This is a great song. I am just not sure if it is a hit song. It probably has no chance on the pop charts because those stations, for reasons defying sense, style, and taste, don't play Guster. The alternative and modern rock charts will be kinder but not much. "Satellite" is not the kind of song that screams to be played on the radio once an hour.
Does that matter? I suppose only because this is a single review and chart success is one criterion upon which a single is often judged. I have guessed right and wrong about whether or not a song will be a hit. I would love to be pleasantly surprised. I would love it if "Satellite" got some traction on the airwaves. My feelings toward the song won't be changed either way.
This would be a great segue into another discussion of artistic merit versus commercial success. But why fucking bother with that? We could spend our time talking about a great song from the best album released to this point in 2006. Besides, I can solve that conundrum. Commercial success does not equal artistic merit. Commercial success and artistic merit are not inherently mutually exclusive. It just feels that way most of the time.
We can do something about that. With "Satellite," Guster is giving you your second chance this year.
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.