DiamondClaw

I agree re: both Star Wars and Schmilco. I also kind of hoped the whole band would record together from scratch for a new Wilco project to create a different vibe than overdubbing to Jeff-and-Spencer demos as described in Let's Go.

That's definitely the way Jeff described the recording for Star Wars — calling band members in one at a time to overdub as necessary.

This is great news. I was wondering when the heck they would logistically even be able to get all six guys in the same place at the same time before they hit the road in June (even just to rehearse, let alone record a new album!). They all have a lot of solo stuff going on — Jeff and Nels especially. May seemed to be the only open month on the calendar. Nels is on the road this month, so if Wilco is currently working at the Loft, I wonder if Nels was able to drop by briefly. Plus, is Jeff still planning to release "Warmer" this spring?

I don't have a definitive ranking this year, but here are my favorites in no order: Josh Rouse – Love in the Modern AgeKacey Musgraves – Golden HourCourtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really FeelNatalie Prass – The Future and the PastSalad Boys – This is GlueJim James – Uniform DistortionKurt Vile – Bottle it InMark Knopfler – Down the Road WhereverElvis Costello – Look NowJeff Tweedy – WarmWhite Denim – PerformanceSnail Mail – LushJ Mascis – Elastic Days

So I was thinking about these new songs the other day, that they felt so familiar to me already. Part of it is that they are just good songs, warm and timeless. But another part of it is they (subtly) reminded me of older songs that I just couldn't put my finger on. It was killing me that I couldn't nail it down... until I did! It finally came to me yesterday: 1. "Don't Forget" --> "Burned" (Wilco cover version) 2. Chorus of "I Know What it's Like" --> Chorus of "The Kids are Alright" by the Who Does anyone else hear these similarities? Nothing so overt that it is a blatant copy, j

Listened to it three times through now, and my first impression is it is great. "Warm" is a great title because it fits the vibe. Minus "Let's Go Rain," which I just can't get into, and the first half of "How Will I Find You," which I think is weak until the guitar gets going, this is a just a pleasure from start to finish. Highlights for me are "Some Birds," "Don't Forget" and "I Know What It's Like." And "Having Been."

Thirded!

First of all, thanks a million for your recaps on this tour, bbop. These threads are appointment reading the morning after Wilco/Tweedy shows! I've seen "On and On and On" pop up several times this tour, but no footage of it exists. I'm curious how that one sounds solo acoustic.

What about "Drawing From Memory"? Is that accounted for here under a different title or not on the album?

This is great news! It's been apparent at these solo shows over the past few months that Tweedy had a critical mass of new material, and the only question was whether they were on reserve for a future Wilco session or were already in the can in another form. This seems like a really good batch of songs, so I'm really excited for this!

This is interesting. Maybe it is a slightly "brighter" vocal sound that draws me in. I really don't like the distorted/flat/fuzzy/echo thing, which I (maybe wrongly) attribute to songs like "Nope" or "The Joke Explained."

Maybe that's part of it too, because I really like Sukierae. Could just be the formula was a little worn out by the time Schmilco came out. Though it is also interesting to think of Sukierae, Star Wars and Schmilco as a trilogy. Either way, I am very eager to hear what direction the next Wilco album takes. Whether you like the trilogy or not, it would be interesting to see Tweedy veer in a different sonic direction next.

This thread is apropos of nothing, but I was just listening to Schmilco today (first time in a while), so it was on my mind. In relistening, I was reminded of my main qualm with the record when it came out: Jeff's vocals. The songs themselves are pretty good, but for a record with such an intimate feel, Jeff's muffled vocals just don't connect. He's a great singer, with a great, honest voice, but the delivery sometimes comes off as flat on Schmilco. Not on everything, but the track "Nope" is a good example — it sounds like he has a bad head cold and is chowing down on a plate of mashed pot

They're not but I wish they were! I like the Sukierae album, but "Everybody Hides" and "Why Why Why" are as good as anything on there.

Always wanted to chime in on this thread. Here's my top 10 from 2017: 1. Spoon – Hot Thoughts 2. The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding 3. Ryan Adams – Prisoner 4. Bash & Pop – Anything Could Happen 5. GospelbeacH – Another Summer of Love 6. Son Volt – Notes of Blue 7. Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice 8. Real Estate – In Mind 9. Beck – Colors 10. St. Vincent – Masseduction

As a diehard Heartbreakers fan myself, this hits the nail on the head. On the bright side, they did add "Swingin'" from the long-forgotten Echo album to the set last night. First time it had been played in 18 years. Who knows if it'll stick, but that's definitely a very welcome breath of fresh air.

Bumping this. 2 tickets still available for tonight. Great seats too! Just looking for face (OBO). Email me if interested. mdepilla at gmail dot com.

Something just came up with the family and I won't be able to make Wednesday's show at the Chicago Theatre, so I am just looking for face value for this pair. The seats are in the mezzanine box section - Row Q2. I've seen shows here before and I love the vantage point and ambiance. $200 for the pair, and they're hard tickets. Message me if you're interested. Thanks!

So Wilco starts their fall Midwest tour in two days. Do you think they will a. "Leak" and/or stream Schmilco in the next couple of days? b. Perform some new tracks without the album being out there? c. Stick with the Star Wars tour setlists for the time being? It would be a very Wilco thing to do to have Schmilco appear on their website before this week is over...

I always thought "Dark Neon" would have been a cool album title (and probably would have made for some cool art). I also think that album would have been better if that track was included — I never did understand how it "didn't fit" when the rest of the songs on WTA were very different from one another to begin with. For Star Wars, no idea. Pickled Ginger, Alien Ache, Knitting the Divide, Flame Creator are each cool nuggets of imagery.

While it is ultimately completely unimportant and unrelated to the quality and enjoyment of the music itself, I do have to admit a slight preference for album titles (and art) that have something to do with the collection of songs they represent. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost is Born, Sky Blue Sky, even The Whole Love all seem to capture those particular albums to me in some thematic way. Wilco the Album, Star Wars, Schmilco, yeah they're lazy or cutesy or whatever, but the main thing is they're not evocative to me in any way. (Though to reiterate, in the end it is the music that matters.)

Ranking the albums is an impossible task for me, but I wanted to chime in on the underrated WTA. I also think it's far better than people give it credit for. The one thing that's always baffled me is why the heck they left "Dark Neon" off the album. It's not like the album had a cohesive feel that "Dark Neon" wouldn't fit — the album was a "little from here, little from there" anyway, and "Dark Neon" would have added some color and punch, especially to the post-"Country Disappeared" stretch. I'm not saying WTA is Wilco's finest album — even as a fan I don't like the arrangements on some of the

My quick take: I like the album, and I love the fact that Wilco is both able to make albums like this and albums like The Whole Love. Star Wars is jagged, fuzzy and jarring. The Whole Love is lush, warm and poppy. I can't really rank one vs. the other and I don't consider one style "better" than the other — I think the versatility Wilco shows in nailing both is the most impressive thing of all.

Just popping in to note that, on 3/14/15, Jeff failed to capitalize on the opportunity to play "Pecan Pie" at this show.

I played this playlist while I was working today (with one substitution- "Say You Miss Me" for "Walken"), and I have to say it is awesome! What a great mix of Wilco.