Modest Mouse's 'Coyotes' Clip Is So Cute It Hurts

US indie-rock veterans Modest Mouse continue the march towards the release of their glacially created sixth album, Strangers To Ourselves, with the release overnight of the accompanying video clip for new single Coyotes ... and the whole thing is so darn cute that it's hard to stay mad at the band for taking so long with the record in the first place.

As has been widely reported, the clip takes its cue from a real event in 2002 that saw a coyote hop on-board a light-rail train at Portland International Airport (which, just as widely referenced, also led to a Sleater-Kinney song about the whole deal). The real-life Wile E. Commuter didn't get far — it was captured and released before the train left the station — but Modest Mouse take the concept and run down the field with it, letting a coyote loose on an (empty) train to enjoy some "what if dog was one of us?"-style reflection out the window, plus a pretty affecting moment where it closes its eyes and dreams of the forest.

Or maybe we're just massive saps.

Either way, raise your day's "Aww… that's adorable" factor with minimal effort (and great reward) below (via Interstate-8).

Strangers To Ourselves is set for release internationally on Tuesday, 3 March.