rhino4evr

Both Tweedy and Whole Love were a little over long. Nothing wrong with a short record. Kind of fits the sound

On track 5, had goose bumps for the entire time

I think it is time for Jeff to re-create a new band. The live shows seem very very similar song wise show to show. There used to be variation but it all now seems so rehearsed that the improvisation seems gone to me. I love his music and the wilco music. And I love this current line up, but if the live performances are indicative of creativity, I'd say the creativity has been spent or needs to be rekindled.

 

My wife (who was a tweedy / wilco fan long before me) thinks the last several performances (20th anniversary chicago shows, multiple madison, milwaukee shows) sound like a Wilco cover band...

I like how this topic has gone from being excited for a possible new album, to some strange minor consensus that the band just dismantle? What?

Jeff seems very happy with the current outfit, I doubt he wants to make any changes to make things more challenging for himself...I'm mean this literally makes no sense what so ever.

Also, as someone else stated, he just released a solo album last year. So it's not like he isn't trying a few new things.

Whole Love was an excellent album. So I'm not entirely sure what everyone is so "worried" about.

yeah, I think Nels adds a lot to the older material. It's part of the reason why their live shows have gotten so good. Not that they were ever "bad" per say, but Nels adds an extra layer or two to some of the classics. I'd say especially stuff off Summer Teeth.

yeah, the volume on the digital version is so low that I actually have to crank my stereo just to hear it. maybe I'll just buy it on vinyl...

As I posted in the other thread, I love the album, but find the low mixing annoying, and it makes for a distracting listening experience.

Maybe the Vinyl sounds better?

Lower volume=greater dynamic range and less side effects from compression. You already know this from listening to A Ghost is Born.

I've listened to Ghost is Born a hundred times, I have no problem the way it is mixed or how loud it is.

I understand that there is greater dynamics when things arent brickwalled (or whatever the audio nerds call it), but Simple Songs is just way too low. He also recorded his vocals much lower then the drums, and other intruments on the records. Resulting in a mumbled vocal delivery.

You can say this was all his "master plan", and is part of the charm of the album, but I feel the album actually suffers for it. It's more distracting then interesting. Listening to a record should be a somewhat seemless and easy process. Making me have to work, to hear you, is not a good thing.

As much as Jim ORourke gets credited as a great producer, his new album is recorded at such a low volume, that I have to basically crank my stereo to hear it. Forget about hitting shuffle, as I then get blasted. I have no idea why you would release an album that quiet.

I would hold off buying..maybe they will have a buy any 2 bundle, and a buy all 3 bundle?

I think Nels adds way more then he takes away from a lot of the songs. It's hard for me to even listen to older tracks  on the previous albums now, due to how much I like his guitar noodling.

That would be FANTASTIC!

I disagree. Christmas albums are the worst.

was surprised that Kidsmoke didn't make the set list.

It was definitely an experiment. I don't think they would ever attempt it again, at least not for a while. Like they said, out of all the places to try an all acoustic set, this would be the one.

yeah, I did some quick comparisons on my desktop and then deleted the Radio feed forever. So long, you've served me well this past week.

now bring on Night 2 and 3!

Just to clarify, the only album I don't like of WIlco's is (TA),..and I still kinda like it.

I agree that SBS is great due to it's warmth and personal nature...something Sukirae has in common.

What I was saying is The Whole Love is the "best" the band has sounded on record, and the closest they have come to matching their live sound on a record.

You act as if Art of Almost is the only sonic wonder on that album...I Might, Dawned on Me, Capitol City, to name a few, are very dynamic songs.

I really like the last one. I didn't think anything was missing from their process, if anything I think it was a sign that they'd discovered how to use the powers of the sextet. I think there are all kinds of wonders ahead.

 

But, fair game. I asked the question "how bout it?" and with our knowledge all anyone can say is, "nah", "with reservations", or like me "hell yeah". The only other thing worth mentioning is Jeff has said in an interview that they're ready to make a "restless" record. I think that could please a lot of people on here.

yeah, I really saw Whole Love as a new beginning for the band, kind of a fresh start after two sleepy albums. The band sounds very tight on this record, and for once, that "live" sound really comes through. The record sounds very similar to their live show. I can't really say that about any of their other records.  

I'll probably buy it anyway, but I figured I'd ask if it's worth buying just for fun. I've already listened to the radio broadcast three times now. So no real rush.

I really wanted the Tweedy performance.

I just don't see Jeff as the kinda person that wants to be "pushed" on production at this point. He's kind of found his place, and seems happy there. We'll see, I just wouldn't get your hopes up. I don't think he works completely in a vaccum either. I'm sure there are plenty of people "around" when they are recording to influence the outcome of their records.

Hmm...wonder why they only released Friday's set...

Who wants to take the plunge?

Is it much better then the radio stream capture?

I thought the production on Whole Love was outstanding, and I also thought it was a real return to form. I agree that Wilco the album was lacking though. I rarely listen to it.

As far as a producer? Since Jeff has become a Grammy nominated producer in the past couple years, I really don't see them using an outside source. Tweedy was produced solely by him, and I would assume future projects will be self produced as well.

I do hope the new album is weird, and energizing, but I'll keep me expectations in check. its could easily just be a folk record.

Wonder when the roadcase will get updated. I'm dying to hear that Tweedy set

complaining about people drinking or smoking at a rock festival is kinda of like those people that complain there are too many kids and strollers at Disney World.

Nothing for nothing, our now-3 year old has been to the last two SSF's.  The first time around she was far too young to do anything but sleep, eat and poop.  This time she had a fantastic experience - the area behind the soundboard on Joes Field became a defacto playground throughout the day and she met dozens of other kids.

 

Did she also get her first whiff of pot?  Probably.  

 

We attend numerous festivals each year and Solid Sound is by far the most family friendly and inviting.  They go WAY out of their way to make it a family friendly event.  

I don't doubt that. As I said, I personally wouldn't do it. I like to watch the band at a concert, not constantly watching my kid. I'd rather be one of the sloppy drunks then one of the annoyed parents. More power to you though.

Personally, I enjoy the cold weather. I'm originally from Michigan, and I like the "break" from the humid swamp that is my home....my wife?, not so much.  

The rain really exacerbated the pot and cig smoke problem. I wear glasses and can't see distance without them. If they get wet, I can't see either. I can't take them off and rub them on my shirt to dry them, because that makes it worse. So I had to keep them dry by pulling my poncho hood up. Every time a cloud of pot smoke hit me in the face while the hood was up, it was like getting a hit shotgun-style (oh yes, I remember those days). So yeah, I had to work very fucking hard to ignore this stuff and get what enjoyment I could out of the shows.

I guess it would have been better farther back, but I was figuring, If people are yapping in row 20, how much worse will it be in row 50? We really are spoiled by those small theater shows.

Yeah, we were very lucky in 2013 with weather. My wife (a die hard Floridian) would be absolutely miserable in cold/rainy weather. When I found out about the weather, I actually breathed a brief sigh of relief that we weren't going. To her 70s is too cold. I think it would have really soured the trip for us. We Floridans are spoiled with weather too. ha ha..

Speaking of...how amazing was the weather during that St. Augustine show?

Personally, I'd never bring my 5 year old daughter to a concert like this, and shake my head at the folks that do.Those people should also know what they are getting into. You can't always control the world around your kids.

If you take your kids to a rock concert, expect they will see a bunch of people partying, because that's usually what rock concerts are, a giant party. They don't call it a "festival" for nothing.