We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (180 Gram Vinyl) (2 Lp's)Though the album title sounds like it was borrowed from the avant weirdos Liars, WE WERE DEAD BEFORE THE SHIP EVEN SANK finds quintessential indie rockers Modest Mouse charting a course down the stylistic middle. They retain enough of their trademark quirkiness to keep longtime fans from feeling alienated, but they simultaneously put popwise songcraft to the fore. The dance rock of "Dashboard" sounds like it could be a Killers outtake, and several