Yeah, they improved greatly between 1995 and 1997.

So technically, yes, they have improved greatly since their inception.

Modest Mouse was angular and bombastic. Now they're just ole reg rock with melody and hooks.

Right, which again leads to the difference in opinion as to whether they've gotten better or not.

right, which means they have not improved.

Even the change in "angularity" is somewhat debatable. They had a decent amount of hooks in their old stuff, too. It was just noisier and dirtier.

this is starting to sound similar to the whole pavement argument...with probably the same people on either side.

I'd actually fall on the early Pavement side of things. Slanted is my favourite.

And I'm on the CRCR side. How we'll will be friends?

I thought with Pavement we're on the same side of the fence, tending to favour the first couple of records. While the other side argues that the latter two albums are the best. Same with the Pixies.

Oh, I thought Pavement came down to SESE vs. the rest of their output. Like SESE was Lonesome crowded west and CRCR was Good News...

I guess we can be friends after all.

I don't think there is an actual "other side" that makes that argument, just me.

and me.

i like BTC & TT so i guess, me too.

The hilarious thing about this is that their songwriting has changed almost none. Malkmus' voice and the band's playing aren't really "better" in any meaningful way. The main difference is more radio-friendly production. If anything, they've stagnated, and Malkmus' lyrical shtick has just become tired and less inspired. His lyrics aren't any more "mature" than they were on Slanted & Enchanted. He's more or less singing about the same shit. His signature guitar thing has become more subdued and taken a back seat to more typical rock production. And they had Jonny Greenwood on one album. That's how they've changed. That's why you don't know what you're talking about.

Actually the correct answer is: Pavement was never really any good, and The Pixies started out awesome, and got awesomer.

I think you meant to use the "my tongue is in your asshole now and forever" emoticon.

If we don't have one of those, you really should seek one out. You'd really find it handy.

But lets keep filling this thread with more useless analogies of things that are not analogous to each other.

OR you take another one of my posts and change all the key words so it supports your own argument! So many possibilities and GUARANTEED hilarity.

You don't even have to be the least bit clever OR funny about it!

Yeah, because it couldn't possibly be funny.

You really take obner way too seriously.

Actually, changing the words are both clever AND funny.

you enjoyed paul blart mall cop, didn't you?

I can see now why our opinions differ on so many things.

Yeah, Rads's jokes are a lot like Paul Blart humor.

Yeah, I'm not a pretentious indie twat.