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jakobnicholas

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Posts posted by jakobnicholas

  1. this is my feeling exactly: bad ass.  like, listening to this album makes me feel like one.  great riffs, song structure is all over the place but well done.

     

    i read a really long article about jack white in the NYT a couple weeks ago, and my take-away from it was that he is a pretentious twat (i'll borrow that description, thankyouverymuch), so i don't really know why i even gave this a chance. i mean, i've never spent any real time with any of his previous efforts.  anyway, i'm glad i gave this a shot because now i can't stop listening to it!

     

    "Blunderbuss" has a serious swagger.

  2. I read an interview with White where he says he feels like he could be Bob Dylan's son. He respects Dylan greatly and I think he borrowed or was inspired by how Dylan kept himself somewhat a mystery...maybe partly accident, but I think Dylan did a lot of it purposely. But White seems to have taken to a different level, with the way he set boundaries and rules for the Stripes like only having 3 colors and 3 instruments, the way the Raconteurs presented themselves, the blue tones he's chosen for his solo album and tour, and how he always seems in character when in the midst of touring. I think it's quite brilliant actually and for me it adds to my enjoyment of his records.

     

    One of my favorite things about R.E.M. was how they treated each album and tour almost like a new personality. Most of their artistic presentation was Stipe, but it was always cool to me how under-stated the other band members were.  

     

    I've seen White live 3 times, with the Stripes, Raconteurs and Dead Weather. Each time I was thoroughly impressed. His stage presence is unreal. With the Raconteurs and Dead Weather he tried to just be one of the members, but every time he sang or ripped off a guitar solo or even just the way he moved, you couldn't take your eyes off him.

     

    "Blunderbuss", for me, captures White at his finest. His recent divorce and the official end of the Stripes seems to have greatly inspired some interesting and dark lyrics. And musically he tries lots of different things in a very good way. Sixteen Saltines holds its own against any Stripes song. Love Interuption is spare, beautiful and dark. The title track has an old Bob Dylan vibe but sounds prettier. Freedom at 21 and Weep Themselves To Sleep are tough-sounding, almost Eminem-like songs. I'm Shakin is a fun cover. Hip Poor Boy makes me think of Pual McCartney. On and On and On is my favorite song of that title, which says a lot 'cause I like Wilco's same-titled song a lot. Take Me With You When You Go is schizophrenic, but great.

     

    Just heard White is gonna score the 2013 film "Lone Ranger" with Johnny Depp. Can't wait to hear it.

  3. Jack White has fallen flat for me the last few years... Like he seems so predictable to me. Blunderbuss is something I would expect him to name his solo record. He keeps that rock-god esque thing going and thats cool. But I've just thought he's become very tired to me. I have no interest in this solo record

     

    meh. come at me.

     

    There's nothing to come at you about. It's your opinion. What does "rock-godesque" mean. That's a bad thing, right?To me, "Blunderbuss" is anything but predicatble. Of course, you'd have to listen to it first to decide if what I'm saying is true.

  4. I've been listening to Jack White's new album Blunderbuss on iTunes (my first impression is VERY good by the way), and noticed a resemblance between the title track and the Mermaid Avenue tune "One By One". Musically, it's got a similar sounding waltzing cadence. Jack White's vocal makes it a very different song, and I'm not claiming it's a rip-off, just curious what other Wilco fans think of the similarity.

     

    Interesting also is that the final song on Blunderbuss is called "On and On and On", though it sounds nothing like Wilco's Sky Blue Sky track, but is perhaps equally good.

  5. Rush is a nationally syndicated host with millions of listeners, talking about the major political story of the day.

     

    Rush is a very hard-working, successful radio ENTERTAINER. He just happens to have Conservative opinions, and tries to illustrate them in humorous, sometimes controversial ways. He's no different than Howard Stern or Don Imus or Jim Rome. Nothing he's said EVER is as offensive as many of the Left-leaning comics and entertainers who spout off regularly.

  6. Rush said, "What does it say about the college co-ed Sandra Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex, what does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute…She wants to be paid to have sex. She’s having so much sex she can’t afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex. What does that make us? We’re the pimps.”

     

    Using the word "slut" is a bit harsh of course, but his point is DEAD-ON. Fluke goes to a Jesuit school and expects the school to have her birth control paid for?!....something that the Catholic Church has been against for 2000 years?! If she's truly poor (how many poor people go to Georgetown?), and she REALLY needs birth control, Walmart offers it for about $9 a month.

     

    Being Catholic, it really bothers me that Obama can issue a mandate that forces the Church to go against a core belief. The "compromise" is a crock, as it still will mean other people at a private institution getting covered by the insurance company will end up footing the bill.

     

    It's not a contraceptive issue....though Obama, the brilliant politician he is...is spinning it that way to make him more popular to women. It's a constitutional issue.

     

    Back to Rush. Everyone is supposedly SO freaking "upset" by his comments. I don't buy that at all. Democrats know the economy and rising gas prices are a HUGE threat to their Wonder Boy winning a re-election, so painting Republicans as women-haters is a desparate move. Sadly, I think it's working and will greatly help Obama in November.

     

    You know what's offensive to me? Louis CK's comments on Sarah Palin. Oh I forgot, he's a comedian, so he can say whatever he wants. Aren't Rush and CK one and the same?....ENTERTAINERS?

     

    For those who don't know, here's a snippet of CK's "humor":

     

    Talking about Palin coming to the Republican convention, he said, "holding a baby that just came out of her f-ing, disgusting [C-word], her f-ing retard-making [C-word]. I hate her more than anybody…"

     

    Last year, CK called Palin a "f—ing jackoff [C-word]-face jazzy wondergirl’ who ‘has a family of Chinese poor people living in her [C-word] hole."

     

    Then there's Bill Maher, another entertainer, who has referred to Palin as a tw*t and a cu*t. This is the same Maher who donated $1 million to help Obama's campaign. Obama apologized and consoled the poor, poor, Sandra Fluke, but I've never heard Obama apologize for any comments made by Maher or other offensive entertainers who sing Obama's praises.

     

    Politics suck.

  7. Some of us see the need to lionize Jay as the lost genius of the band. He was musically gifted and personally troubled.

     

    Of course, as always, YMMV.

     

    For Jeff's (and the band's?) health and sanity, it was a good thing for Jay to not be in Wilco and seemed like it had to happen. I personally think Jeff is way more of a "my way or the highway" type of creative person than he comes across, but at the same time, it seems as if Jay leaving had much more to do with Jay than Jeff.But as a fan, who can only listen to records and very occasionally see a band live, all I really care about is what I can hear. Being There, Summerteeth, YHF, and the Mermaid discs, to me, are the pinnacle of Wilco's output. And I know Jay contributed a lot to what I hear on those discs. And as an audience member, he added great mystery, fun, energy and personality to live shows. As great as Wilco is live right now, I don't think Wilco shows were ever more entertaining than many of those Being There/Summerteeth shows.

  8. Excited to hear more Son Volt. Been listening to Straightaways and it sounds so great. I fear Jay won't ever be able to match the greatness of the early Volt records, but I know there will be great moments.

     

    Only kinda excited about the Guthrie album. Wilco and Bragg set the bar pretty high...not that the albums should be compared, but will be impossible not to. I liked the mix of personal/human songs (Wilco) and political songs (Bragg) chosen on the Mermaid discs. Curious what the lyrical vibe will be on this one.

  9. I think Pat's very talented, and his credited bridges on 3 "Whole Love" songs (especially Dawned On Me)...which really help make those songs more than just a "good" pop song...are the types of things that Jay Bennett was so brilliant at. But I think Jay was a very special musical talent and wouldn't put Pat in Jay's league.

  10. A couple thoughts: seen wilco on every tour except the last one (wilco the album tour).  They will likely never match the emotional intensity of the Being There and Summer Teeth tours, but on a positive:  I was flat out entertained. />

     

    I agree with a lot of your post, but I kind of understand or accept the reality of the situation.I also loved the early Wilco shows, but at the same time appreciate what they can do now. The shows with Bennett will be forever un-matched to me...there was a mystery about the guys on the stage and Jeff always looked on edge back then. It really made for an intense show. And one my favorite all-time shows was in St. Louis, shortly after Bennett was announced to be gone, and it was just Jeff, John, Glenn and Leroy. I wasn't sure how they were gonna play the songs, but loved how they did.But I give HUGE credit to Jeff and the current band for putting on fun, entertaining shows that show off the amazing skill of its members....and yet still make great attempts at pushing themselves artistically. The guys aren't in their late 20's and 30's anymore...I think most of the "problem" is something they can't change.

  11. Late chiming in, but a really fantastic show....Nick Lowe and Wilco both. Lowe's set was greater than I expected..."Lately I've Let Things Slide" and "Allison" were the highlights for me.

     

    Just about a perfect mix in the setlist from Wilco. They understandably stayed heavy on The Whole Love and all those songs sounded great, especially Dawned On Me and Standing O (those songs should be staples here on out). And the sampling distribution from the other records was nice

     

    If I had to pick 3 highlights, I couldn't. So I'll try to pick 4:

     

    - Less Than You Think (surprising opening song and sounded lovely).

    - Someday Soon (unexpected and a fun, rollicking version).

    - Impossible Germany (This song always DESTROYS live...hard not to get goosebumps during the jam.)

    - You And I (Surprised at myself for liking this so much. This simple, beautiful song sounded so nice in the middle of a mostly-rocking setlist).

     

    Of course, the "Cruel To Be Kind" closer with Lowe is beyond words...just so cool for me to see one of my favorite "oldies" to be played live with one of my favorite bands as backup. Nels short mid-song guitar jam was perfect.

     

    Wilco, thanks for the really awesome night! You guys really are best live American band right now.

  12. I think Crow Daddy has every right and reason to feel as he does. Sounds like Dallas got the shaft for whatever reason.

     

    Nathan J., I personally would love to see a pre-YHF only show, but am OK that they're heavy on newer material....they need to play what excites them. But Being There and Summerteeth are getting absolutely abused so far on this leg.

     

    By my count, after 2 shows:

     

    A.M. - 1 song per show

    Being There - 1 song per show

    Summerteeth - 1 song in Dallas only

  13. I think almost every Wilco fan would be a bit disappointed in that set. Wilco played just 2 songs pre-YHF and didn't sprinkle in any mild surprises (songs like Magazine, Hell is Chrome, Pot Kettle Black, Lonely One, Candy Floss, How To Fight Lonliness, Airline To Heaven, Secret of the Sea, etc...).

     

    The planned encore would have spiced things up a lot, so maybe a curfew or bad crowd prevented that.

  14. Wilco's hard work and stellar output has earned them clout over the years. I actually think their name is bigger than most "alternative" artists and is what could get them a nomination. Wilco's been nominated once each for 2 different musical categories (Sky Blue Sky/Best Rock Album and Ghost is Born/Best Alternative Album), so it's anybody's guess where "The Whole Love" gets slotted.

     

    I'm guessing they DO NOT get a nomination, mostly because the competition is loaded with either bigger names or better records (whether that's perveived or actual is up for debate in most cases):

     

    Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, M83, Tom Waits, Coldplay, Radiohead, R.E.M., Ryan Adams, Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, PJ Harvey, Black Keys, Drive-By Truckers, Iron & Wine, Fountains of Wayne, Kurt Vile, TV on the Radio, Telekenesis....and that doesn't include Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz or some other mediocre mainstream album that will get nominated for name only.

  15. Kind of snarky their Jakob. You don't know me well enough to try and read anything into ANYTHING.

     

    They already play covers in their encores (I love my label and 36 inches high have been making regular appearances in the States).

     

    It isn't necessary to pay tribute to REM. Their body of work speaks for itself. Plus, the band has been on their Thanksgiving break, so I'm just hoping they are getting enough rehearsal time to get back to their mid tour form. Don't want them wasting their time to overkill a REM song.

     

     

    Not trying to be snarky. Just figuring out where you're coming from.

     

    If Wilco had quit months ago and R.E.M. was on tour and played a cover of "Jesus Etc.", and if I was at that show, it would have been the highlight of the night. I love R.E.M. Love how they play their songs. Don't need them to play covers. But if they did, it would have freaking awesome.

     

    I love Wilco live. Tremendous. But I could sacrifice the 10th time live I've seen them play "I'm The Man That Loves You" in exchange for a song I've never heard them sing.

     

    Or better yet, I'd gladly sacrifice the Nick Lowe covers.

     

    Live shows are meant to have unexpected moments and hearing things you can't hear from the studio records.

  16. And I, for one, am not saddened by that.

     

    How so? 'Cause you don't like R.E.M.? You think it's lame? It's beneath the almighty Wilco?

     

     

    I think it'd be a touching tribute. I doubt they do it either, but it'd be the highlight of the show for me if they did.

  17. Just a fantasy likely, but I think it would be amazing, and a nice tribute if Wilco played an R.E.M. song in its upcoming batch of shows. There are many ties between R.E.M. and Wilco over the years and I'm guessing a big majority of Wilco fans are also fans of R.E.M.

     

    I'll be going to a Wilco show in their December run and will pray for an R.E.M. tribute. Would that be the coolest or what?!

     

     

     

    (In my fantasy, Wilco breaks out a ripping rendition of Wake Up Bomb, Crush With Eyeliner or Bang and Blame...I think Wilco would destroy on a glam-rock song.)

  18. Fun to read through this. I agree with many.

     

    I like Hotel Arizona's end jam, Tweedy's shredding on At Least That's What You Said, Jeff's guitar playing on More Like The Moon, and I've always LOVED the guitar Jeff uses on Future Age on the "Sunken Treasure - solo" disc as well as many of his solo shows. I've longed wished Jeff would play a solo acoustic song during a Wilco show.

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