jethro

...Shake it Up will be considered "one of the better songs they play live" at the end of 2007.

Sorry, I just don't see it. LNGCA was a much better received "rocker" based on the reactions of the live shows when they played it, and it got left off the record. I imagine Shake It Off made the cut instead because of the lyrics but I zapped the whole first verse to try to make it not suck the life out of the record and the last part of the chorus bugs the shit out of me, how is that going to go over better live? Plus it sounds like he's saying "when I'm wankin' off, I like to shake it off", so, um, yeah. Also LNGCA made all the sensitive nancys cry because it was too bombastic, so that just makes me love it more. I know I'm in the minority, quiet, dull adult-contemporary sounding music is the new black on the Wilcoboard, but meh.

The SBS = Far, Far Away comment is interesting, they're both country shuffles but thematically much different. I like them both quite a bit, SBS is one of the songs that makes the record for me and I wasn't that big a fan of it before SBS The Record. I also like the not much talked about Leave Me Like You Found Me a lot. They're not as complex or dynamic in range as a song like Side With The Seeds but sometimes less is more.

Anyway props to all the people still posting in this thread.

After months of naysaying, I will say that I really do like all of these songs. Except On & On & On. I would rather watch Sparticus three times over with The Drone in the background. But you can't have everything.

F the lovers, I got your back on the On & On & On hate. Worst Wilco song in recent memory, though Shake It Off is running a close second. I look forward to the inevitable bonus tracks that will let me make Shake It Off go away permanently.

'Hate it Here' is the best way 'You're Really Gone' could have turned out. Geez. Floors me everytime at its soulfulness.

It doesn't sound much like that song fragment and it's easily my favorite moment on the record, but it being based on an older song (didn't make the connection until your post) is a little...

Impossible Germany got a bit neutered for the record, it's yet another in a now long line of songs that come across much better live. Someday Wilco will make a record that captures the energy of their best live shows. Maybe. Same goes for Walkin' and What Light too. Maybe it's just that the loft is haunted with the ghost of Sammy Davis Jr. or something. "Hey now baby, don't put too much 'wow' into that song, slow it right on down now, yeah, man, yeah!"

I think SBS is the truest disc they have done since Being There.

This sounds like bullshit, sorry. I don't think Jeff was being any more fake then than he is now, those records just represented what he was interested in then. It's not like anyone had him in a headlock and was forcing him to listen to the Conet Project. That's what was true to Jeff Tweedy circa 2001.

I would say that this is the most unadorned his songs have been in a while, and that's a good thing. You know a song like Far, Far Away was probably pretty close to how he brought it to the studio and so is a song like Sky Blue Sky or Please Be Patient. I think the band is better when it's more Jeff and less of the other Wilcos; art by committee just isn't ever a very good idea.

And "On and On" is the best closing track of any Wilco CD, hands down!

Not only no, but hell no. Worst closer for me, ever. And Either Way pulls down the worst opener crown. The day I deleted them was the day that I started to appreciate how good the record really was.

While I'm definitely enjoying the album so far, "Either Way" doesn't really do much for me (especially as an opener).

True dat. It's not a bad song but it's not a good way to open the record. I realize others disagree but I'll just say I'm much happier with the record now that it's gone.

After many listens, the album has yet to grow on me; there's some amazing songs on there, but as a whole, I'm having a hard time getting into the album. However, I agree with people that this is the right album made for the right time, and I respect it none the less; I'm not going to use my subjective opinion and proclaim the band as "lame and bland" just because they aren't fulfilling my inner yearnings to here "A Ghost Is Born, Part II"

After quite a few listens I am ready to proclaim my revised tracklist a success (for me, before people get their panties in a wad). If you find yourself kinda, sorta disappointed in the final version as well then my suggestion is to:

1) Ditch Either Way as the opener. You Are My Face is a much better opening track and gets things off in a positive rather than limpwristed way. Defenders of the status quo need not apply, though you might be surprised if you tried this as well. I suppose you could find a place for it somewhere else but I don't find myself missing it all that much.

2) Edit down Shake It Off to not be so draggy to start and annoying. You could alternately PM me for a link to the version I did, or if you like the way it turned out ( !) then leave it alone. For me nothing kills a record's flow like a clunker right in the middle, and because of how it's written you can do this with it ending up sounding like that's how they meant to do it. I still don't love it, but like it a lot more as a 3:22 song than a 5:30 one.

3) Ditch On & On & On as the closer. I know people like this, it baffles me, but what are you gonna do. This means the slightly stellar What Light is the ending track and finishes off the record on a pretty great note.

The end result is that it's over in 41 minutes instead of 50+ and I find myself wanting to hear more when it's over, or to hear it again, which pretty much says it all. I'm actually looking forward to the actual release now and I probably would have just gotten it on itunes as a show of support for a band I've been a fan of for a long time before.

I like it more than I thought I would. I like some parts of it a lot. All the previously unheard songs are pretty great, but...

The record starts off awkwardly with Either Way. It's not really a bad song, certainly inoffensive, but it's a poor opener. The next three songs are all really strong, though Impossible Germany suffered a bit more than most in the translation from live -> studio (and it's not Nels solo that I don't like). In general most of the songs would have benefited from a little edge and grit, but Impossible Germany is like the poster child for that. I know there's a good song hiding in Shake It Off somewhere but the current version, no. What Light is probably the biggest disappointment for me because I really liked the live versions and this just doesn't do it for me. It's probably the ending which kind of weirdly lacks the subtlety of the older versions. I've already gone on record many times stating my dislike for On & On & On and it doesn't help that on a really warm, smooth record it's the discordant note to finish things off.

So a bit of a mixed bag as-is, probably not in my top 5 for the year and the year is young. It's not because it's "dad rock" or too mellow, three of the records I really like this year are all very mellow. I know, shocking. Outright deletion of Either Way and On & On & On might get it in the running, I'm going to listen to it a few times like that and see, so far so good. I want to give the official release of Shake It Off time to grow on me but will probably edit it down again. Oh, who am I kidding, I'm going to do that right now. I'm actually kind of excited about how this is going to work out on a real stereo with the oink rip.

First, it should be noted that I love this track

 

BUT, is there anyone else here who thinks this song should be about twice as long as it is? Yes, it's already 5:35, but when I hear those big guitar slams come in after the second verse, I think it's just begging for a huge epic jam.

I actually think the opposite, it's a song that would have benefitted from some harsh love in the editing room..., editing room..., editing room..., editing room..., editing room. Then again I'm also kind of bored with 57 nothings, as heretical as that might sound on the Wilcoboard.

I also find it troubling that you were hoping for an epic jam.

The band in these videos does not rock. They play loud and sloppy.

Haha, oh man. Only on the Wilco board.

This wasn't really meant as a critique of Jeff, just a reminder of how much he really did rock once upon a time.

I didn't know he was posting them on here, the mods might want to lock this one in favor of the official thread where I'll make any other comments about the videos.

I'm subscribed to Postcard for some reason, I never read it, there are like 500 unread digests in my in-box waiting until they get mass deleted, but for some reason I opened one today and there was a bunch of early Uncle Tupelo videos posted by Chris Constance. I don't know the backstory since I don't read it much, sorry if this was supposed to be a postcard exclusive, but we (and by we I mean people who wish Wilco was less of a piano band) need it more than they do. I think they're all covers, from most rocking to least...

http://www.urflick.com/scripts/videoplayer.php?vid=1002177

http://www.urflick.com/scripts/videoplayer.php?vid=1002199

http://www.urflick.com/scripts/videoplayer.php?vid=1002182

OK, I'm officially bored with reading Postcard to look for more. I'd build a shrine to a record that sounded loud, fast, and trashy like that first one.

What the world didn't need was another record whose overall feel was pretty dark given the truly fucked up world we inhabit today. Call me corny or sentimental but I am glad to see Jeff deliberately go with a more hopeful vibe for this album.

Aw yeah.

I don't have a problem with hopeful, but the line to corny seems to have been crossed some time ago. I feel like art got pushed over the side in favor of... not commerce, because I'm scared the sales will be awful... safety, maybe? What's the Dylan record everyone hates on where he was "born again"? That's the fate I fear for this one.

I am also glad that Wilco remain one of the few bands that prune in the editing process and give us a 12 track album as opposed to dragging the music out for 70 minutes over 17 or 18 cuts. I am sure the temptation was there.

Now I know you're kidding, their last record was 12 tracks and something like 67 minutes long. Wilco has never been that kind of band, though I agree with your sentiment of it being better.

LNGCA renamed being back in the mix would be a welcome addition of energy to the tracklist, it's one of the few songs they've played recently where it seems like they're more than half-engaged, but it's still opening and closing with two of the most boring Wilco songs ever. Jeff likes to bitch about people who sit in their seats at shows and act like they're watching paint dry, here's a pro tip: stop writing such slow, boring songs, or at least putting them on your records. I'm also burned out on Jeff's relentlessly codependent relationship lyrics. Enough with the passivity, give me passion. That's why I like What Light in spite of the corny lyrics, Jeff seems like he gives a shit when he's singing it. Oh yeah, that guy, I loved his old band.

Back to some songs that didn't make the cut, I wasn't a huge fan of Is That The Thanks I Get but to think that song got passed over for some of the ones here is just mind boggling. W. T. F. And in a world of On & On & Ons, how does My Words get passed over? I guess it's probably just as well considering what happened to Panthers, but it might have been nice as a sop to those of us who thought Jeff was a great songwriter.

I'll still buy the record even if I think it sucks once it leaks, but the forebodings of doom on this one are like the wall of thunderstorms on the horizon before the tornados hit.

I've been trying not to be so negative about the new record, which mostly means not hanging out on VC, but...

wuss..|.................rock

But they'd be defining a whole new genre! Sprog-Rock? Progern? Sprock?

 

Actually, I was thinking the other day that, in terms of a single, I could actually see "Lets Fight" getting some airplay. Dunno if that speaks well or ill of the song, but yeah, I'd agree that something like "Walken" would seem pretty out of place on the radio. (not that I've actually ever heard Wilco on the radio, so this is really more of a hypothetical situation)

My problem with Let's Fight (among others) is they're so lifeless... At least with Walken (which I'm not a huge fan of due to the dumbed down more direct lyrics) there's some passion, it's almost like the band half gives a shit. This could be solved by a good producer, Wilco songs have been known to change in the studio after all, but since they're self-producing again the odds are that nobody will come right out and say what needs to be said.

Oh well, we'll see soon enough. Hasn't leaked yet, that I know of, but it should be soon if they're going to release it in March - April.

what kinda of music is this? i'm just wondering, because Dowe's has always strictly been a jazz club.

It's not jazz, it's more like 60s/70s pop. It makes me think of a modern American version of late 60s French pop.

The new record is all pretty much more upbeat than the mp3 posted earlier, I think they have some of the songs on their myspace page. It'd be in my top 10 of the year so far but that doesn't mean much at the moment.

Yeah I posted that a while ago about Walken being a very good album opener. Couldn't you just see that badass piano riff to start off the album?

It'd be a good opener, but I think it'll probably be Impossible Germany since that's the sort of song that Wilco tends to open records with. What Light sounds like a #5 song to me. I'm not sure what rule of record making it is to put your most "fan friendly" song #5 but it apparently exists and Wilco follows it pretty diligently. Be Patient is different enough from the rest of the material that it'll probably be the closer if it's on the record. No idea on the rest since we don't even really know what songs will be there.

I'm not this sceptical. Also I thought AGIB was fucking ace. Couldn't decide whether it or YHF is better...

Yeah, I really liked the AGIB songs pre-studio for the most part, and aside from lopping off a few of the songs I wouldn't change it much.

...by the way i didn't think that version on Conan was great. A bit too smooth.

That's my problem with most of the new songs, there's a distinct lack of edge. Nels is a great guitar player but he's been pretty smooth jazzy with the new stuff. Technically I appreciate it, aesthetically I want to sneak on stage and plug in a superfuzz pedal. I thought Jeff's guitar tone (and playing) on AGIB was pretty close to perfect, but they definitely needed another guitar to balance out the two keyboard attack.

Of course for every person like us who wants the edge there's another (or more maybe... ) who drink green tea, really like that smooth jazz sound and probably wish that Nels could play keytar.

I can't believe I forgot Millionare

I can't believe anyone said Millionaire.

The original Panthers and My Words are both really good but we've only heard them (as far as I know anyway) in the context of Jeff as a solo performer so I'd have to go with Venus as my favorite unreleased song. Say what you want about Jay and Jeff's relationship with him but they made some pretty great songs together.

Well, damn. Am I the only one who thinks this is one of the best blue-eyed soul songs ever? Hopefully it'll see the light of day as a B-side...

Who knows what the studio version ended up sounding like though. I mean, look at Panthers. I was amazed that one didn't make the record, until I heard it on the EP. Suddenly all was made clear.

We've had this discussion about a million times so far. It'll be interesting. I'm kind of morbidly fascinated by what could be a trainwreck of epic proportions by one of my favorite all-time bands. All Shook Down stylee. What we've heard so far has been pretty bland and uninspired compared to their earlier material so that doesn't bode well, but the songs we heard towards the end tended to be much better than the earlier ones. Much, much better. Still, I'm kind of hoping they got someone in to produce the record who can work some magic. Some careful editing and a frank discussion about the relative merits of limp-wristed piano lines and flabby prog rock could do wonders.

I'm a pretty atypical fan though so maybe this will indeed be the record loved by millions, I hope so, they're all good guys.

Pretentious band vs. pretentious weekly shockah

If only a fiery meteor would crash down from the heavens and take them both out.

And please take Sufjan with them. Amen.

THIS IS AWESOME!!!!

These are pretty awesome, I'm going to catch up on Heroes before Los Federales shut it down.

I think the songs on Ghost actually sound better on the record but I am in the silent minority likely with the exception of Jim O'Rourke probably.

If you'd qualified it with "some of the" then I'd agree with you. I like the added guitar that Nels brings with some of the songs live and Late Greats is just flat out much, much better now.

The other thing that's hard to discount is Jeff is usually much more engaged at a live show than he seems on the last few records. I'd rather hear most of the AGIB songs on Kicking TV, though I really like most of the album versions of the songs. The exceptions are stuff like Wishful Thinking or ALTWYS where the album version is either hard to do live because of the fragility or pretty close to perfect as-is. And songs that I might think a bit meh oh the record like Company In My Back are much better live.

Also... cum bunker. Hee.

A kind soul sent me a copy of a flyer from the very first Uncle Tupelo show. Here's a scan - Uncle Tupelo flyer Anyone out there with some skills at restoring it? I'm going to make a DVD of the complete show with the headlining act and was looking for some help with the flyer to use on the DVD. If anyone could help, let me know.

You just want the crease lines removed? Anybody with Photoshop and some time could use the clone tool to do this pretty easily.

If nobody more timely offers I can do it for you later tonight or so.

Give the tapers a little time to get the recent solo stuff online

The new show is out now, if you have Azureus or a bt client that can download specific files then this should be pretty easy to grab on your own. I just finished with it, if nobody gets around to upping it by tonight I'll put it up on sendspace for the torrent challenged.

I like the studio version much better than the acoustic version I had heard before that.

I just don't see how it's possible for someone to enjoy the lifeless studio version when they've heard the one live rendition. It's like: this is your brain; this is your brain on gorilla tranquilizers.

If they're going to do a Handshake Drugs treatment on a song for the new record then going by that model (where the song changed almost not at all) then I'd choose This Is New though it's by no means the best song that they have sitting on a demo reel. Won't Let You Down FTW. I'm kind of scared what sort of over-the-top piano they'd add to that one though, maybe it's just as well it'll probably never happen.

This is so Ringo's drum solo from "The End".

LNGCA has become one of my favorites of the new batch because Jeff is so into it, but the drum solo just makes me wish it was over with already. I get the intent, and it is funny in a Spinal Tap kind of way, but meh. Hopefully it'll be a live only thing, or they cut it way, way, way back for the record.

Please don't kill me, but I can live without this one live.

I like the song but it just doesn't seem like Jeff's heart is really in it anymore, he sounds bored. Kind of like every time I've heard him sing Pot Kettle Black live.

Good show so far. Well... not the best version of Walken I've ever heard. Maybe it's just that it sounds so generic compared to the really good Impossible Germany earlier in the set or the slowish start. The ending is still pretty sweet though.