barnyard pimp

That's why I figured sticking 'the song' at the end made for a fun closer (and indeed it ends quite abruptly) and finishes the record on less of a 'low note' than 'Everlasting...'. Kiiiind of like what 'Late Greats' does for the drone.

Don't you have a volume knob?

Here's an audiophile's comparison of the vinyl vs CD: http://myvinylreview.blogspot.com/

I still think this album would have better with Dark Neon leading things off followed by the current song order.

I find the sequencing so inappropriate that I made a few slight changes, which I've been trying to sell my friends on...

1. Dark Neon

2. Sonny Feeling

3. Deeper Down

4. One Wing

5. You and I

6. You Never Know

7. Solitaire

8. I'll Fight

9. Bull Black Nova

10. Country Disappeared

11. Everlasting Everything

12. Wilco the Song

I'd love to hear thoughts from anyone who tries this order. I find that 'Dark Neon' as an opener is so odd and off-putting that it paints the album in a TOTALLY different light, and the drum intro/build-up of additional instruments is a great way to start the record. I put 'Sonny Feeling' next because I think it's way too upbeat and catchy to be buried at the end of the record, and it really shines in the 2nd slot. Then basically the rest of the album is in a pretty similar order, but with the heaviness of 'Dark Neon' and 'Sonny Feeling' at the beginning I was able to save 'Bull Black Nova' for closer to the end of the record, which I think really balances out the second side and keeps it from getting too dreary, which a lot of people have complained about. I found 'Everlasting' to be waaaay too bombastic and ultimately disappointing as a closer, so I tacked 'Wilco the Song' right at the end which totally leaves you feeling uplifted and excited when the record ends rather than feeling like you've just sat thru 5 slow songs and it's over.

I'm not saying it's perfect but to me it balances the hard/soft dynamics much more evenly across the whole record.

I almost never hear 'On and On...' now that I've listened to 'I'll Fight' so much, though it was very obvious when I first heard the song and for many listens afterwards. I'm astonished Jeff said he didn't understand the comparisons (though he was probably thinking more lyrically vs melodically, but come on..).

I think there are too many references to love for this to be about a poor man Taking a rich man's place in war, though there are obvious allusions to that, as well. I think it is being written for a couple of people, not just one.

 

In one verse, he makes reference to being paid, and in the very next talks about 'the love no longer here'.

"And none will shed a tear for their love no longer here" refers to the rich man who has died. It probably just flowed better than "none will shed a tear for their old rich relative or friend no longer here".

The final line of the song seems to loop back to this one, indicating that though the 'poor man' has died, his life had more value because his love was felt by whomever (someone specific or general friends/family, it isn't clear, to me at least). I think the song is a pretty literal story, which I would dumb down to 'money can't buy/replace love'. Or perhaps 'money may get you out of death, but it can't buy/replace love.'

 

Country Disappeared: Initially my favorite, losing a little for me. I love the vocal and soul of this song but kind of just dies at the end

When I hear the end I wonder how many minutes of tape rolled while they each tried to one-up each other with the final chord (or cymbal swash, which I believe is how it finally ends).

Howdy y'all! Anybody who already knows what I'm going to ask, hands up.

On the recording I have of the Residency night 3, Feb 18 2008, during the very end of "Via Chicago" (right after Jeff's last line and the band comes back in) you can hear some guy in the crowd very clearly shout 'Bobby Brady!'. My question, of course, is... WHY?!?!? I suppose it's a long shot that somebody might know, but it's SO prominent and now whenever I hear any version of the song my mind injects it into the mix, which is troubling.

Was Mike Lookinland returning to his seat late as the 2nd set started? Am I completely mishearing what he's shouting? Have I clearly listened to the Residency shows far too many times that such crowd nuances are permanently etched in my mind (don't even get me started about the guy that obnoxiously--though admittedly probably out of genuine uncontrollable excitement--screams "YES!" at the most intense part of 'Pieholden Suite' 2 nights later).

Any answers appreciated.

After wrestling still longer with that elusive line in "You Never Know", after "It's a long, heavy hell".....going way out on a limb here, but could it possibly be......

 

"Synthesizer Patel"?

 

(google it)

Now that we know this is correct, any idea what the hell it means in the context of the song?!

"get back to black metal and pearls"

I just ordered the cherry ghost shirt a few days ago and the 'spend $30 and get a free 7"' offer wasn't there! I suppose an mp3 would be the next best thing... PM please anyone?!?!

shake it off!

i'm guessing 'bull black nova'.

i'm often wrong.

My vinyl copy of AGIB sounds TERRIBLE on certain sides, Side 1 being the most prominent if I recall. Shitloads of surface noise and a huge recurring scccrrraaaaatccch that pops up every couple of seconds the entire way through 'At Least' and 'Hell'. I bought it brand new too, I was pretty disappointed!

Actually, the first live performance of it has the solo placed as it appears on the record (2006.06.28 MacEwan Hall, Calgary). They tinkered with it about pretty soon after, if I remember correctly, but I can't find any hard evidence for that. The next time I have them playing it, at Summerfest (2006.07.05) it's still in its studio location so I'm wagering it was shifted in between those two shows.

 

For what it's worth, Nels' solo on that first performance is still my favorite solo of his.

Nice info! I was at that Calgary show, I showed up early and listened to them soundcheck the song literally 5 or 6 times before the show. At that point I didn't realize it had never been played before, so it was definitely cool to find out I witnessed the debut of a 'classic'.

I was REVOLTED when I heard a version from later in the Canadian tour that had the solo in the middle. It was with much, much, MUCH relief I discovered they'd 'fixed' it when the album came out.

HAHAHAHA right on!!!

RE: Deeper Down

I think it's a saw...

I wondered if it was a Theremin as well, but I hadn't thought about a saw.

It might be the "slide cimbalom" that Jason Tobias is listed as playing in the credits?

(then again, it might not!)

What's strange?

You seem to think the album is called Bull Black Nova..?

is it on the wilcoworld streaming version? seems like the simplest answer (which i was curious about too!)

I guess you would.

Same ending, it just doesn't fade like on the CD (so you get a little extra 'proper ending').

Curious about Reservations though!

and btw...Candyfloss was my personal highlight of the first night of residency

It came out of nowhere during an otherwise 'hits heavy' encore, blew me right away. I'd love to hear it at every show!

the island wants you to wait...

hey, where's pullman?

Nope, you're the only ones. Thank God you're getting married!

(and congrats!!!!)

i'm definitely curious to see how the sets look once the new material filters in. i always try to catch 2 or 3 shows a tour, with the hopes of hearing varied set lists each night, with many songs i've never heard, and hearing the new album at the time played in its entirety over a few shows. it never reeeeally happened, i'd get a few surprises each show but it was taking a while to 'collect' all my favorites. so when they announced the residency it was pretty much a dream come true, and a totally unique experience. those were legendary shows and it was so awesome to be relaxed and not worry about not hearing 'shake it off' or 'summerteeth' or 'radio cure' becuz i KNEW they would (though i had to wait for night 4 for all of those ) .. but now, i doubt i'll be as adamant about seeing a huge run of shows (which is good, cuz they didn't announce any near me! ha!) and am really only truly excited about hearing the songs off the new record. hopefully the set lists are filled w/ new tunes once the record is out!

Definitely concerned about the lack of a Vancouver/Seattle date but I'm guessing if they don't make it up north this summer they'll swing back in the fall or early next year? They seem to tour for 2 years straight for each record, maybe they'll do another cross-Canada run later on. I think I've seen them in Alberta more than I've seen them in BC!

"Come on bro!? Setlist!"