Sep 03 2006
Ugly Casanova – Sharpen Your Teeth
Ugly Casanova is the side project of Isaac Brock, lead singer and guitarist of Modest Mouse. The song Hotcha Girls appeared on the bands only released album, Sharpen Your Teeth, and has been and will most likely remain one of my favorite songs of all time. Brock made the album with Tim Rutili (Califone, Red Red Meat), Pall Jenkins (The Black Heart Procession), John Orth (Holopaw), and Brian Deck. It’s funny how the band got started. Off Sub Pop’s site:
“The first time any one seemed to care that Edgar Graham (a.k.a. Ugly Casanova) existed was in the summer of 1998, when he impressed himself upon the members of Modest Mouse while backstage at a Denver show.
Casanova began to share some rough songs with the trio and, after much prodding, with a few sparse crowds that milled about hours before the opening band was scheduled to appear. While Casanova’s talent was unmistakable, by the time he finished each impromptu performance, his face held a look of shame and anger that more often than not, foreshadowed a retreat into himself. However, by the end of Modest Mouse’s tour, Casanova, with much reluctance, was persuaded to record some of these songs and hand them over to record labels for issue as singles or parts of compilations. Predictably, immediately after he had done so, he disappeared. “
We later found out that Brock was full of shit, and “Casanova” was a figment of his imaginaton. He made Graham up so he wouldn’t have so much attention on himself. This 2002 album will probably be Ugly Casanova’s one and only album release due to label conflicts–Modest Mouse is on Epic, while Ugly Casanova is on Sub Pop.
Sharpen Your Teeth:
Ugly Casanova – Hotcha Girls
Music Video:
Ugly Casanova’s lost music video for the song Things I Can’t Remember has just been released this summer. It’s really a must see. Check it out at Spin.
Buy the album from the best record label in the world, Sub Pop.
6 Responses to “Ugly Casanova – Sharpen Your Teeth”
Very Cool site U are building here; got the link of Zach’s page, so It is already working Ur Marketing stunt 😀 But a lot of cool music…
Like Ugly C especicially; although I must admit that the beginning of the video for I Can’t Remember isn’t neceserally is a must see.. Kinda disturbing in the beginning; but a great song and definately artzy 😀
Looking very much forward to follow this blog.
Good Luck
haha, the whole video was kinda disturbing… but yeah, the beginning was more so. i think overall the message in the video is pretty cool. it takes us back to those times when we didn’t understand what the most basic things in our lives meant, and how we now take these things that once fascinated us for granted and act like we’ve known all along.
it’s the things we don’t remember.
thanks for the kind words and support! i really appreciate you taking the time to comment.
-David
I love your site. It is simple and unfettered – clear and honest. I probably would never have heard this music if not for this place. We share an aesthetic. I will be a frequenter. Thanks so much for your effort. Your work is worthwhile.
Chuck Sullivan
[…] Visit original post by David […]
[…] For those of you who don’t know, Ugly Casanova is the side project of Isaac Brock, lead singer and guitarist of Modest Mouse. You can read more information about the band on my September post. There, you can find out who Edgar Graham is, and rumor has it that he has the last of these hard to find EP’s and will give one to anyone who asks, absolutely free of charge. He will even autograph it for ya. There’s no updated news on the band, and the chance of them releasing another album is slim. It may even be impossible, given Modest Mouse is on Epic, while Ugly Casanova is on Sub Pop. […]
[…] you know Isaac Brock, lead singer of Modest Mouse and Ugly Casanova, worked for Sub Pop as a scout? Yep, he introduced Sub Pop to some great acts, including The Shins, […]