lost highway

Genial! Merci!

Man, the "Where Do I Begin- Cold Slope-King of You" run (is it a medley if they play the whole songs but with no pauses between?) is just so excellent.

I just wanted to share my joy about this little (hour and a half) surprise that popped up this morning. I loved the Orange one they shared this spring, more hits and barn burners. This Blue one though feels like it was made for me- all the deep cuts, red headed step children and songs that make me jealous when they show up on a set list for a show I didn't see. The fidelity ranges from impressive to just fine.

12 hours ago, DiamondClaw said:

I agree "Insignificance" may be the best overall, but "Simple Songs" is super underrated. Also, I've been alternating two of the instrumental ones, "Bad Timing" and "The Visitor," just about daily while I work. Gorgeous pieces of music.

I agree with all of the above. I'd also say that "Eureka" plays like a slightly lesser "Insignificance" which is just fine for those of us wanting more of that mode of O'Rourke.

I stumbled upon a video of them performing "Quiet Amplifier" at this show. It was outstanding.

Also a note for gear nerd corner:

Jeff appears to be playing his acoustic guitar through overdrive pedals and amps for this song. I'm guessing here, but I'm assuming it would accomplish the goals of keeping that very delicate fingerpicked portion compressed and loud enough to hear amidst tribal drumming and sheets of sound from the other members, and also it allows him to chime in with a more distressed sounding strummed part for the crescendos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhOczN0aiRw

Great interview. Sweet guy.

It's pretty unusual to see that level of musical genius hit a point and lose interest. Sounds like he should do a film podcast!

I got cold feet and held out on the full package. I'm listening to the outtakes on the streaming version and it's making me want to get the rest of the story. I was a little disappointed to see photos of the book and see it's largely 'The Wilco Book' design work repackaged, but I still think I might have to pony up for all the LPs.

At times the earlier versions have just a little slop to them that makes me feel like it's what it would sound like if Pavement wrote a Wilco song.

16 hours ago, TCP said:

I got my shipping notification via Fedex today. Should get here Thursday. Super fast!!

Please share your impressions as they form!

Does anyone happen to know what's on the disc for the new AGIB centered issue of Uncut?

51 minutes ago, BTom said:

OK, I have to express discontent over bbop’s post.  I have lived in Minnesota 67 years.  This is not - I repeat, not - a frigid weekend.  Not by any means.  In fact this morning we have some lovely fog to accompany the balmy 29 degree temperature.  Additional fact - I’ve not yet even moved beyond my lightest winter jacket all season and I’m outdoors a lot.  That said, I understand the problems of thin-blooded people in this climate.  

Bless your Norse hearts. You folks are truly remarkable. With love from sunny Colorado (highs this week in the mid 50s).

10 hours ago, TCP said:

 

...It's my time to shine!

So, Austin had 98 unique songs played across three evenings.

Tulsa had 68, including the coda of Many Worlds. 

All 68 of those songs were all played in Austin, with the possible (debatable!) exception of the coda of Many Worlds, as Austin had the full Many Worlds.

Austin had 32 songs a night, and Tulsa had 33 (night one) and 35 (night two).

Merci! Excellent work, sir.

What a blast! I'm jealous. Any data heads keeping track of how many different songs they've played in the last week?

Also how have they not dusted off Born Alone?

7 hours ago, Brian F. said:

I think the CDs on the LP set only include the "Fundamentals."

Oh yeah, from what they said about that process they might be one long track that would stretch uninterrupted longer than an LP side.

I only just realized the deluxe edition comes with LPs AND cds. Is there different material on each or did they just decide someone wanted it all on both?

Oh my friends, I have so many thoughts on this. This is my favorite record.... maybe period.

First of all, I'm not crazy. My prediction was premature but they came through!

Listening to this first song was really cool. I was a little nonplussed, "Another Handshake Drugs, I already have two. Is this just an extended outro that they trimmed for the album version?". But no, this is completely different. You can tell they loved this song and kept trying it until they got it just right. This version sounds like a demo from a really nice studio. It's loose and free and has tons of energy.

It makes me go back and wonder about the process of this record (can't wait to read about it). I always figured they did all of their homework and then recorded absolutely everything at Sear Sound, but here we are with the "Sear Sound version" of Handshake Drugs. So maybe what we've known all these years is the SOMA version. Maybe the first bonus disc is the product of two different studios, two different sessions, and there's an alternate of most every song because they had different versions to develop, mix and finish.

Also of interest, "Leave Me Like You Found Me". Never my top shelf Wilco song, but so curious that it had been around that long ago. I always enjoy hearing the forms these songs take in different eras (see "Hummingbird" from the YHF box). Great to see some favorite deep cuts, but then what is "Like a Stone", or "Losing Interest". These might be the $215 questions for me, the curious fan.

6 hours ago, Marijn said:

Recently announced anniversary sets already have a release date around half November, so with no leaks AND the physical release date of HSCS set back to Nov 29, my hope is slightly fading away...

Mine too. Looking unlikely this year.

I was starting to think I'd joined the legions of embarrassingly inept predictors of the future when Jeff chimed in on his Substack about the original form of "Panthers" being brought to mind from recently digging through the archives. We might still see a deluxe edition!

11 hours ago, Albert Tatlock said:

 

Yeah - but I like how VC remains a 'safe space' for differing considered opinions rather than the sycophantic FB place.

Seriously. Critical discussion is wonderful- people liking and disliking things for interesting reasons without being aggressive or defensive. Hard to come by in the age of hot takes on social media.

On 7/8/2024 at 6:48 AM, jff said:

I made a similar suggestion on a different Wilco forum and was roasted pretty thoroughly for it.  A lot of Wilco fans, especially on that forum, don't understand that there's a huge difference between "instrumental music"  and "shredding."  The minute you suggest the band is being underutilized, folks say "you just want to hear Nels shred."  Which is dumb.  

Yes. You can hear the difference between material that was written by a singer songwriter and arranged by a band and material that was written by a band. Most of Wilco the sextet's most stirring and memorable instrumental passages (One Sunday Morning, Bird Without a Tail, The Empty Condor, Side With the Seeds) are the product of writing or at least recording as a full band. Tweedy has shown he's capable of leaving spaces for discovery in recording assembly line/ individually tracked material, but there's a magic that only happens when all six of those guys are in Chicago at the same time to create.

I'm a Cousin fan but in retrospect what makes it a B Wilco record instead of an A is that the much anticipated strangeness and inventiveness that was it's mission is more often about how the songs are dressed, not how they're structured. This is a generalization of course, and if I get a "Sunlight Ends" from an assembly line production I can't say it sucks.

25 minutes ago, Brian F. said:

Much better this way. A 10-inch doesn't fit neatly with 45s or with LPs. Pearl Jam did a 10-inch one year for their holiday single and it sticks out of the collection like a sore thumb.

I was excited because I have like 7 ten inches and they could use company down there at the end of the LPs. It is kind of an impractical format. 12 inch will be nice.

I'm wondering if this is a later 2024 announcement/release, or if maybe I imagined the whole thing.

4 hours ago, Brian F. said:

 

"Secret of the Sea" was tuned way up for some reason. It sounded like it might have been a full step up. It bordered on being above the range of my hearing. I love that song-- it might be my favorite Mermaid Avenue track-- but it sounded weird. And then it was followed by "ELT," a song that's already in an upper register and sounded like it might also have been tuned up a half-step. Usually, as artists get older, they tune things down because the high parts are harder to reach, so these were interesting choices.

 

This piqued my curiosity because as you mentioned, older artists tend to bring things down for their aging voices if anything. Someone posted the stream and I was pumped to hear some unheard live versions. While I was at it I peeped the two you mentioned and they did "Secret of the Sea" in C (ha!) and "ELT" in B. Both the same as the album versions. Maybe we're just getting used to Jeff singing lower and quieter these days so those pre Y2K tunes just sound really high in contrast.

13 minutes ago, jff said:

I'll just come out and say it:  Tweedy's singing doesn't connect with me anymore.  I don't know if it's the way he's recorded or mixed, or the way he sings.  But whatever it is, I'm no longer a fan.  It's not his fault.  He can obviously do what he wants.  Maybe I've had my fill.  Don't take it personally Tweedy.  I've had my fill of John Coltrane, too, so you're in good company.

 

 

Yeah, and this has been true for like 3-4 albums for you (I imagine). Judging by how firmly he's landed in this sonic approach/vocal delivery I think it's permanent. It doesn't bother me, but I think I know what you're hearing. He doesn't project or have as much grit as he used to.

What a great listen. The opening track was the biggest shock. It's the first thing they've done in over a decade that doesn't sound like it happened in the loft. It came out of a space ship.

Overall it feels like if the Cousin sessions were done with the sheer playfulness of Star Wars. I'm reminded in attitude, if not sound of Deerhoof. Like, "We went looking for sounds and came back with all this! Isn't it fun, check it out!"

When Jeff described alien shapes in the lead up to Cousin, this is more what I had in mind. A somewhat disposable instrumental doesn't diminish this for me, it makes everything feel more anarchic and exciting like "Piggies" or "Honey Pie" on the White Album, or "Bugs" on Vitalogy, or choose any curious toss off on Alien Lanes.

Ooooooh it's a ten inch! Me likey.