AMG Review of Fruit That Ate Itself

Jason Ankeny
All Music Guide

Produced by Calvin Johnson, The Fruit That Ate Itself possesses a leaner and meaner sound than earlier Modest Mouse releases -- the emphasis here is less on noise than groove, and the spare, edgy approach of cuts like "Dirty Fingernails" and the title track recalls the goofy indie-funk of Dub Narcotic Sound System and other likeminded Johnson-helmed projects.