No. 21 in my Modest Mouse Top 25 countdown:
Most bands never write a song of this quality. I can almost see Cowboy Dan as I listen. He sounds as if he might be friends with Nick Cave's Stagger Lee. The song has some repetitive phases, but it's strangely compelling. Some of the lyrics are superb. I'm particularly fond of:
Every time you think you're walking you're just moving the ground
Every time you think you're talking you're just moving your mouth
That sums up a lot of people I have met, and it also describes how futile life can seem at times. Haven't you ever wondered why you do what you do, where your life is going, and what you are supposed to achieve before you die? I know I have. Cowboy Dan is more than just good lyrics, and that's highlighted two minutes in when it slows down and takes time to flesh out the guitar. The closing segment is more urgent and equally effective. This could easily be in my Top 10 if I ever repeat this exercise in a few years.