Modest Mouse

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:

Originally posted by nkotb:
Still, I don't think the average person in the world gives two shits about Modest Mouse and would probably only equate them to one song, "Float On."

the average person probably gives two shits about most bands in that list … would you consider beck a one-hit wonder?

i heard ocean breathes salty at foot locker once

and gravity rides everything is in a minivan commercial

If you notice I said "one hit wonder for want of a better term" I think that the better bands aren't even one hit wonders in the true sense of the word because they don't get mass airplay, while the shit that sings on American Idle is never off the airwaves. What I meant was, is the song they played on Letterman typical of their sound, or is their stuff hit and miss as far as quality goes.

I didn't notice Johhny Marr but does he really play with them or are you just pulling this old mans leg?

Which album do you suggest I buy as a good introduction to Modest Mouse. Their name is totally lame by the way.

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:

Originally posted by nkotb:
Still, I don't think the average person in the world gives two shits about Modest Mouse and would probably only equate them to one song, "Float On."

the average person probably gives two shits about most bands in that list … would you consider beck a one-hit wonder?

Having been unfortunate enough to have suffered through a live Beck performance I wouldn't even give him credit for one!

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
If you notice I said "one hit wonder for want of a better term" I think that the better bands aren't even one hit wonders in the true sense of the word because they don't get mass airplay, while the shit that sings on American Idle is never off the airwaves. What I meant was, is the song they played on Letterman typical of their sound, or is their stuff hit and miss as far as quality goes.

I didn't notice Johhny Marr but does he really play with them or are you just pulling this old mans leg?

Which album do you suggest I buy as a good introduction to Modest Mouse. Their name is totally lame by the way.

he does play with them, i watched the letterman performance on youtube and he was on lead guitar, he joined them while recording the latest album, I think the last album sounds like this one, I think the ones previous to that are less accessible… i happen to prefer the older ones, I dont listen to any of them much anymore though

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
Which album do you suggest I buy as a good introduction to Modest Mouse. Their name is totally lame by the way.

Buy the one with their one hit on it.

Marr has been with them for recording the album and will be with them at least through this tour.

Like it or not, Modest Mouse at this point are a one hit wonder in the same vein that The Verve are a one hit wonder. Most indie fans have a tremendous amount of respect for both bands, but the majority of Americans know both bands for one song, and one song only.

Modest Mouse, by virtue of not breaking up, have a better chance of not being a one hit wonder, but the Verve will always be a one hit wonder in the US, and that's painful to say.

Unless your from the UK or the Northwest US, they are still both one hit wonders.

We taped both the Dinosaur Jr and Modest Mouse Letterman performances. My wife thought Dino kicked Modest Mouse's ass.

Who are the Verve?

Thanks for the back-up, vansmack. You get to stay on my Christmas card list.

Originally posted by vansmack:
Like it or not, Modest Mouse at this point are a one hit wonder in the same vein that The Verve are a one hit wonder. Most indie fans have a tremendous amount of respect for both bands, but the majority of Americans know both bands for one song, and one song only.

Modest Mouse, by virtue of not breaking up, have a better chance of not being a one hit wonder, but the Verve will always be a one hit wonder in the US, and that's painful to say.

Unless your from the UK or the Northwest US, they are still both one hit wonders.

Originally posted by earth intruder aka j. marshmallow:
I can't believe I read "one hit wonder" and Modest Mouse in the same sentence. I think Julian's statement is proof that he's never heard of the band prior to their signing with Sony and prior to "Float On" hitting commercial radio.

How is my telling him that they have three good albums "before Float On" indicitive of me not having heard the band "before Float On"?

Lonesome Crowded West would be in my top 10 albums of the 90s and I saw the band at Black Cat during the M+A tour.

Also, to quelch this "one-hit wonder" business, if I recall correctly Ocean Breathes Salty went to #1 on the Modern Rock Charts, so that's 2 hits right there. Dashboard, I'm sure, has charted fairly well, also.

First of all, a song reaching #1 on the Modern Rock Charts means nothing more than Julian listened to "Ocean Breathes Salty" countless times while listening to HFS. Can you name every song that's hit number one on the Country or R&B or Hip-Hop charts? I doubt it.

Secondly, according to Wikipedia:

"Float On" - #1 Modern Rock Charts, #68 on U.S Hot 100
"Ocean Breathes Salty" - #6 Modern Rock Charts
"Dashboard" - #5 Modern Rock Charts, #61 on U.S. Hot 100

Seemingly, you're right; looks like "Dashboard" is a slightly larger hit than "Float On." Still, I guarantee you that, in a poll of 10 non-music geeks, they couldn't name a song other than "Float On," if that. And I'm not talking about people that are out of touch, either.

Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
Also, to quelch this "one-hit wonder" business, if I recall correctly Ocean Breathes Salty went to #1 on the Modern Rock Charts, so that's 2 hits right there. Dashboard, I'm sure, has charted fairly well, also.

Originally posted by nkotb:
First of all, a song reaching #1 on the Modern Rock Charts means nothing more than Julian listened to "Ocean Breathes Salty" countless times while listening to HFS.

I don't live within 200 miles of HFS' range. The character assasinations toward myself in this thread are ridiculous.

A good example of a one-hit wonder is The Floaters. They came out of nowhere, had a hit and disappeared.

And their song was… (hint: it's all over this thread)

Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
We taped both the Dinosaur Jr and Modest Mouse Letterman performances. My wife thought Dino kicked Modest Mouse's ass.

Your wife is correct, btw.

Oh, don't get so worked up; it was just a joke. It's a little too easy to target sometimes, and even though I generally try to steer clear of it, I couldn't help poking fun this once.

At any rate, I still think it's more of a matter of indie rock fans balking at the thought of one of their sacred cows being taken down a notch. The fact of the matter is, I really like Modest Mouse, and I think it's unfortunate that more people don't listen to them. That doesn't change the fact that they've only had one hit that the general public would recognize.

This is the thing that humors me the most: as a whole, we're so quick to point out how little Grammy's or other accolades mean in the grand scheme of things, especially when our heroes aren't rewarded. But try to point out something equally meaningless (but nevertheless true), and it's fought tooth & nail.

Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
I don't live within 200 miles of HFS' range. The character assasinations toward myself in this thread are ridiculous.

Originally posted by nkotb:
But try to point out something equally meaningless (but nevertheless true), and it's fought tooth & nail.

it's simply not true, your definition of "one hit wonder" is hopelessly warped

From Wikipedia (the first line from the very same article you quoted before):
One Hit Wonder - In the music industry, a one-hit wonder is an artist who is generally known for only one hit single.

Generally known…yes, it's a vague definition in that it depends on people's perceptions rather than a quantifying number or figure. But as it stands right now, you're crazy to think that a Best of the 00's compilation would feature any song other than "Float On." The same can't be said of Hendrix, or Joplin, or Pop, or Reed, or….

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:

Originally posted by nkotb:
But try to point out something equally meaningless (but nevertheless true), and it's fought tooth & nail.

it's simply not true, your definition of "one hit wonder" is hopelessly warped

so are they or arent they a one-hit wonder?????