Modest Mouse ? “Float On”
Marcus: Modest Mouse? I prefer their earlier stuff. I don’t think this is really the best example of what they do. I think it’s kind of sad. It sounds better than their other recordings, but …
If you didn’t know if was them would you like it more?
Marcus: The guitar riff is really selling it for him. I don’t like the way he’s singing though too much.
Matt: Yeah, a lot of bands are trying to do that David Byrne kind of thing right now.
More Ambulance commentary about Avril Lavigne and The Strokes here.
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Man Stereo, Marcus is right on about M.M. and Matt too with David Byrne. The song is uninspiring and the video looks like a Samshing Pumpkins video.
I’m going to go ahead and dissent here. “I prefer their earlier stuff” is usually a cop-out, and I think it is here.
I’m fascinated by the success of Float On – it’s a scary and thrilling revelation that no matter how bad things get, you do have to keep going. I’m really interested in the progression of Modest Mouse – it’s easy to say “the world is fucked, what a bummer.” I feel like they’re saying “the world is fucked, but damn it, I’m keeping on living anyway.” Which I think is a message that we need these days.
I haven’t seen the video. And if you’re listening to Isaac Brock and you’re surprised to hear vocal tics, I don’t know what to tell you.
man, modest mouse has been together for so long and made soooo much good music, good for them to finally get some coin. they deserve it after really doing their own thing for….god……10 years?
i love those vh-1 interviews where they get the band their interviewing to identify songs. the sonic youth one you posted was sweet, too.
I agree Modest Mouse deserve all their newfound success. They’re actually VH1′s brand new INSIDE TRACK artist, which puts them in the company of Jason Mraz, Norah Jones, Jet, Maroon 5 … if you think they’re overexposed now, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
I’m all about MM being famous, it’s about frigging time. However, of all the songs to catch on, “Float On?” WTF man?
Ambulance might be the dumbest band in New York, if not the most boring thing I’ve ever had the misfortune to see. What self respecting band can’t recognize Lou Reed’s voice?
Learn to write some songs. If there was really anything to them, a label other than TVT would have signed them I think.
I don’t understand why people, even Modest Mouse fans, are so polarized by this song. I think it’s really great, others think it’s the weakest song on the record. No matter what, it’s more accessible than what we’re used to from them. I digress.
The fact is, for a highly derivative band from the highly derivative New York scene to take Isaac Brock to task for “doing that David Byrne kind of thing” – it’s utterly laughable. If you wonder why nobody takes NYC artists seriously in the other 49 states, this is a great example.
Ambulance may think they are unique just because they don’t quite sound exactly like the other bands that play downtown NYC clubs – but most people can identify Modest Mouse after about 3 notes, even before Isaac opens his mouth.
Then again, if they’re looking to take the Strokes route of talking shite in the NME before anyone above 14th street has ever heard of them, then this is right out of the playbook…
I really like Ambulance LTD, and it’s not because of my profession:))