lost highway

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.

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', 'Panther

They sent me the download already!

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.

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!

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

Live versions, or studio versions?

Should we call it 5.5 in the sequence?

I'm pretty sure Mikael is a very cool and nice guy.

Wow. I appreciate the recorded version a lot more than the video of them doing it live someone took on their phone. Who knew?! I can't wait to listen to this whole conversation.

Another good one: https://soundblab.com/reviews/albums/22318-wilco-ode-to-joy

Oh, sweet redemption. Someone actually listened to the music and thought of what was going on inside of it, instead of just grappling with the cultural signifiers on the surface. "Tweedy's vocals are often a spectral presence, not so much singing as transmitting the tunes from some otherworldly, ghostly realm. “One and a Half Stars” finds him reciting the troubled lyrics in a mechanically detached way that resembles a robot tasked with taking on the role of wounded balladeer, a striking effect that somehow doesn’t detach from the gorgeous melody the song is graced with. Despite all the restr

Good lord: "As Wilco enters the musical equivalent of becoming a grandfather, Ode to Joy sounds like an old man slipping into a warm bath at the end of a long day." Sometimes I think I hate rock journalists.

I'd put money on 'Everyone Hides'.

But you can find a few articles right under their headline with titles like "Watch what this McDonalds employee says to a customer" and "Diseased raccoons are running amok in this neighborhood". Keep scrolling for the celebrity "who wore it best?" bikini contest.

I wish I knew a good predictor for where this is going. CNN, NYtimes and WaPo are speaking fire and brimstone, Fox News is saying nothingburger (which has always been the dumbest phrase). Reuters and NPR will only say what's factually happening (cause they're smart). But man I'd love a crystal ball for this.

She's been pretty frosty, I think if she's game there's something going on. Nancy took months of the squad and their ilk calling her out for being cautious. I have become compelled by the argument that if there's something worth impeaching over that congress owes it to the sanctity of the office to do it, even if it's politically inadvisable in the short term.

Uh, yeah. Impeachment? Doesn't even feel real. I wonder what Trump's calculation as he's preparing to release the transcript of the call with Ukraine. Maybe it's another example of brazenly owning things ('I grab them by the pussy') in order to normalize it and take the wind out of it.

Am I right in understanding that the third Loose Fur record has just been waiting on some Tweedy vocals/lyrics?

Wow. That guy can keep a secret.

Where is he?

Preorder the album and the download is yours! They took an already cool song and made it cooler. I was sitting on a negative nelly thought about it being lame to reuse a Tweedy track that was already released on a soundtrack. Then I remembered "Lullaby for Rafters and Beams" from the Zamboni Man soundtrack which subtly evolved into a band staple. Then I heard this awesome version. I shall nelly no more!