930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: Frank Gallagher on May 07, 2007, 12:59:00 pm
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I was flicking through the channels the other night and caught them on Letterman. Pretty eff'n good I must say. Was that typical of their stuff or just a one-hit wonder for want of a better term.
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Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
I was flicking through the channels the other night and caught them on Letterman. Pretty eff'n good I must say. Was that typical of their stuff or just a one-hit wonder for want of a better term.
They passed one-hit wonder status 3 hits ago. And their first three albums (sans any singles) are even better then what they play now!
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are you sure it wasn't just the sight of Johnny Marr that made you like it? (assuming he is still playing with them) :p
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I like the new album. My husband and I can't stop listening to it.
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Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
I was flicking through the channels the other night and caught them on Letterman. Pretty eff'n good I must say. Was that typical of their stuff or just a one-hit wonder for want of a better term.
they've been around for 13 years and released 6 (great) albums, they're not exactly a "one-hit wonder"
i think of them alongside bands like pavement and belle & sebastian as proto-typical 90s indie music
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Leaving your love for Modest Mouse aside, I'd think they more than qualify as a "one hit wonder" in the real world. They've released 6 albums, but as great as they may be, the general population could name one song. I'd say that's a one-hit wonder.
Hey, I love the Butthole Surfers, but they've had one hit record in 20+ years. Seems pretty simple.
Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
I was flicking through the channels the other night and caught them on Letterman. Pretty eff'n good I must say. Was that typical of their stuff or just a one-hit wonder for want of a better term.
they've been around for 13 years and released 6 (great) albums, they're not exactly a "one-hit wonder"
i think of them alongside bands like pavement and belle & sebastian as proto-typical 90s indie music [/b]
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wouldnt the new one be a second 'hit'?
i hate this band
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Maybe...but is it big enough to count? I'm not sure I've ever heard it on the radio; I just assumed it wasn't big enough to count.
You hate Modest Mouse? I always assumed your name was a reference? Or maybe you're just being sarcastic?
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
wouldnt the new one be a second 'hit'?
i hate this band
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sarcastic
i heard 2 songs from the last one on the radio, so they got you on that one too
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Originally posted by nkotb:
I'd think they more than qualify as a "one hit wonder" in the real world.
sorry to break it to you, but in "the real world," "one hit wonder" doesn't just mean "they had one top 40 hit" ... there are tons of bands that just had "one top 40 hit" that aren't "one hit wonders", and Modest Mouse is certainly one of them
* Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Lou Reed, Radiohead, Phish, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Iggy Pop, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Church, System of a Down, Beck and Korn each had only one Billboard Top 40 hit but are rarely, if ever, considered one-hit wonders. These performers are known for other successes, like album or concert ticket sales, critical acclaim, strong fan followings, or influence on other musicians. Jancik, however, includes many of these artists, as they fall within his strict definition as a single act with a single top-40 placement.
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His new name will be orange julius.
Originally posted by nkotb:
You hate Modest Mouse? I always assumed your name was a reference? Or maybe you're just being sarcastic?
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
Originally posted by nkotb:
I'd think they more than qualify as a "one hit wonder" in the real world.
sorry to break it to you, but in "the real world," "one hit wonder" doesn't just mean "they had one top 40 hit" ... there are tons of bands that just had "one top 40 hit" that aren't "one hit wonders", and Modest Mouse is certainly one of them
* Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Lou Reed, Radiohead, Phish, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Iggy Pop, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Church, System of a Down, Beck and Korn each had only one Billboard Top 40 hit but are rarely, if ever, considered one-hit wonders. These performers are known for other successes, like album or concert ticket sales, critical acclaim, strong fan followings, or influence on other musicians. Jancik, however, includes many of these artists, as they fall within his strict definition as a single act with a single top-40 placement. [/b]
thanks for getting way too technical about this and making me not even want to share my 2cents on the matter. :roll:
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Originally posted by le sonick:
thanks for getting way too technical about this and making me not even want to share my 2cents on the matter. :D
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go back to canada
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Yes, you are correct. There is definitely a way to break out of being a one-hit wonder, and of course there are tons of important musicians that never or rarely had Top 40 hits. It's a lesson I'll never forget.
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."
Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
sorry to break it to you, but in "the real world," "one hit wonder" doesn't just mean "they had one top 40 hit" ... there are tons of bands that just had "one top 40 hit" that aren't "one hit wonders", and Modest Mouse is certainly one of them
* Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Lou Reed, Radiohead, Phish, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Iggy Pop, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Church, System of a Down, Beck and Korn each had only one Billboard Top 40 hit but are rarely, if ever, considered one-hit wonders. These performers are known for other successes, like album or concert ticket sales, critical acclaim, strong fan followings, or influence on other musicians. Jancik, however, includes many of these artists, as they fall within his strict definition as a single act with a single top-40 placement.
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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?
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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.
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People thought he was going to be, but then Odelay came along...
Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
the average person probably gives two shits about most bands in that list ... would you consider beck a one-hit wonder?
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
Originally posted by le sonick:
thanks for getting way too technical about this and making me not even want to share my 2cents on the matter. :D
i think you may have actually gotten technical about not getting technical.
which i guess, is techincally pretty cool!
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i have never heard a modest mouse song before!!
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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? [/b]
i heard ocean breathes salty at foot locker once
and gravity rides everything is in a minivan commercial
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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.
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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? [/b]
Having been unfortunate enough to have suffered through a live Beck performance I wouldn't even give him credit for one!
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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
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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.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmm_SjUAK7I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmm_SjUAK7I)
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Marr has been with them for recording the album and will be with them at least through this tour.
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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.
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We taped both the Dinosaur Jr and Modest Mouse Letterman performances. My wife thought Dino kicked Modest Mouse's ass.
Who are the Verve?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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
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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 [/b]
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so are they or arent they a one-hit wonder?????
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sounds like nkotb is arguing they did not have any hits?
and can we not use wiki as a source. jesus
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Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
I was flicking through the channels the other night and caught them on Letterman. Pretty eff'n good I must say. Was that typical of their stuff or just a one-hit wonder for want of a better term.
Mankie, from what I know of your taste in music, if you buy any Modest Mouse, stay strictly with the latest work with Johnny Marr. Believe me, you won't like the earlier works at all.
To be honest, the earlier material isn't my cup of tea either and I hate to admit it but I think it's better on many levels than the new one. Well, from what I've heard. Seems all of the experimentation and what made them interesting has been completely polished out in favor of those commercial formulas that 'work'. In other words, 'sell'.
Other than a few short guitar moments, I can't help but think that Marr just lent his name to the project for a sure paycheck for himself. Can't knock him for that since he too has bills to pay. Shame though since he's holding back so much. Maybe they'll let him cut loose live. Couldn't say but would be nice.
If you end up not liking it, just look at it as filling out your Marr collection.
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Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
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.
Good call. Lonesome Crowded West is my favorite Modest Mouse album.
The new one is pretty damn good, though.
And honestly, does it really matter whether Modest Mouse qualifies as a "one-hit wonder" or not? It's just a stupid phrase that's ultimately meaningless. This is like that argument I had a while back about whether Belle and Sebastian are "popular" or not. I even used some of the same reasoning (like how the average, non-music geek has no idea who they are).
When I think of a one-hit wonder, I think of a crappy band who somehow managed to produce one popular song, whether that song was actually good or not. I know that that definition is in no way technically correct, but I don't care. The way I see it, good bands who made a lot of great music and happened to have a single hit along the way don't really count. I absolutely love The Violent Femmes, but I definitely don't think of them as a one-hit wonder, even though "Blister in the Sun" is their only real hit.
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Great band. And, I'll be as uncool as ever by saying they've gotten better as they've gone along. And who gives a shit if they are a one-hit wonder or not? Not a bad thing a all. Is it worth more indie-cred points if you have NO hits? I'm pretty sure than once you have a few hits, you lose ALL credibility around here. And what the hell is a hit anyway these days?
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the new album kicks major ass!
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the new album is great. I would have to say all of their albums are great albums. but thats coming from a huge modest mouse fan.
actually right now other then the new album, the Ugly Cassanova album is my favorite, even though its not technically modest mouse.