Ugly Casanova
Sharpen Your Teeth
Sub Pop

Solo offerings in the indie rock world are traditionally the works of bandleaders looking for an outlet to release their softer, acoustic side (J Mascis, Lou Barlow) or a forum for an abundance of music by inspired singer-songwriter types who front (or fronted) big-name bands (Bob Pollard, Paul Westerberg). Both hold true for Sharpen Your Teeth, the first solo release by Modest Mouse leader Isaac Brock.

Though he's recording under the pen name of Modest Mouse fan Edgar Graham — who's rumored to have written the songs on Sharpen Your Teeth before dropping out of sight — Brock doesn't stray far from his recent output with Modest Mouse, which has shifted from raw, high-energy garage rock toward slowed down, psychedelic jams. As a result, Sharpen Your Teeth captures the moodiness and experimentation of the last few Modest Mouse releases (Moon and Antarctica and Everywhere and His Nasty Parlour Tricks), which isn't surprising given that Brock is joined by frequent collaborators Tim Rutili and Brian Deck, of Califone and Red Red Meat.

References to booze and God that often found their way onto previous Modest Mouse releases are kept to a minimum on Sharpen Your Teeth, ironic considering Brock sounds more like an old-time country singer with each new release. Brock also continues to write off-the-wall, oddball lyrics, possibly inspired by Graham, who for a short while wrote songs for the band. On the mellow album opener, "Barnacles," Brock sings, "I don't know me/ and you don't know me/ and you don't know you/ so we fit so good together/ cuz I knew you like I knew myself."

Brock and Rutili swap verses on the heavily percussive, Beck-like "Spilled Milk Factory." It benefits not only from Rutili's vocals, but his dreamy, droning keyboards that propel the song. A few tracks — "Beesting" and "Things I Don't Remember," in particular — come off as standard Brock acoustic campfire sing-a-longs. The true gem of the album is "Parasites," a track punctuated by horns over a slow, militant drumbeat, some minimal electric guitar work and Brock's refrain of "All your thoughts/ they rot."

Though its name might suggest otherwise, Sharpen Your Teeth won't take a bite out of a new audience. The album is best listened to in small doses, and it should satisfy fans of both Califone and Modest Mouse, warranting many repeated listens.

— P.J. Osborne (patrickjosborne at hotmail dot com)