{^Building Nothing Out of Something} collects {$Modest Mouse} singles and rare tracks from the group's indie-label years, including the studio tracks from the {^Interstate 8} EP and their contributions to the {@Sub Pop} Singles Club. Despite the songs' motley origins, {^Building Nothing Out of Something} works well as an album, balancing the group's quirky and often poignant pop songs with their more abrasive rock side. The wonderfully dreamy, off-kilter {&"Interstate 8"} and {&"Workin' on Leavin' the Livin'"} (which cleverly quotes {^Eraserhead}'s {&"Lady in the Radiator Song"}) are two shining examples of the group's elastic, loopy guitar pop, while {&"All Nite Diner,"} {&"A Life of Arctic Sounds,"} and {&"Other People's Lives"} define their high-strung rock sound. Slower songs like {&"Grey Ice Water"} and the {$Santo & Johnny} homage {&"Sleepwalkin'"} round out this look at {$Modest Mouse}'s diverse but consistently worthwhile indie output. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide