This album documents the early days of Modest Mouse. Sad Sappy Sucker is an album of twelve previously unreleased Modest Mouse recordings made with Calvin Johnson at the Dub Narcotic Studio, Olympia, in 1994, and twelve songs home-recorded by Isaac Brock around the same time. Prior to establishing a relationship with Up Records in 1996, Isaac Brock made solo recordings as Modest Mouse for several years, releasing three home-made cassettes and running a Dial-A-Song service from his home answering machine. In November, 1994, Isaac recorded at the Dub Narcotic Studio in Olympia, Wa., with an early version of the band. Though this line-up included permanent drummer Jeremiah Green, this session was prior to bassist Eric Judy joining the band. John Wickhart played bass, and (future member of the Murder City Devils) Dann Gallucci played second guitar. All Twelve songs recorded at the Dub Narcotic session are included on Sad Sappy Sucker. The last eight songs on the album were recorded for Isaac s Dial-A-Song project. They were recorded on his answering machine each day and could be heard only by calling the Dial-A-Song phone number. The song Missoula City Devil is actually by Spencer Moody, the only message ever left on the Dial-A-Song machine by a caller. The cover design for Sad Sappy Sucker combines photographs and artwork made by Isaac Brock during the period that the songs were recorded and incorporates the cover artwork for the original Modest Mouse cassette-only releases.

1. Worms Vs Birds
2. Four Fingered Fisherman
3. Wagon Ride Return
4. From Point A To Point B
5. Path Of Least Resistance
6. It Always Rains On A Picnic
7. Dukes Up
8. Think Long
9. Every Penny Fed Car
10. Mice Eat Cheese
11. Race Car Grin You Aint No Landmark
12. Red Hand Case
13. Secret Agent X-9
14. Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect?
15. Call to Dial-a-Song
16. 5-4-3-2-1... Lisp Off
17. Woodgrain
18. BMX Crash
19. Sucker Bet
20. Black Blood
21. SWY
22. Australopithecus
23. Sin Gun Chaser