_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
MFC is one of my favorite of the car songs. I think it is up their with insignificance in terms of songs where the music really describes the actions. MFC sounds like an engine revving up, just like insignificance sounds like bombs falling). Sometimes the three guitar songs sound a little busy but here they all weave in and out of each other quite nicely. The basic rhythm part of the song is awesome too. I’d love to see them bust this out acoustic once in a while just so it can be appreciated without the distortion
Lyrically the song seems obvious enough. All road songs are basically about the need to get out of a bad place. Sometimes it is a physical location and sometimes it is a mental space, but either way the car is the vehicle for getting clear. It’s a powerful symbol for escape (at least in the U.S.—does it have the same power in Europe or SA? My guess would be no). The joy of movement, the feeling of control that you get from being in command of a powerful piece of machinery, it all adds up to a feeling of freedom. I suppose the same freedom comes from surfing too, which may be why we get so many water/wave images in other songs.
One of my all time favorite verses is in MFC.
They said timing was everything
Made him want to be everywhere
There's a lot to be said for nowhere
I see this verse as a prelude to Sleight of Hand, it is a warning to slow down, get some perspective, and figure out what it is that you want and need out of life. If you don’t give yourself the space to figure that out (and giving yourself that space might require getting in your car and driving away---literally or metaphorically) you may blink and find yourself years later in the same unsatisfying haze as the subject of Sleight of Hand
My one complaint with MFC is the Ask, I’m an ear line. I know it is an expression, but it always sounds a little awkward/jarring to me, and interferes with what would otherwise be a smooth song. The same thing could be said for the music in the chorus. It has the pilate problem (albeit with better lyrics). Excellent music in the verses with a sub-par chorus.
I love the untitled improve they use with MFC. I wish they stuck that on Yield instead of Red Dot.
MFC is a 3.5 star song for me, but it is probably closer to 4 than 3 so I’ll go with 4 (for that second verse)
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
It's an OK song. I think it'd be great if had another element to it and if it was a little longer. I like its placement on Yield.
I like RVM better as a car song. It has it's parts and it's changes. MFC has the "get up and go" sound but doesn't remind me of a car zipping out in a fiery hell like RVM does.
Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2005 3:29 am Posts: 199 Location: US
I love the opening guitar riff, but after that the song seems to flatline. I love the lyrics, love the chorus and verses and the song setup, but overall it's just lacking something to tip it over the edge into a great song. Maybe some sort of climax would add to it, but right now it's a solid 3.
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:52 pm Posts: 2647 Location: Where gila monsters meet you at the airport
I gave it 5 stars. Always one of my favorites off Yield. The onyl complaint I've ever had about the song is that I'm always dying to hear it go into a solo right when the song ends.
from start to finish this song just nails it. it's got great music behind great lyrics and eddies voice is perfect for it.
there's a lot to be said for nowhere .
just a great line - and i think that pretty much sums up everything i've ever had to deal with.
_________________ GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:36 am Posts: 5458 Location: Left field
Sometimes the simple songs are the better songs and I think that this is true here, but I also think that as far as car related tunes go, Modest Mouse can't be beat.
_________________ seen it all, not at all can't defend fucked up man take me a for a ride before we leave...
Rise. Life is in motion...
don't it make you smile? don't it make you smile? when the sun don't shine? (shine at all) don't it make you smile?
RIP
Last edited by jwfocker on Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
3 stars. Good, it's fun, some nice lines but nothing exceptional. This is one I like in the studio more actaully. I've never heard any from 98 but 00 to present, it doesn't have that build or the drums aren't the same. It's probably just faster, as most Matt songs are.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:53 pm Posts: 8066 Location: Las Vegas via Rockford (Roscoe), IL Gender: Female
Thank you to whomever chose this song.
This song is 5 stars all the way for me. There's something about the intro music that makes me want to get in the car and just go. Live versions of this song have a really strong impact on me, especially when it comes to this line (one of my favorites ever)....
there's a lot to be said for nowhere
I think that it appiles to a lot of different aspects in life. I remember the first time I went to Montana, I was just in awe of it's openess and raw beauty. It was such a freeing feeling being out in the middle of nowhere, not having to deal with other people and being able to forget about all of my problems. Mentally, I was in such a good place. I also think that it can be applied to where you are in life. Me, for example, I'm not living where I want to live, I'm not doing all the things that I want to do....etc. So, I guess that you could say that I'm "nowhere." But, I think that can be a good thing. I am learning a lot about myself and life in general.
Everytime I hear MFC, I think about that glorious day when I will be moving out of Las Vegas. I intend to blast this song as I'm driving out of town.
sliding out of reverse into drive this wheel will be turning right, then straight off in the sunset she'll ride
_________________ Frank Kevin
At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend I don't care that you're not here with me Cause it's so much easier to handle all my problems if I'm too far out to sea
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