Guster - Satellite EP

Usually songs are rejected from albums are really not all that great. However, in some cases the cast offs are great, they just might not be a good fit for that album. This is the theory Guster is running with in their new EP Satellite.

The EP starts off with the original version of their song Satellite from the full length album Ganging Up on the Sun. Next comes a string of songs that didn't quite make the cut in G Major, Rise and Shine and Timothy Leary. As an "extra treat" the band also included the song I'm Through. This song was scrapped but parts of the melody were saved and make an appearance in their song Com'n on Ganging Up on the Sun. A souped up remix of Satellite leads into a cover of the Beatles song Two of Us. Finally the EP ends with a cover of Total Eclipse of the Heart.

The EP is a great buy. At $8, you are basically paying $1 per song. That is almost as good as I-Tunes, and you get the cover art. It is a must have for the diehard Guster fans. While the overuse of banjo on G Major may be a turn off for some listeners, the infectious melody and lyrics will soon win them over. As always the lyrics for their original songs are catchy, sometimes thought provoking, and ambiguous enough you can take your own meaning and run with it. The melodies are at least happy sounding, even if the lyrics may be dark.

The highlight of the EP by far is the cover of Total Eclipse of the Heart. Anyone who has had the (dis)honor of hearing Brian sing can tell you that is the most hysterically painful thing you will ever hear. While you can find distorted recordings of this on You Tube, or maybe on a live recording a fan did at a concert, it just isn't the same. This rendition is from the recording of the Guster on Ice DVD. The quality is great, and you can enjoy Brian in all his tone deaf glory.

If you have never heard of Guster, this album would be great "first" album for you. It gives you a good idea of the band's sound and their range. It is also a special treat for the die hard fans. We hear about all these songs as we follow the studio journal. We may have actually heard one or two of them in concert before they were axed. Now we actually get to hear the polished final product.