lost highway

^ The Spaniards get it. Que padre.

Did anyone see Glenn use the "marching machine" contraption Jeff talked about on any OTJ songs? I missed the first half of the stream and thought I saw it next to his kit.

Nels is sitting for Empty Corner and Mikael is getting really jazzy!

Someone To Lose was also a nice surprise addition. Glad they could drop If I Ever Was A Child for at least one night and replace it with another Schmilco song. 

That's an improvement, I'd go one better and hope that they play Cry All Day in it's place when they come to CO.

good listen although it is really annoying that they edit it and remove blank space...

Yeah the pace of the conversation is totally unnatural. It removes some of the humanity.

Annnnd two of Trump/Giulliani's stooges from Ukraine were arrested trying to leave the country!

I hope my post didn't come across as argumentative.  That wasn't my intent, but I was in a mood this morning, so there might be some aggro tone there that was unwarranted.

Here's one example of how this forum is better than the facebook group. 

I like that interview, and I like John. It seems like some of the negative discussion assumes that Jeff was twisting everyone's arms and they didn't get an input. The way it sounds is even though there was a pretty specific template to dictate a different process, the other 4 guys got to really be imaginative in seeing what they could add.

I am the beleaguered moderator in the Facebook group and to tell you the truth I am just about over it. The group has gotten way too big, I think it’s been invaded by trolls and there’s so much shitposting and backstabbing that it’s not fun anymore. I know that some of you here on this message board are also members of the Facebook group and I would sincerely appreciate any suggestions you might have as to some way to get that place back on track. I’ve always thought that this board and the Facebook group could compatibly coexist because they each have different strengths. (I also know that some people just hate Facebook on general principles and I’m beginning to understand that point of view!) My real name is Diane Kyrus and you can send me a PM.

 

Oh, and in the interest of keeping this post on topic, I am a huge fan of OTJ.

Yeah, I was thinking of the poor moderators. I don't really know what to tell you, Diane. I think I've already admitted that it's gotten toxic enough that I've felt sucked into communicating with strangers in a way that's not totally friendly. I'd think a few weeks will cool it out, but it's not your job to weather that storm if you don't want to.

In my case, inconsistency is probably a large part of what makes an album enjoyable to listen to.  I like an album to show different sides of what a band can do (and sometimes what they can't do), and that creates inconsistency.  SBS, AGIB, and TWL (not one of my favorites, but still) and some of the others did that really well.  

Well said, that totally helps me get what you're going for. I think in terms of 'variety pack' Wilco records (sorry everyone) I'll take TWL over SBS, and WtA any day. It was a peak to me because they managed to have as much range as those other albums without (in my opinion) any clunker songs. If I'm gonna get a chuckle to yourself, fun song I'll take Capitol City over Walken, or for that matter a spirited romp I'll take Standing O over Walken. I won't tell you why I hate On and On because you love it and the Facebook group has inspired me to be less of a jerk when discussing music.

I guess it's good that I didn't know there was FB group.

 

Now that I've had a chance to listen several times through, I'd say this album puts them on an upswing after Schmilco, but is nowhere near as good as SBS or Star Wars, so I don't understand the "Best album since AGIB" thing that's been pretty common in a lot of reviews and commentary.

Am I the only one who thinks SBS is half of an amazing album? While there's no "You Are My Face" moment that makes me look for someone to make a mix tape for so I can put it on there, OTJ is so much more consistent than a lot of their output to my ears. In fact, that makes it a better introverted cousin to Star Wars. It holds a certain focus, and there's no slipping up on the back half.

This album release has sure brought out the worst in Wilco fans. Love or hate OtJ, a few minutes in that FaceBook group is more unpleasant than any music Jeff has put out in his entire career. It's really sucking the fun out of this album cycle. 

Yeah, it's really bad. Somehow this forum contains both the positive and negative personal reviews without the nasty stuff.

I had to stop posting for fear that I was making it worse. Something about a facebook, colored-text screen containing one flippant sentence telling me that the album I'm deeply enjoying is trash really grates on my nerves. 

I've already written a lot about why I think this is a fantastic record, so maybe the new insight I can offer is this:

The fact that Wilco has released a highly controversial album is awesome.

I'm gonna do this again, even though I know it's too soon, and probably wrong:

AGIB

YHF

TWL

SW

BT

OtJ

ST

SBS

Shm

WtA

AM

So I've been the pollyanna superfan who's living and loving the album. But.... just to show I'm objective:

- The graphic design is less interesting than their other records.

- The packaging seems kind of slight.

- The vinyl doesn't sound as good as some of their other pressings. It sounds like it was pressed at United (might be totally untrue) where they seem to press records that always sound a little more distorted and a little less clear than some other manufacturers.

Still loving the album, though.

I love Yo La Tengo, but there seems to be more nuance and variety in their quieter stuff. Maybe the nuance will reveal itself on this album the more I listen to it, but right now it’s kind of monotonous.

Key in to the textural percussion, the flickers of noise that slip through, and the quieter guitar embellishments. This record is more of a noise folk orchestra than a rock band to me, and it's conducted with expertise.

Subjectivity in art and music etc etc. But reading the different reactions makes me feel like I'm hearing a different album from some folks. I wonder if it's a 'thing of this type' situation. Like are people who aren't enjoying this fans of  super introverted-era Yo La Tengo, or the darker Bonnie Prince Billie/Palace Brothers stuff? Because if you were looking for a crackling rock and roll record, then I guess I can understand why you're bummed out. To me there's a lot to interact with and appreciate going on in there so it's hard to relate to people being dismissive.

It's interesting, as always, to contextualize the singles in a larger track list. Sequencing is one thing that Jeff is especially good at. I've always liked "Everyone Hides" but could understand some complaints that it feels a little light. That lightness bounces right out of the speakers after the heavy first 3rd of the album. It's like something shiny comes out of a dust storm. Great contrast.

Love is Everywhere also takes on some added life hearing it situated in the tracklist. 

Got my vinyl yesterday. Not a "reaction" (yet) but did anyone get the email with the download code today? I haven't. 

I got my download yesterday, but won't see the vinyl in the mail box until next week.

I think it's a pretty remarkable achievement for a few reasons.

First of all, I'd say production-wise, or sonically this is the most realized thing Jeff has done with Tom Schick as his right-hand engineer. The preference for defiantly smaller sounds has stayed a hall mark, but with some pretty big new percussive oomph. There is much more of a sense of all the sounds coming together to make a powerful whole than on the last record.

The other thing I'm enjoying about it is there was a time years ago when I was discovering some of their great B-sides. Songs like 'More Like the Moon', 'Panthers', or 'The High Heat' felt like an image of the band that I wanted to explore more. Away from the bombast of an acclaimed rock band on a big stage, they sound more like an art-folk ensemble winding sounds in a carpeted room around some emotionally direct songs. That's where this album lands to me for the most part. 

The last thought I have for now is one that's read on the facts as I understand them of how this record was made. From Tweedy to Star Wars through Warmer I have the sense that Jeff has spent time building up songs with Spencer on drums, and overdubbing guitar and bass ideas as well as the expected core of his voice and acoustic guitar. On the last two Wilco records it seems the members have been invited to pick at what could already be a complete arrangement to modify, replace, or think of a new addition. Jeff mentioned these songs were started as a guitar and drum machine skeleton, and the he and Glenn workshopped what the percussive approach would be, forcing themselves somewhere novel. If I understand correctly that left the other members approaching songs that only had vocal melody, some guitar strums, and stark percussion. This left them space to build texture, harmony, dynamics and I think it created something that feels very nuanced and cohesive to me.

They sent me the download already!

I've read maybe a handful of reviews in recent days that, while praising Ode, take shots at both Star Wars and Schmilco, which I find funny because the critical response to both of those records was also pretty strong. I can see why some folks believe Schmilco hasn't aged well (in 3 short years) and I also understand the critique that Schmilco felt slapped together, kinda disjointed, not a strong holistic effort. But Star Wars (stupid title aside) is a really, really strong record (at least for me) that is listenable all the way through, has urgency to it, and felt like more of a creative leap than anything post SBS.

 

Why the Star Wars shade? 

Star Wars rules. I think their ears are broken.

https://www.npr.org/2019/10/03/766576603/wilco-ode-to-joy-new-album-review

I'd call that a B minus review if I ever saw one, but at least it's thoughtful and well written. Not a mention of a phoenix from Uncle Tupelo's ashes, the YHF label debacle, or rehab which is a victory we might enjoy often for hanging in there with this band for a quarter of a century.

Has anyone gotten notice that their vinyl has shipped? I was hoping I’d have it on release day but that clearly isn’t happening (which is annoying).

I've heard nothing.

I echo the sentiment of supporting your local store. My professional and familial obligations make record store outings a biannual holiday in my life so I preordered the vinyl knowing that past experience foretells that it would come late. At least I'll get the download tomorrow!

I really like "We Were Lucky". It's disquieting and almost feels like a Tom Waits song circa Swordfishtrombones. Take that with the grain of salt that this is Jeff's voice not Tom's, but that guitar tone is straight up "Shore Leave" and the drums are approximate to "Underground". Maybe a much more successful realization of unease than "Common Sense". 

Agreed on all counts. That songs is fantastic. I hope to see it live.

Couple of tracks (White Wooden Cross, Hold Me Anyway, and We Were Lucky) are now on YouTube. 

Live versions, or studio versions?