Why are my shoes in this condition? Because I would rather have shredded heels and new music than shoes. Folks, I don't rate particularly high on the GQ scale. Good fashion is wasted on me. Why bother? Why bother when there are homeless CDs to purchase?
I shudder to tell you this because The Wife to Whom I Am Married is now part of the Blogcritics editorial team and she might read this. If that happens, her retribution will be terrible. I will have to buy new shoes!
Just this weekend, I rescued innumerable CDs from the wonderful shelter where they lived (Grimey's). Among those adopted is Guster's One Man Wrecking Machine single (available only at independent music stores like Grimey's). "One Man Wrecking Machine" was the first single released from GUOTS. I purchased this single just in time for the band to release a new single, "Satellite."
I can no longer choose a favorite song from GUOTS. I like all of them, which is a rarity, and my favorite song shifts from listen to listen (tonight while running to the grocery store I was hooked for the first time on "The Captain"). "Satellite" has been my favorite song on the album more than once.
"Satellite" sounds simple and pleasant upon first listen. Repeated listens reveal an abundance of beautiful sonic subtleties. Ryan Miller's wistful vocal is the perfect instrument for delivering this plaintive melody. The lyrics are slightly opaque but the vocal provides enough color to make the metaphor decodable. That the words work so well is amazing because it took three members of the band to finish them (Miller, drummer Brian Rosenworcel, and multi-instrumentalist Joe Pisapia).
Miller's understated vocal is bathed in some wonderful playing by the band. The instrumental break at approximately the three-minute mark is a moment of sonic beauty. The understated, chiming electric guitar melody is enhanced with some wonderful use of keyboards and piano: one keyboard part mimics a string section, another sounds very much like an electric piano (a personal favorite instrument of mine) while a piano melody floats in between them. Understanding there can be too much of a good thing, the band segues from this back to the chorus and then rides out with some more marvelous playing. Working that much into four and a half minutes without rushing things or sounding forced is the epitome of efficiency and craftsmanship.
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article is now featured on our Myspace profile page.
2 - Michelle Bedore
I heard this song Satellite for the frst time yesterday on a popular station in Ventura country (I forgot, maybe the Beat?) I fell in love with it before it was even 1/3 done. I heard it again on Rhapsody.com and I am going out right NOW to best buy to buy the CD. I am 42 and have never heard of Guster before hearing this ONE song!! They are awesome---I am sorry I am not going to their concert tonight in Los Angeles; that's how impressed I am with them from hearing a few more of their songs online.
3 - Guster
Hello:
Wanted to send you a note about Guster and Jeff Garlin doing a podcast together. Hopefully it is something you might enjoy.
Here's is what the band had to say about it:
Here's the deal with the "collaboration" between Curb Your Enthusiasm and Guster. It's not a Season Six band cameo on the show. I wish. But it's the next best thing, a five-episode podcast of a long, winding conversation between two Guster members (the singer and the drummer) and our friend Jeff Garlin, who plays Larry's agent on the show.
If you have people in your life who like Curb Your Enthusiasm but don't know Guster, or vise versa, this is your chance to get them hooked on our.... conversational... skills? Having befriended Jeff at our Central Park show two years ago, we thought a mutual podcast would be interesting since we like his comedy and he likes our music. Around the time we were finishing up "Ganging Up on the Sun" we actually went into the studio with Jeff and recorded it. A lot of topics get covered since it's almost an hour long. This might be the deepest Guster interview to date. Don't fear the podcast.
Now for the technical stuff...
A ten-minute episode will become available, for free, every Monday in October, with the first podcast being released on October 2. If you are interested in hosting these Podcasts (which we really hope you are) you can download them each week here
Thanks for your consideration. Both Guster and Jeff would really appreciate your support on these podcasts. We can guarantee they will be a good listen!
Sincerely,
Team Guster
4 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Team Guster. I saw this on the website the other day and I am going to download the shit out of this!
5 - Mark Ransom
Just wanted to let you know that the song is getting some exposure - I heard it last night on an alternative station, and again this morning on the Muzak at work! I've heard it before, but didn't remember that it was Guster before last night. I was trying to find out a little more about it when I ran across this site. Thanks.
6 - DJRadiohead
Mark, thanks for reporting in. That's great news. It's such a super song- it is, at present, my favorite song on the record and also my ringtone.
Do humanity a favor and ask that alternative station in your town to play it again. I live in a godforsaken town without an alternative station.
Also, do yourself a favor: give yourself the gift of Ganging Up on the Sun. Best album of 2006.