DiamondClaw

1 hour ago, Heart full of holes said:

A pretty nifty look at the thinking behind the last few Wilco albums:

https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/wilco-dbpm-records-list?utm_source=notification

I saw the thread title "Jeff Tweedy walks..." and thought this was an update on his hip surgery recovery.

One more I had been hoping for was announced today — Faye Webster on March 1.

Wilco tie-in here: She had been playing a new song on her most recent tour with the working title "Wilco Type Beat." Very catch song, like a cross of "Jesus, Etc." and "Impossible Germany." I really hope it's on here.

On 1/2/2024 at 1:40 PM, TCP said:

Hopeful:

 

Mac DeMarco (with lyrics!)

 

I liked Five Easy Hot Dogs! But yes, here's hoping for something more conventional* this year.

(*conventional for Mac is still wacky!)

I agree 2023 ended up being a pretty good year! Here were some of my favorites:

11. Cut Worms - Cut Worms

On 11/17/2023 at 2:59 PM, Brian F. said:

What I find fascinating about the pared-down core set list is that it largely (not entirely, but largely) ignores the band's output from 2009 through 2022 (and, to a certain extent, much of 2007's Sky Blue Sky) even though the albums from that period are the ones that feature the current iteration of the band. In other words, when Wilco plays sets that are heavy on YHF and AGIB with the current lineup, they're a bit of a cover band.

 

Having seen the band do a three-night, no-repeat residency only eight months ago, they still seem pretty good at executing an expansive and diverse set list.

Yeah, if there's any record the band has been touring since it came out, it's the Kicking Television live album. 20 years later, and those songs are the ones that still stick in the set, along with the Being There encore songs. How many songs from the current lineup's studio output have really stuck? "Impossible Germany," obviously. Otherwise, nothing as permanent. Still, outside of a few truly deep and forgotten cuts, anything is possible during a multi-night stand.

Via some long rabbit hole, I randomly came across this old No Depression article about the short-lived non-Tweedy Wilco side project in the '90s:

Wilco – Common Courtesy

I remember hearing the name "Courtesy Move" once or twice back in the day, but it's been a really long time. Does anyone recall anything else about this project? Did it ever amount to anything? Any recordings (probably released) out there?

4 hours ago, Shug said:

Sitting vs standing is certainly related to favorite songs vs unfamiliar songs but also separate.  I'm a stander for sure and I'd prefer to stand all night and prefer the majority of an audience does too.  I like to dance and rock out and I like concerts in which audiences are active participants instead of passive receivers.  I also vastly prefer to hear old songs than new.  Main reason is that most of Wilco's best songs are older and their newer stuff I just don't think is as good, just my opinion, and that is a trend that holds true for me with almost every band I've ever liked. I do think a few songs on Cruel Country like Base Of My Skull and Many Worlds are the best songs they've put out since Wilco The Album.

 

But I think it's pretty much human nature to be less excited for songs with which people do not yet have a history or emotional relationship with.  Jeff gets this, even though it may disappoint him, as evidenced when he said people will want to hear these new songs in a year.  For me, and I think for many people, you have to get to know a song and connect to it over time to have a strong connection with it and thus a desire to hear it or excitement for it.  It's like people.  When I meet a stranger I don't know enough about them to be excited.  Maybe I will be excited to see them one day if a relationship develops, but when they are unfamiliar, there is nothing yet there to connect to in an excited way, except with rare exceptions.  That's just how I see it, but for me it's not surprising or disappointing at all that most people don't react to the new songs liked they do their old faves.  The new songs are not obviously the highlights for most people, they are the part of the show hard to get excited about.

Total sidetrack but, this is why I am puzzled why bands want to go out on tour immediately after releasing a new album. I always thought it would be better to let an album get out there for a bit, settle in and have fans make some connections to the songs. Maybe play a few late night shows, promote the new material a bit, whatever. Then, a few months later, start the tour with the new stuff feeling more familiar. Probably doesn't work with the business and/or logistics sides of things I'd guess. And of course you're never going to make connections comparable to classic, nostalgic, emotional reactions to older stuff. But I always thought it would at least help give the new stuff at least bit of a boost.

Wow, first “Sunlight Ends” and then “Levee” debut on back-to-back nights. Probably my two favorites from the album.  Hope they stick! Thanks for great reviews @Brian F.

So, one week in and I am really liking this album! I can't remember liking one right off the bat like this in some time. Usually it takes a while for the growers to seep their way in. CLB really got the elaborate, rich soundscapes I've been missing the past few albums. Overall, maybe not quite as adventurous as it was hyped to be, and not as many up-tempo toe-tappers, but Cousin hits the spot for me so far. Favorites at the moment, probably "Levee" and "Sunlight Ends." Can't wait to see how everything holds up over time.

44 minutes ago, TCP said:

I'm surprised there hasn't been a second single yet.

Only 10 tracks total on the album — maybe they're trying to not reveal too much and maximize the wow factor?

1 hour ago, KevinG said:

Also is it cheating to have three Jeff Tweedy songs on there?

Could've been more. I mean, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Golden Smog, Loose Fur, The Minus 5, Tweedy and Jeff Tweedy are all technically separate names, right??

Seriously though, nice list. I remember a few years ago there was some kind of challenge like this to put together a representative six-song list. Talk about hard choices! I remember thinking too hard and coming up with a definitive six tracks. Would have to come up with 14 more for this.

Don't know if these are official, but track lengths are listed here

1. Infinite Surprise 5:43
2. Ten Dead 3:55
3. Levee 4:11
4. Evicted 3:30
5. Sunlight Ends 3:53
6. A Bowl and a Pudding 4:03
7. Cousin 4:11
8. Pittsburgh 5:14
9. Soldier Child 4:17
10. Meant to Be 3:55
Total length: 42:52

I like that they let these songs stretch out a bit more. At 3:30, "Evicted" is the shortest song on the album.

10 minutes ago, 5hake1t0ff said:

Amazing how hyped I still get, after all these years. Don't know if that says more about what a great band Wilco is, or me being an obsessive type.

Ha, don't worry, you're not the only one! Nothing more exciting than a new album announcement. I always get hyped for it, but I feel especially excited for this one in a way I haven't since The Whole Love.

3 minutes ago, 5hake1t0ff said:

 

I must say, this is not the description I was hoping for of the first single off the supposed "art pop" record, but I will strive to retain my tabula rasa and trust my dudes.

I get that. The "art pop" moniker brings some big league expectations. I wouldn't describe the song as jarring or anything. But it seems like a good single, with a catchy chorus, clean vocals and strong melody. Who knows, it could end up being an outlier from the album. The weirder/noisier tracks might be album cuts. It was only a first impression, but I liked the song.

I caught the new song on XRT and thought it was very good! It was in the "breezy pop" Wilco style, with a distinctly Tweedy melody. Maybe in the vein of "Taste the Ceiling" or the less-twangy songs from Cruel Country like "Tired of Taking it Out on You" or "Hearts Hard to Find," but with a touch more production.

Any other Chicago peeps going to Lucius and Dawes at Canal Shores tonight?

On 7/3/2023 at 3:13 PM, u2roolz said:

My money is on announcing the new record on National Cousins Day which happens to be on a Monday. Monday the 24th of July. 
 

 

I also realized recently that Jeff performed another song from the upcoming record on The Tweedy Show: Meant To Be. That one was done on Episode 165 and was untitled, but featured the line “our love is meant to be.” Pretty sure it’s the same song. 

I guess that National Cousins Day idea is as good as any... only because Google tells me both National Vanilla Pudding Day and National Chocolate Pudding Day already passed. (May 22 and June 26, evidently!)

3 minutes ago, lost highway said:

 

I take this as confirmation that the album is done. At this point we're just waiting for whatever manufacturing and marketing route they've chosen (wait for vinyl, or drop it digital with vinyl preorders). The real question is if Nick is quietly a forum member and if he's prepared to share some of his impressions of the album with us!

I wonder if we'll get the official announcement this week. With Jeff's solo tour kicking off, it cold be a nice time for a news drop. 🤞🏼

Hmm, "Tour to Infinity" and the presale code is SURPRISE. References to the first track of the forthcoming album?

2 hours ago, TCP said:

Let's start a betting pool on when the first single will be dropped. 

The one-year anniversary of Cruel Country (digital version anyway) is this weekend I think. Maybe that gets its last moment in the spotlight and then the news comes in the next week or two? I'd think an announcement would at the very least come before Jeff's solo tour next month.

1 hour ago, heychicken said:

I would say "hey chicken, you're all talk," but this seems legit! Love it.

13 minutes ago, chisoxjtrain said:

::whispers:: I may have heard one of the new songs

Speak up, my friend!

40 minutes ago, SarahC said:

I think, probably fall, maybe early 2024 after the holidays, given the way their touring schedule takes a bit of hiatus towards the end of any given calendar year. They’ll prob announce something a SBS, if I was a gambling type of lady I would probably bet on it. 

Here's hoping for sooner rather than later! While it seems like the Cruel Country cycle has pretty much run its course now, I would understand if they want to take a beat. But, on the other hand... why wait??

Really looking forward to this. Not that I didn't like Cruel Country — I did, for the most part — but my level of anticipation for this one feels higher. Anyone think they might get it out by this fall?

Thanks as always for the recaps @bböp.  They're always a pleasure to read. Are you surprised that "A Lifetime to Find" seems to have fallen out of the set entirely?