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; guitar/vocals), Jesse Sandoval (drums) and Marty Crandall (b. Martin Lesley Crandall; keyboards) formed the Shins in 1997 following the release of Flake Music’s sole album, When You Land Here, Read more

Death Cab For Cutie - 11% match to Modest Mouse

Formed in 1997 and originating from the college town of Bellingham, Washington, USA (but since relocated to Seattle), Death Cab For Cutie has endured numerous comparisons to similarly styled alternative rock outfits such as Built To Spill and Modest Mouse, although the band’s sound is equally influenced by renowned UK acts such as the Beatles, the Cure and the Kinks, while Read more