DiamondClaw

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.

Funny, for me "I'll Fight" is an example of the exact opposite: a case of too MUCH playing, too many cooks in the kitchen. I think this song would benefit from stripping away a layer or two, even if it meant a member or two of the band wasn't on this track. Probably why I like the song better when Jeff plays it solo. The lyric to "I'll Fight" is great.

I don't think the songwriting on "I'll Fight" is syrupy or weak at all. In fact, I think they are some of the most biting lyrics Jeff has ever written, when you look beneath the surface of the cheesy "I'll go, I'll go..." part. And I think that's the point of the song- I find it very clever. I do agree the arrangement could use some work, personally I just think it is a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. The acoustic riff is great, but maybe the stripped down Jeff/John/Leroy/Glenn era Wilco would have delivered a less polished, more gritty performance of this song. But from a lyrical point

Ha! I never realized how similar the riffs are in those two songs! Also, I agree that "One Wing" sounds better in F#m.

Reading over this thread, W(TA) gets a pretty bad rap; worse than I think it deserves. I really think there are a lot of very good songs as individuals- "Wilco (the Song)" (gimmicky, but actually a very good song), "One Wing" (masterpiece), "Bull Black Nova" (masterpiece), "Country Disappeared" (smooth and beautiful), "I'll Fight" (great lyrics)- but the general/overall impression of the album always seems to be low. IMO, the biggest misstep they took was not including "Dark Neon". A common complaint about W(TA) is that it gets sort of slow and safe in the second half, which I understand. Th

I agree with this too. While I like WTA more than most, I do think it suffers a little from the "too many cooks in the kitchen" syndrome- especially "I'll Fight" and "Sonny Feeling". To me, "I'll Fight" would have been better with a much sparser arrangement, not unlike they way they performed tracks in the early '00s, as opposed to the distracting, everybody-has-to-have-a-part circus of sound. Sonny Feeling- as much as I like Nels, I actually think that song would be better without a bunch of his overdubs. But I guess that's the problem with a six-piece band- everybody has to have "their" pa

This sums it up to me. As long as Tweedy writes good songs, and they are performed honestly and not manipulated to be something they are not, I'll be happy. I think some fans sometimes have very, very specific and often unfair expectations for Wilco. Kind of like that "tortured artistic soul/ voice of a generation/ poster boy for indie rock martyrdom" joke. As long as the process is organic, I'm sure their natural musical instincts will guide them to a beautiful record.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I had never seen that O'Reilly video before- thanks for that! I don't care what your politics are, that is comedy gold!! Also, great set list.

Did you get a pre-nub? Or, should I say, did SHE? Since it's obvious you're just marrying her for her money.

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone tried their hand at this great song from the 7 Worlds Collide project. If so, would anyone be kind enough to tab it out? I'd love to see the chords to this one and give it a shot. Thanks!

Alright, I was told I had to put my list up here, even though composing it meant thinking way too hard and making way too many difficult cuts. In NO particular order AT ALL, here's my top 20: 1. Far, Far Away 2. Sunken Treasure 3. I'm Always In Love 4. She's a Jar 5. Pieholden Suite 6. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart 7. Jesus, Etc. 8. More Like The Moon 9. Not For the Season 10. Chinese Apple 11. Spiders (Kidsmoke) 12. You Are My Face 13. Impossible Germany 14. Gun 15. Should've Been in Love 16. Cars Can't Escape 17. Pot Kettle Black 18. At Least That's What You Said 19. A Shot in the Arm 20