We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Modest Mouse, released in 2007. The album is the first studio album by the band since their 2004 album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News and is also the band's only full-length with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as a member of the band. It has a strong nautical theme and was originally envisioned as a concept album about a boat crew that dies in every song.