Moe_Syzlak

By what objective measure are we making an evaluation on this hopelessly subjective comparison? Influence? There have been an awful lot of followers to the New Kids on the Block, too. Popularity? Dylan is widely heralded but not necessarily hugely popular across the board. Neither is Tweedy though. Entertainment and art are both subjective, no? So if someone likes Tweedy better than Dylan or vice versa, how can anyone argue they are wrong? I DO recognize that it makes for good internet discussion board fodder though.

 

Are you saying this thread has No Direction, period?

 

great to see this topic... here is my story

 

i got my new car last year and then got the new wilco...

 

i played that thing in the car over and over, and I would just go out in my car for drives because the car was new and I would listen to SBS with the windows and sun roof open...

Is it a VW?

WSJ: Sex and the Sissy

 

I agree to an extent. I don't think anyone is entitled to support just because of their gender or skin color. Just as I don't think anyone ought NOT vote for someone based on those factors. But, I DO think Hillary has faced things other candidates have not. People compile the most unflattering pictures of her they can find, for example. And I believe a lot of Hillary hating started when her husband was elected and the masses were not comfortable with a First lady who actually contributed publicly. Stick to baking cookies seemed to be the sentiment. That said, Obama is obviously facing his own set of issues w/r/t race and McCain w/r/t age. She DOES face some level of sexism, but she shouldn't be using it as an excuse, IMO. It's not the reason she is losing (has lost).

My brother, who lives in Austin, was given a heads up that these guys were doing a surprise show at Emo's last night. He decided not to go and I don't know if it actually happened, but even though I'm not a huge Green Day fan, it would be fun to see such a big band in such a small place. Anyone know if it happened? anyone go?

Good point. Could have been later then - as you say. The good thing is, he is (so far) not another dead rock star story.

To be clear, by "later" I mean post-hiatus, not post-Phish.

 

Moe, I would really like to sit down and have a beer with you sometime. I thoroughly enjoyed this post.

Thanks. I'm always down for a beer.

 

speaking of going downhill, I assume most phans accept that the band started going downhill after '97? I am so out of the Phish loop these days, but that was my opinion at the time. Has that opinion survived? I remember those summer shows in '98 and everyone just shaking their heads... They then had their brief moments in 99 and they recaptured the magic on 12/30-31/99, but it was really never the same for me. Maybe I just changed...?

I got into Phish because of the compositions. In fact, I was playing in a band and my idea was to take Zappa-esque compositions and marry them with Grateful Dead-like improv. Then I heard Phish and realized someone was already doing that way better than I ever could. I prefer Phish from '91-'94. The more "out there" their jams got, the more disinterested I became. I absolutely abhor the "funk" that was prominent in a lot of Phish fans' favorite years circa '97. That said, they still seemed into it then and, while not my favorite direction, were still challenging themselves and reinventing themselves. Save for Big Cypress, that wasn't happening much after '98, IMO.

When people are sticking needles in their arm, they usually do not want others to see it, and/or they are past the point of most unnecessary human contact.

Yeah, I get that. But you still know...ya know. People disappearing when you expect to see them and a general look about them. I've experienced it with friends. Friends who have died. I am just saying I saw all sorts of drugs (some what would be termed "heavy") dating all the way back, but never saw any of the common signs of heroin.

I spent a lot of time backstage at Phish shows from the late '80s all the way to the end. There is no doubt it got out of control. In the '90s they had a BACK backstage that was more private, but they got rid of that post-hiatus. Don't know why. BUT, I rarely saw Trey backstage post-hiatus anyway. I think part of it was a lot of us dropped in on the tour as it got closer to us and, due to lives and jobs and such, took the opportunity to let loose like we were still in college. They got that every night from a LOT of people. They ALWAYS partied though (although I'm guessing heroin was relatively recent development -- I never saw it). I think the decline musically was more due to not caring as much than it was to drugs. The drugs exacerbated the problem no doubt, but when Trey was really COMMITTED to that band, he was a machine and NOTHING was going to get in the way. At any rate, I'm glad to see him get better. He is a genuinely good guy. They all are. I'm sure I'd still go see them if they reunited, but I don't think they'll ever recapture the magic unless they commit to practicing 8 hours per day again. And I don''t think they want to do that.

Plus, of all the teams, I really think the Timberwolves would have benefited the most from a 1-2 slot.

Did you see Fred Hoiberg's reaction? He was like "lot of good this sick kid's teddy bear did me" as he sort of defeatedly dropped the bear to his side.

The difference between a bad artist and a good one is: the bad artist seems to copy a great deal; the good one really does.

~ William Blake

I find the problem with these polls is that it doesn't give you an idea of the electoral votes. Tell me who wins polls in FL, OH, PA and other "swing states." Obama having a national lead means little if his support is concentrated in states that generally don't decide elections.

SOOO much can change as the candidates shift gears from the primaries (where they cater to the base) to the general (where they cater more to the center). IMO it is WAAAAYYYY too early to start calling this one for one candidate or the other. During the primaries, no one thought Bill Clinton had a prayer in a general against HW. But enter Perot and all that changed. Ross Perot may not be running, but another guy with the same initials has the potential to be just as disruptive.

Do you really think the chord progressions in songs like YAMF are straightforward?

Earlier I said I felt YAMF was the one exception and consequently the one tune of the whole album that is on my "favorite all-time Wilco songs" list. But again, I really do like the album, I'm just messed up enough to still consider it a disappointment.

I think what Wilco did WAS risky!

Risky how? I think it may have been risky from a fan expectation standpoint, but there is really no new ground broken here. That's what i was referring to when I said I support an artist's ability to do whatever they want, whatever moves them. If simpler, more straightforward songs are what they were all about, great! And it may be a risky move given the Pitchfork crowd that has started to comprise a good portion of their audience. But this is risky from a career move standpoint, not a songwriting standpoint. It's genial enough, but after the last few albums it feels superficial to me.

Red Rocks!

One of the cool things about Red Rocks is if you ever get the chance to go backstage. There are rooms downstairs that have walls that are just the sandstone. Very cool rooms. Also, there is a tunnel that goes from the soundboard to the backstage area. There are all sorts of cables and shit inside there so most bands don't let people down there, but when they do, you've got quick and easy access to the backstage food and booze!

I know what you mean, so not f'ed up at all (or you at least have company!) Maybe I just needed something "comfortable" at the time. I think overall between SBS and KT, I am just fully enjoying this line-up.

As am I. I love KT and thought the show I recently saw in Colorado Springs was a band firing on all cylinders. As a live band, I've got no complaints.

 

I really think you need to re-listen to it.

Oh I have given it plenty of chances. I understand that many people like it, it is just, for me, like nails on a chalkboard. Just a tune I can't take at all and need to skip every time at this point.

 

I was speaking of "noise" metaphorically. I meant his lyrics, imagery were unambiguous (other than some of You Are My Face). He laid himself bare.

 

You are quite right about the strong structures and I guess that's another feature that stands out for me. I agree with everything else you're saying -- I think you can draw from some of Tweedy's comments on the bonus DVD that less exciting was welcome at this point.

 

Thanks for your response.

Thanks for yours. I am a firm believer in any artist's right to do whatever moves them at the moment and not do "what the fans want." But I also feel like if I am honest with myself, the lack of risk on this album made it a disappointment, despite being a top five album for me. Same thing with In rainbows from Radiohead. My #3 album from last year (so obviously I like the songs on there and enjoy listening to it), but it still feels a bit like a step backwards and therefor a disappointment. The strange thing is both bands could have made riskier albums that I liked to listen to less and I would have found them LESS disappointing. How f'ed up is that!?!

The "noise" of the previous two albums was gone, but Tweedy removed much of the noise, or rather the obscurity, of lyrics. He's laid bare, but seldom has he sounded this hopeful, this settled.

I feel like I hear this "criticism" of ST, YHF and AGIB a lot, even from Tweedy himself. But it wasn't the noise that made these albums special, IMO (particularly YHF and AGIB). The song structures themselves are more unique. They aren't all verse, chorus verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. It's not the noise I miss with SBS, it is the riskier songwriting. Tweedy may feel more collaborative, more confident with this album, but it still feels less exciting to me.

 

DISCLAIMER: SBS was still a top 5 album for me in 2007.

Telluride Town Park, Red Rocks, Planet Bluegrass in Lyons, CO.

... and the Gorge. First four that popped into my mind.

There's one great song (You Are My Face), one terrible song (On and On and On) and a bunch of decent to good songs. I still feel, as I did a year ago, that I would like to hear O'Rourke's mix.

Cool. I don't think I knew you live around here.

 

Have you been to Coors Field yet?

Oh yeah, I even sat in the Rock Pile at Mile High. I live in Boulder, but I'm a Cubs fan and generally only go to Coors when the Cubbies are in town. I was at Coors this season for the Cubs' 10,000th win!

Both. My 73 year old father is in town, so we're going to go the game. It will be the first non-Cubs game I've seen in like a decade.

Yeah. I wish he were back this weekend as I'm going to Coors field Saturday to see the Mets v. Rox.

Hey, me too!

 

Great doc if you are fascinated by space and awed by the men who were able to land on the moon. I had the pleasure of meeting Jim Lovell once and I have the utmost respect for these guys. Not just the astronauts, but also the physicists and everyone on the ground. There is some tremendous footage that I can't believe doesn't get shown more often.

Regardless if he misplayed, shoulda been faster to it, better positioned, etc. ... the catch was pretty sweet to watch. It wasn't Reed johnson sweet, but great nonetheless.

You think someone could do a better job than him with Visions of Johana?

Yes, The Grateful Dead did (at least the '86 versions), IMO.