Wilco LP #7

So people who like Radiohead can only experience feelings of self-pity and misery? Hmm, that's a bit much, don't you think? Folks seemed to be in a pretty good mood at the Radiohead concerts I've seen.

 

Saying that Radiohead only does whiny, self-pitying songs is no better than those local newspaper blurbs that say "alt-country band Wilco."

Well, that isn't what I said. The point is that the overwhelming arc of Radiohead's library is one of defeated negativity. The imprint they leave is one of depression and anxiety, and doesn't shine light on the plurality of life. That's a high bar to meet, of course, but it's one that Radiohead should meet if they're half as good as people make them out to be.

Yeah I think a lot of you are spot on. Basically, Radiohead has an incredible sound: but they can't be the "it" band, the everything band, the ultimate band that Pitchfork and so many others make them out to be with such a predictable direction with lyrics and tone. The lion's share of my problem with Radiohead is their reception, the incredibly excessive praise piled on them. I can't help but let it affect how I regard the band. Especially the case when there are still so many people out there oblivious to or doubting the unparalleled and many-sided magic of Wilco.

And I think Berman is spot on in talking about the band's fanbase: it is indeed upsetting how in tune so many people are with this band. It's not good for the most popular band around and the one people rally behind most to be one that wallows perpetually in its own self-pity and misery. I's really bothersome. There's way more to life than that, and a large part of a generation may be denying that.

Seriously!?! I mean I can understand the criticism lyrically (and I can even understand some backlash for their success), but how can anyone say The Bends and Kid A are even in the same ballpark musically, let alone "one tone"?

you're right. the bends is a diff ballpark. i'm thinking more along the lines of ok computer and everything that follows. instrumentation changes, sure, but the tone is all kind of the same.

Thenk you Berman for putting it in such clear and wonderful language. While Radiohead's aesthetic has always been one of the most amazing and unique in rock history, they are indeed a one tone band in both lyrics and music.

Easy:

The Dodos - Visiter

Dwight: "Do I have access to their medical records?"

both

The Pieholden Suite thing is KILLING ME. One of my favorite songs. Hell Is Chrome too. Jeeze.

Multiple tallies for Hell is Chrome disturbs me heavily...

Less Than You Think (duh)

Side with the Seeds

Walken

Can't Stand It

Passenger Side

and?

and not much. it was an odd moment. P Hallahan was classy handling it.

was there

I'm halfway through Underworld, I'm down if that's the choice. Been nursing it for a while.

I've listened to Wilco so much on my own that it's kind of awkward to have them playing at parties or in other large social settings. It's become so personal that it's weird to be sharing it with other people. Anyone else feel this way?

The Wilco Archive -

Thank you. Does anyone feel like telling me how FLAC files work?

Speaking of this, I recently had hard drive problems and lost Let Me Come Home in the mixup. Would anyone be so kind as to send me a file of it? Thanks a lot.

I've always found Maher very smug. I wish someone with more tact was going to the big screen with this, because I don't see him as more of a shit starter than a converter.

just like madden kills the zeal to be a professional football player.

 

i could be in the weight room right now.

really a terrible comparison to draw. not the same thing, at all. a guitar hero controller actually closely resembles a guitar. and the skills that go into learning guitar hero actually resemble playing guitar on many important levels. the disconnect between real football and madden is too enormous for this comparison to be at all valid.

Who's heard it? Thoughts? I've only listened once so I'm going to sit with it for a while before I say anything. Everybody is one of my all time favorites.

It's a stupid "convo" to begin with. Either you like the music or you don't. Talk about it if you want, I won't stop you.

 

I'm hardly a "defensive Wilco apologist." I've expressed my opinions about various Wilco songs, albums, shows, and other topics on this board for years, and some of those opinions have been pretty negative. I struggled for a good while with SBS before finally coming around to it. I am only now beginning to "get" AGIB. Etc.

 

 

Pretty much.

It's not a stupid conversation at all, it's a really interesting one, and there are few better places to have it.

Actually, the pumpkins used to be really, really good. I didn't know about the GNR thing. I didn't know GNR really even existed anymore. Shows how much I read Rolling Stone and watch VH1. The point, though, should stand aside from what anyone thinks about either of those bands. A stupid fucking game that eats up time that could be spent learning an actual instrument is now an integral part of the music industry. The game pushes the idea that musicians are Gods and that we can only imitate them via video game: we can only be them in virtual reality just as we can only dunk as Michael Jordan in virtual reality. It kills the DIY credo. But what do I know?

Why "fear"?

 

If you don't like the new stuff, don't listen to it. End of discussion.

 

Wilco isn't going to tailor their music to your tastes.

I'm sick of the defensive Wilco apologists cramping this convo every time we try to have it on this board

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news...via-guitar-hero

this is terrible news.

most recently: The Dodos-Visiter

more longterm: Polaris: Music from the Adventures of Pete & Pete

funny, that's what i think of every time i see one of your posts

 

 

 

to each his/her own i guess, but whenever i gave the album to someone last fall, that was always the first track that people picked up on *shrug*

 

that chorus is just so infectious. it also gets the loudest cheers of any song on the album live.

Oh, it's a great song. Just not my favorite on the album at all, and I don't want people to give up on the album based on their impressions of that song, because it has a lot more to offer. A friend of mine wasn't into Skinny Love but I made him a fan when I played For Emma for him.

Not a huge fan of Skinny Love. Not sure how it got anointed as the go to track from the album. Especially given that the title track is maybe the best song of the year. Flume and Lump Sum are also much, much better songs. The album is great and not getting into it will only deprive you. The whole thing is a grower.