In 1994 the band recorded their self-titled debut single at Calvin Johnson's Dub Narcotic Studios, which was then released on Calvin's record label K Records. After moving to Up Records Modest Mouse released two 1996 LPs, This is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About and Interstate 8. Following a return to K, Modest Mouse released The Fruit That Ate Itself in 1997 and in 1998, The Lonesome Crowded West, which turned out to be the band's breakthrough album. In 2000 Up issued a singles and rarities collection titled Building Nothing out of Something.
Also in 2000 the band released their first album on a major label, put out by Epic Records. Many fans were afraid that The Moon And Antarctica would be a sellout album and the band would lose their distinctive sound, but the only real differences from earlier records were a more polished production aesthetic and some success on alternative radio with singles "3rd Planet" and "Gravity Rides Everything." Isaac has since put out an album with his one-off side project Ugly Casanova.
Modest Mouse's new album "Good News For People Who Like Bad News" will be released in early 2004.