[rating:48/100]
“Meh” was added to the dictionary this year, meaning “mediocre” or “boring.” I tend to use this word a lot when I review things, so I figured that I should fully define the term at some point. And Modest Mouse’s latest, “Satellite Skin,” gives me the perfect opportunity.
I really like a lot of Modest Mouse stuff; their albums have been increasingly consistent and inventive. But the song they premiered on Letterman a while back, “Satellite Skin,” came off as flat and bland. Revolving primarily around lead singer Issac Brock’s voice, the song trucks along with some lazy guitar chords and a beat that goes nowhere. From the first 1/2 minute or so, I was heavily expecting a great song. With Brock’s powerful voice over barely any instrumentals, I was expecting the song to grow into a lavish, epic number (like “Dashboard,” one of my favorite MM songs). Rather, it did quite the opposite, repeating the same titular phrase over and over. As a matter of fact, if you clicked through the entire 4 minute, 12 second YouTube video, you’d find that every single part sounds exactly the same- the song never changes, it isn’t dynamic at all. “Skin” only provides one memorable moment/lyric:
“You could say what you want, you’re forgiven. Well happy freakin’ congratulations.”
I don’t know, that saved the song a bit for me. Otherwise, let’s hope that Modest Mouse’s 4 upcoming 7″s sound a little more full.
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Personally, I like this song a lot. At first I thought it was just okay, but now it’s really grown on me. I agree that this song sounds much more like Modest Mouse’s more recent songs, but there are elements of their older songs as well. I’m still don’t quite fully understand the meaning of most of the lyrics, but the general idea seems to be one of breaking away from old life which has become unappealing.
I can’t wait to hear the rest of the EP in August, and I really can’t wait to see the music video that Heath Ledger directed.
actually a great song, meh performance of that song. single artwork looks pretty cool- some cat named Levy at http://www.joshuamarclevy.com
The best reviews come from one who is unfamiliar with an artist’s previous works.
Respect.
Overall, the song isn’t awesome, “meh” describes it pretty well in comparison to everything else MM has done. I would agree that the more recent MM listeners (Good News, We Were Dead) would like Satellite Skin because of its mainstream sound. But it has cool moments in it that remind the listener (if they are a fan) that they still have a creative/unique sound.
although it doesnt sound like old MM it has something that pople seem to forget. amaing lyrics and if you listen to it i believe it is talking about how there are people who say that they dont care that they want to be popular and thenmake fun of the pople who try to hard to be popular yet when others arent around try and do the exact same thing
for example “do you really believe that there is a race to be won” do you really think being popular matters
hoo boy new Modest Mouse! there’s some bands i feel i should probably like more than i do..the shins, animal collective, built to spill are a few…i can appreciate their music but I just don’t connect with their stuff like I do with Modest Mouse (old and new..it’s all good)…the whole MM happy/sad vibe just kills me..the same way Archers of Loaf did back in the nineties…Satellite Skin is a goodie alright..i just stumbled across it tonight..ah life is good!
I like the song very much. First of all because of the lyrics. I can’t make out the last lines though. Can somebody help me out? Another (dynamic) highlight is the general pause at 2:34. Doesn’t come out right in this performance. Check it out here: http://www.longshotpictures.net/index.html (fourth video)
James, you’re missing the point of all of this… I’m not shaming you at all. If you’re feeling shame, that’s your deal (and the ONLY reason I brought up age is in an effort to give some context to what I was saying).
Here’s what I’m getting at: I don’t think it’s your place to police someone’s fan credentials to review a song. I’m all about hearing your opinions (after looking at the bands you like, I think we have some common ground), but instead of giving us an educated comment on the song (which you seem capable of doing), you call Adam out and imply he’s not fan enough to talk about your band. That’s an asinine move.
I don’t care about age or when you started listening to the band… just chill and let everyone enjoy the music.
no need to believe my parents driving me. it was in walking distance. yeah 11 year olds know how to walk.
also i never said it was a great song. btw. (you can check my posts to confirm im not contradicting myself)
[and dont try to hide behind the skirt of "OMG IM OLDER THAN YOU SO IM COOLER AND CAN SHAME YOU"]
Once again, Jeff’s right on this. And unless I live in a parallel universe, you can “like” a band but not be “admittedly a big fan” of that band. “Fans” buy posters, t-shirts, and albums. People who “like” a band listen to their songs. So I don’t believe I’m contradicting myself at all.
With every post, your obnoxious level is increasing. Maybe you should “just chill and let everyone enjoy the music.”
Too bad having your parents drive you to the store at age 11 to buy a MM record (which I don’t believe) doesn’t make your original comment less douchey. People besides you can like MM AND have different opinions about them. You don’t have the monopoly on awesomeness (no matter how hard you try).
[And don't try to hide behind the skirt of what "most of the people commenting" say. Own your comment... otherwise you just look pathetic.]
ps. learn to internet n00b
ive been buying modest mouse cds since i was 11 so big deal you have two years on me
also i dont understand so explain this “I’m admittedly not a big MM fan….” then you say “I DO like Modest Mouse. In fact, I like them very much.” so are you contradicting yourself to get a point across just to shame me? and on the internet none the less….
and so far most of the people commenting on this also disagree with your opinion of the song.
@ James Heyward,
I’ve been buying MM albums since you were 9 (yeah, just checked your website), and my favorite songs came off Interstate 8. Based on your lame criteria, I DO have the credentials to review this song. Guess what, it’s good, not great. Get over it.
You talk about respecting opinions… let me tell you what kind of opinions I respect: the kind that aren’t framed in the context of mass appeal. You’re only 20, so to a guy like me, you’re as new to the MM game as Adam is. So where do you get your moral authority to rag on his opinion?
Bottom line is most people haven’t heard that old stuff because it wasn’t written for the masses… casual fans didn’t care and won’t ever care. MM wasn’t radio friendly until “Float On” was released, and that was a collective sign from Brock & the boys that MM was making a switch from indie rock roots to a more mainstream brand of rock. You can (and I do) argue that elements of their old indie roots are in every record, but the single’s they release now are more mainstream and less indie than they once were. I don’t fault them for it (we all have to feed our families), but I also don’t sit here and blame mainstream pop bloggers for not liking a song that was written “for the fans.” Modest Mouse made a decision on Good News to cater to those fans, and now they’re subject to those opinions. That includes Adam’s. Get over it.
Being a MM fan doesn’t mean you have to bronze every dump that Isaac Brock takes and stick it on your mantle (you can dislike a song). Being a MM fan is knowing that most people will never like This is a Long Drive… or Lonesome Crowded West, and being okay with that. To me, the fans that get worked up about negative opinions like Adam’s are the ones that are trying to prove their “indie” cred by liking MM. Trust me. You don’t have to defend MM. Their complete work stands on its own.
well who would respect the opinion of someone reviewing a song of a band they personally dont like?
Thanks for getting my back Jeff!
But if Jeff’s response wasn’t enough for you, James, I got something else: I DO like Modest Mouse. In fact, I like them very much. I just don’t like the song “Satellite Skin.” Deal with it.
This song didn’t premiere on Letterman, they’ve been playing it live for a long time and the line you quoted is actually “You could say what you want, you’re forgiven. Well happy fuckin’ congratulations.”
That was the world televised premiere. And I was quoting it as they sung it on Letterman. Just because I reviewed their song does not mean I’ve been to their concerts, I’m admittedly not a big MM fan….
If your favorite modest mouse song is dashboard you oviously don’t have the credentials to review modest mouse songs.
And you wanna hear a “lavish epic number” talking shit about a pretty sunset is where you need to start.
This song I feel is for the fans not the people that started listening to them after good news
Which leads me to this. I love the song “Dashboard.” Most people do. It may not be my favorite track of theirs, but it’s one of them. Why is that such a problem?
And maybe I will need to listen to “Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset.” But that isn’t the song I was reviewing.
If this song is, as you say, for the fans, then I hope the fans enjoy. I’m not a huge fan, therefore this song isn’t for me, therefore I don’t like it that much. But anyone has credentials to review any song. A song is a song, no matter who it works best for.
Great song, locking forward to the new EP, coming out Augusst!
hahahaha supposed to be anything they ever do will be good so suck it
dude this song is great just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean its not dynamic. Modest Mouse is the shit and anything they ever do with me good so you can suck it.
I like this song. It channels a lot of older Modest Mouse, which I guess is an acquired taste.
I’m still thinkin’ “Meh” and have been since I first heard the band… not that it matters, but they never failed to grasp me. Had they released some of this music when they first started up in the ’90s I think it would have eased me into sticking with them, but they’re kinda like the U2 of indie rock (just because everyone knows about em doesn’t mean they don’t still kinda suck).
they’re coming out with a new album??