"The Lonesome Crowded West" is the sophomore LP from Washington's Modest Mouse. This is personally one of my all time favorite albums. The album is considered one of the very best indie rock albums of the 90's among critics and music listeners in general. It is vaguely a concept album on the subject of the urban sprawl in the west. Through it, the members of the band expressed their frustration with what the massive urban development did to the western landscape. The album was release on Up Records on November 18th, 1997 on CD and vinyl LP.
This was a very simple release, but it has some very odd quirks. The vinyl LP release of this album contains a bonus track and a slightly altered track-listing. The CD release is usually considered the definitive release simply because it is the most accessible. CD's can very easily be found for $10 in any good music shop.
The vinyl LP release is the real gem here. It is released on two LPs, but unlike most records that either use a gatefold to hold the two LPs or store both LPs in a single jacked, it is released in two separate jackets. On the subject of the jackets, the track-listing is actually printed incorrectly. It does not match up with either the CD release or the actual tracks on the vinyl LP itself. This version of the album demands ridiculous prices and can easily get $300 for a decent copy. I have personally seen an impeccable copy of the album go for over $400, and I've seen a sealed copy of this album go for over $800.
Recently front man Isaac Brock has stated that he intends on reissuing "The Lonesome Crowded West" on vinyl LP soon. Unfortunately, the masters for the album have been lost. As a result of this, the entire album must be remaster from scratch in order for a vinyl reissue to be possible. When/If this will ever happen is unsure, but fans and collectors wait eagerly to this day.
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