Teen Dance Ordinance (album)

Teen Dance Ordinance is the debut studio album by the American indie rock band, Modest Mouse. It was released in 1996 on Cavity Search Records. The album's title refers to a real ordinance that existed in Issaquah, Washington, where the band originated, restricting or prohibiting teen dances.

The album features a raw and lo-fi sound characteristic of Modest Mouse's early work. It showcases the band's signature blend of angular guitar riffs, unconventional song structures, and Isaac Brock's distinctive vocal delivery. Lyrically, Teen Dance Ordinance explores themes of suburban alienation, social commentary, and personal introspection.

The track list includes songs like "Positive/Negative," "Broke," and "Space Travel Is Boring." The album is considered an important early release in the band's discography, demonstrating their developing sound and lyrical themes that would later become hallmarks of their more widely known work. While not achieving mainstream success upon initial release, Teen Dance Ordinance has gained recognition among fans and critics as a significant document of Modest Mouse's formative years.