New Modest Mouse - "Guilty Cocker Spaniels" (Stereogum Premiere)
Modest Mouse's No One's First And You're Next single "Satellite Skin" has been around awhile in various forms. Now it's being pressed onto a proper 7" you'll be able to take home in May, which is why it popped up last week in highly listenable and viewable forms. When the single shows, "Satellite Skin" will be backed by another No One's First track "Guilty Cocker Spaniels." It's not your typical B-Side table scraps: The 4-minute mouth-foamer finds Isaac Brock running full-speed with quick-wit lines about Facebook, fashionable clothes, and empty treadmills (and canvasses) as the sounds around him ebb and flow, building to a MM-style exorcism. In other words, it's worth a listen.
As mentioned, "Guilty Cocker Spaniels" is the B-side to a "limited edition orange vinyl with an embossed sleeve and individually numbered to 4000" vinyl pressing. It'll be out 5/26. You can also get it via iTunes.
Posted at 11:57 AM by brandon
Tags: Modest Mouse
3,2,1 Lisp off! Good stuff.
Score = 11
not too shabby
Score = 8
Like it, isaac sings it good, and eric has a sweet acoustic part in it to!
Score = 2
Good song. Makes you wonder why this was ever left out of the album....Also why this is the B-side to the crappy crappy 'satellite skin'.
Score = -7
What?
Satellite Skin was cool. I like the live version of this song better. . .it has so much more impact electric than acoustic.
Score = 0
great tune
Score = 9
the live version that's been on youtube showed a lot more promise than what this actually delivered. i'm disappointed and satellite skin is by far a superior song in every aspect.
Score = -21
Much better than satellite skin, but i don't like this new trend of how they're mixing their songs with such loud vocals... You can hardly hear the rest of the band over Issac's voice in these new recordings.
Score = 13
dennis herring sucks ass. anyone ever heard "bury me with it" live? perfect example of what his crappy production can do to a modest mouse song. i say bring back calvin!
Score = 6
Forgot to mention, some of the guitar work really reminds me of some early Hum songs (especially "Stars").
Score = -4
"Lizard vultery bird-dog thing."
Score = 7
In the past two Modest Mouse related stories. Most people complain referring to their favor over the old material. This new stuff is great and a new approach to their music style! It's a lot less subtle than the Yeah Yeah Yeahs change of style direction.
Score = 7
It starts off a little bit "eh" but the last half is really terrific.
Score = 6
These dudes should not make anymore music...
They are tarnishing their legacy with poop sandwiches they call songs.
Come on people!
The Emperor is naked.
This song sounds like the new Third Eye Blind.
So so very bad and bland and awkward.
Score = -71
Farmer Ted is pretty spot on. I really wish Good News and everything after it never happened.
Long Drive..., Lonesome..., and Fruit... top all of this mediocrity.
Score = -15
Brah...I agree 100%
Great band up until that point.
Anyone who like this new MM must not like music.
They must be into shoes or something.
Score = -29
you have just royally pissed me off. that was the most ignorant thing ive ever heard.. i saw them in 1994 at a cafe in seattle, and they opened my eyes to great music and have been a fan ever since. and your comment has insulted the shit out of me. ive loved all their albums and im looking forward to this new EP. ITS 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD FROM WHEN THEY STARTED they're obviously gonna change their sound. if they didnt it would be boring. DONT LISTEN TO THEM ANYMORE IF YOUR GONNA COMPLAIN AND PISS OFF OTHER PEOPLE. do me a favor and youtube "isaac brock calling out a fan" was that fan you!? cause if it wasnt then thats the same bitching you'd get from that ignorant fucking comment. go listen to your no-taste bands and stay the fuck off of modest mouse posts and websites, cause you my friend should are a fucking dumbass.
Score = 5
All your anger doesn't make this song any good...
It remains what it is. A Stinky Pile of Poop.
And Seattle in 94...did ya catch Nickleback at a cafe too?
Brah.
-Farmer Ted
Score = -11
Wow, way to make no sense. the velvet cafe, look it up. did i see nickelback? wtf doe that mean? Brah. ass
Score = 3
dude you obviously dont know dick about music. i mean "nickelback" WTF? you shouldnt even be on this site if your making comparisons of modest mouse to nickelback (that goes for anything that modest mouse has put out)
Score = 0
Thank you. Couldn't have said it better myself. You, my friend, took the words right out of my mouth. :)
Score = 1
too right. fuckin idiots dont have a clue.'good news' and 'we were dead' are stunning albums. people dont have an ear and are spinning in a web f their own ignorence
Score = 2
no way. good news was fucking brilliant. a masterpiece. the production value went up, and they used that to enhance their unique style. We were dead was considerably less like the modest mouse i have come to know, although a few songs i still hold in high regard. if guilty cocker spaniels is any indication, we are in for some new incarnation of the modest mouse sound yet again. no band can survive that stymies the evolution of its approach to music.
Score = 3
Third Eye Blind!!!! Dumbass!!!
Score = 0
Oh please, Modest Mouse still has it. But hahaha, poop sandwiches....
Score = 0
If you don't like it then stop listening. Some of us are eager to hear what new stuff they have in store. If all you have to do is give a bad comment, and compare their music to Third Eye Blind, then keep it to yourself, dude. Nobody wants to read shit like that. Especially a big fan, like myself.
Score = 0
dude thank you. read my comment on that asshole i posted a few days ago and tell me if thats how you feel.
Score = 0
I'm also for the idea that Modest Mouse needs a different producer. That would probably solve a lot of bitching.
Score = 11
satellite skin was much better. this is alright.
Score = -7
I like this way more then anything off of We were dead. It has the feel of the older stuff while you can still tell how relevant an influence johnny has become on the band. its a slippery slope when changing direction though so they need to make sure they keep there hardcore fans dedicated with more songs like this.
Score = 5
Satelite Skin is pretty terrible, this song actually sounds like them. The vocals are a lot louder than usual, but because of his distinct style it works, plus as of late thats much better than the music. But for the record, older stuff = way better.
Score = -1
call me biased but what's the sense in existing if you dont evolve. . . .
Score = 13
Growth for the sake of growth is a characteristic of cancer...
Score = 0
Guilty Cocker Spaniels definitely sounds like it would fit into Good News perfectly. However, there probably was a reason it didn't make it onto the record in 2004 for reasons obvious or not. This new EP coming up for release is comprised of only songs that didn't make the last two albums, so don't start crying about how they're changing. Yes, the songs sound a tad different, but they aren't prime cuts.
Stop judging and start enjoying. If you can't, then just wait for the following album.
Score = 5
"call me biased but what's the sense in existing if you dont evolve. . . ."
Exactly!
Whats the point in churning out album after album of the same stuff. If thats what you want then you're in with the wrong band, there is plenty of Nickleback out there to fill your need.
Some of you guys shouldn't try to box them in so tight. Modest Mouse are Modest Mouse and thats why we like them. Just enjoy what they enjoy and you will be much more satisfied... =)
Score = 6
its not that they churn out album after album of the same stuff. It's that they retain the same level of quality with each new release no matter which direction they take their music. wwdbftses and gnfpwlbn both had A FEW really good tracks but the albums as a whole don't live up to their classics.
Score = 2
did it take long to type out those novelty-sized acronyms?
Score = 3
i love their old stuff, i love their new stuff. win.
Score = 17
This will grow on me eventually.
Issac Brock should release a Hip Hop Ep
boiiii can spit.
Score = 11
I love it.
Modest Mouse haha
Score = 3
FUCK YA!
this is what Im talkin' bout...MM/Isaac impress once again.
love it. cant wait for the tour
Score = 1
Hey, People Who Know How to Remix Stuff,
Remix this song with Bag of Hammers by Thao with the Get Down Stay Down.
Thanks.
Score = 1
When I first heard this I was kind of dissapointed like another person said the YouTube performance just rocked. But this song really has grown on me and I think that it might have some of the best lyrics of any Modest Mouse song to date. I do wish someone was bold enough to put them on a website somewhere.
Score = 0
I know what you mean man, I met my wife at that YouTube performance. I drove hours with my buddies just to get there. To YouTube.
Score = 7
...I think it's good. Yes, Satellite Skin may have been a huge disappointment to a lot of us, but just because one song didn't please us all doesn't mean we should listen to this one anticipating more failure. It ever so slightly reminds me of some of the older Modest Mouse in SOME aspects. The acoustic is great.
I like it.
Score = 1
this song was actually pretty awesome. I didn't like the intro though; it sounded like it was played on a keyboard. on youtube, the live versions of both this and satellite skins were far better. I've loved every Modest Mouse album from their old stuff to We Were Dead. But I have to say I'm not too impressed with these two song, which is sad cuz im like a Modest Mouse fanboy. I'm putting all my hope in The Whale Song, because the live version was orgasmic! I hope they don't mess it up. Not a big fan of the whole "Isaac's voice is ten times louder than the instruments" thing lol
Score = 0
long drive and lonesome crowded west will hands down always be my favorite albums...
but this new stuff isn't terrible, its just different. it took awhile for we were dead to grow on me too, but it did and i love that album as well.
either way... i feel like they can't fuck it up.
Score = 5
this song is so much better than satellite skin. but i dont think satellite skin is as horrible as people make it. it still kicks ass
Score = 3
Ok, I love this song, right alongside Satellite Skin... Actually MM can do no wrong in my eyes, I love them from day one to now... They could play Old MacDonald and I would love it...
Score = 2
Yeah, but seriously, you know what else is worse than Lonesome Crowded West.
Everything Else I have heard this decade.
Score = 7
amen
Score = 2
goddam i love this band...this song f***ing rocks!
Score = 2
I think this is the best song I've heard since Everywhere and his nasty parlor tricks!!!!!!
Score = 1
I'm someone who loves just about everything Modest Mouse creates, and this is no exception. I think the more I hear it, the more I'll like it too! !
Score = 1
FUCKINNNN SICKKKKKK.
i already ordered the single. we'll see if it's released on the date they said it would be released on. if anyone remembers they kept delaying We Were Dead. They said November of 2006 and then it was finally released in like March of 2007.
Score = 0
I grew up in Issaquah where the founding 3 guys are from, and I have to say Ive loved listening to them over the years. This is another great song (which is much more enjoyable if you know the lyrics). With the exception of a few parts of the song which i put in brackets, this should be the correct lyrics. long live IB.
Well I took off running at the greatest speed
I didn’t bother looking to either side of me
Well I didn’t see, I just didn’t see what was really going on.
The trees had stopped and the skyline rose
Exchanging color from the fashionable clothes
I left the hills at this point in time
To run on treadmills in a perfect line
Sally days and [hook the daily shit]
Sparkin imagination till the sparks just quit
And if this is fun why are you bored with it?
Well I will probably never know.
Guilty cocker spaniels eatin table scraps
Well we rolled up our master craft
It felt so good we wanted more of that
When the program failed they defensed real loud sayin
We did things just how you asked
Go try takin us the task
You didn’t buy facebook; just a mask; so happy Halloween!
I drew a blank we put it in a frame
Wait what your winning?!
You didn’t say this was a game
Well, I guess ill just have to play ‘n play until I’m outta cash
Before I could spit it out I guess the words had burnt my mouth what can I say
Best of all I laid it down so you could take it out of context either way.
We said [our luck] and deserved every bit
And most we used was supplied real quick
but we got goin and goin just well with it
Till everybody lost their minds
Directly behind me and ahead of the time
Don’t you worry it will fall right in line
Yup everythings just fine fine fine
No ones getting blamed this time.
Blame me so blameless. Can we find a way to blame our way out?
Well I post hate (it might be “well I was dead…”) at the eulogy for every blameless body not now
We are blameslessly teething on much more than we need [right now]
Blamelessly teething….
Well the blame… everyone everyone knew
(inaudible)
Everybody knew
Everybody knew
Score = 2
I found lyrics - and one section was they posted the eulogy - but thanks for posting the words - I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!! Could listen to it over and over and over
well i took off running at the greatest speed
i didn't bother looking to either side of me
well i didn't see, i just didn't see
what was really going on
the truth is stopped and the skyline rose
exchanging comfort for more fashionable clothes
i'd left the hills at this point in time
to run on treadmills in a perfect line
salad days add up to daily shit
sparkling imagination until the sparks just quit
and if this is fun, why am i so bored with it
well i will probably never know
guilty cocker spaniels eating table scraps
well we rolled over, how our master clapped
it felt so good, we wanted more of that
but when the program failed they defensively laughed
said we did things just how you asked
don't try taking us to task
you didn't bite face
nope, just a mask
so happy halloween
i drew a blank, we put it in a frame
wait, what, you're winning
you didn't say this was a game
well i guess i'll just have to play and play
until i'm out of cash
before i could spit it out
i guess the words had burnt my mouth
what can i say
best of all, i laid it down
so you could take it out of context
either way
we said all along we deserve every bit
and mostly we knew that the surprise would quit
but we got going and going just away with it
until everybody lost their mind
directly behind me and ahead of the time
but don't you worry, it'll fall right in line
yes everything's just fine, fine, fine
no one's getting blamed this time
blame me so blameless
can we find a way to blame our way out
well i postdated the eulogy
for every blameless body now, now
we are blamelessly teething on much more than we need
now, now now
blamelessly teething
we're likely to blame, 'cause everyone, everyone knew
[unintelligible]
Score = 0
How in the hell do I play vinyl? The obvious answer is record player but who has those anymore?
I'm no D.J. so if someone has the answer for me, feel free to insult, flame, or just in general belittle me. A helpful answer is worth it!
Score = 0
I really like this song! I personally think that ALL of MM's work is amazing, and the new EP will be no different! And yes the live version may be better, but almost every song of Modest Mouse's is better live. And although I personally don't care for Johnny Marr, this is an excellent example of how MM can still make glorious tracks regardless 16 years into their career even with Marr as a member.
Score = 0
After you wrote "brah," I stopped reading.
Score = -1
I'm pretty sure he doesn't say "facebook," but I could see how people can hear that.
Score = 0
Does anyone want to help me out? Don't be listening to Modest Mouse and sayin "brah" in the same lifetime you'll reincarnate as a shit fly!
Score = 0
Also I hate music snobs. "Band X's older music is way better than Band X's newer music, they are such sellouts!" If you don't like it, don't buy it! Pretty simple now isn't it. Nobody cares if you think your taste in music is so much better than everyone's. Nobody cares. Modest Mouse will always have an extremely loyal following whether you people bitch about their music or not, so jam your old MM ( you can borrow mine if need be) and shut your snotty face!
Thank you,
Anthony Damn! Hunt
Score = 4
Brian Deck is the producer they need to rekindle a relationship with - whether they like it or not - those were the best sounds, in my humble opinion. Either Deck engineering, producing or playing - added up to greatness.
And if Isaac started doing heavy drugs and generally ruining his life again - I'd bet the music would get better even if he got worse. Sad sentiment, but it could be true ...
Score = 3
i do like it, but i think if they ever release another live recorded album and this is on it, i will listen to that version 100% over this version
Score = 0
different and good are not mutually exclusive. slightly unrelated, i did enjoy guilty cocker spaniels over satellite skin.
Score = 0
Why is everyone complaining about the vocals being loud? For so many years everyone has been complaining about the vocals being TOO LOW. Why the fuck is everyone complaining about the vocals being louder? I find it pretty damn ridiculous. This is a fucking brilliant song. The lyrics, the way its written, the instrumental - it's a huge shame this song didn't make on Good News.
Score = 1
song builds beautifully and when it kicks in I am loving the production- I have a mix cd with older MM stuff like Dramamine and OK Computer and that would be my dream concert. MM opens and Radiohead closes. Have they ever played on the same bill??
Score = 0
Their music is different now, not worse, just a different style. I'm excited to hear the studio version of The Whale Song
Score = 3
oh how i love modest mouse.
Score = 2
haha thanks, your lyrics are def more accurate than mine
Score = 0
No problem. I love the live version of this on YouTube - his guitar string broke but he changed guitars & didnt miss a beat - plus it gave Eric more time to play bass!!!!! Love this song though!
Score = 3
he doen't say facebook
"said we did things just how you asked
don't try taking us to task
you didn't bite face
nope, just a mask
so happy halloween"
Score = 1
Anyone who says that they should stop making music...should stop listening. Obviously ur no longer a fan. This is one of my favorite bands of all time, and I love anything and everything they've put out and thats how it will continue.
Score = 0
this song has nothing to do with facebook...
Score = 1
call me pathetically obsessed, i admit it. i will always love everything that comes from modest mouse due to the fact that we are priveledged to hear such musical genius. i have been a fan since they started and listen to them on a daily basis. seriously nickleback?? that is just fucking insulting.
Score = -1
id be interested to hear what they`re new music would be like if brian deck were to produce it. that guy did so much with the moon & antarctica as well as so many other great recordings.
Score = 1
umm, its also a characteristic of nature.
I dont understand what you're trying to say
Score = 0
Incredible. These guys are great--old AND new.
Score = 0
I just want songs with ripping guitar lines that involve lots of slides and Isaac singing vaguely but with alot of passion .Maybe there will be another Spitting Venom on this album.
Score = 0
this song would be alot better is isaac wasnt costantly spitting out stupid thoughts and he didnt sound like he had a broomstick up his ass. really this band fucking sucks i have no hope of a revival. all great things must come to an end but i guess but these guys were dead before the shit even stank.
Score = 0