Jump to content

J_Lefty

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    135

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by J_Lefty

    What's the consensus on Wilco (The Album)?

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    Basically, Wilco (The Album) is like R.E.M.'s Accelerate; It's not a full return to form, but it's a vast improvement over their previous record.

     

    Although I did like SBS a lot, I agree with you about them releasing sub-par and possibly more pop-oriented material being an okay thing. I can see why they'd want to exploit a wider audience at a time when they're already booming somewhat in popularity. And in the grand scheme of more commercially oriented albums, this wasn't a horrid one.

    What's the consensus on Wilco (The Album)?

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    Overall, months later, I've gone from initially being completely unimpressed with the album-- to liking the album somewhat-- to not ever listening to the album. I am hoping they'll release some live material so I can hear the music live again. I think that will perhaps garner more enthusiasm for the particular songs I do like. I would love a good clear quality version of You and I, sans Feist. I never ever got into Su(o)nny feeling.

     

    Overall this album is just not strong in my opinion. After a hundred plus listens, it feels simplistic and repetitive and, at times, annoying. I've got the Vinyl that I'll spin from time to time, but I doubt it'll stay in my playlists. I'm hoping they do some more Loose Fur, Autumn Defense, and various side project material to get away from Wilco for a while and get the creative juices flowing a little more.

    Unlikely Japan...?

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    I would love a PM of this as well. Why hasn't this and Dark Neon been made available as bonus content for W(TA) like The Thanks I Get and One True Vine were for SBS???

     

    I was just thinking about that... where are the extra downloads? When you open the CD it just has all the songs encoded in .AIFF- no folder for extras.

    Wilco (The Album) or Sky Blue Sky?

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    Do people honestly think Wilco stand around the studio going, "Well, you saw what they said on VC about Nels shredding all the time..."?

     

    No, but I do know they talk to their fans and do thousands of interviews. They tap into the collective consciousness and that bleeds into their albums. I can tell you right now that interviewing with different people/fans over and over and over again gives you a sense of what people are saying and thinking. That is going to bleed into the way you conduct yourself. It's just part of being in the public eye and having people obsess over you.

    Wilco (The Album) or Sky Blue Sky?

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    Stoermer, the following is not directed at you personally, but towards the population in general [fans, critics, etc]: I'm confused as to what people deem as Nels being "reigned in." Some said that he was too quiet on SBS, others have said that his presence is far stronger on SBS than W(TA), some say that W(TA) is heavier on Nels' playing, and some say that he has yet to be "unleashed" on a Wilco recording at all [exclusing KT]. Where did this notion come from that he's just a shredder? What exactly is it that people want from Nels on the recordings?

     

    He's got an incredible ear for texture, atmospheric guitar parts and as we all know, otherworldly sounds. For a guy who can burn up the fretboard, Nels also knows that less is more. Regardless, W(TA) has plenty of good moments where Nels really rips. Listen to this with headphones on. There's so much more beneath the surface.

     

    I was mostly talking about how little they utilized him. There were lots of places he could have been featured, but I think One Wing is where I noticed it most. Early versions had more of his guitar work and when I saw them play live a couple weeks back, it seemed he was free insert more solo work, etc. I just sometimes wonder if so many of the old-school fans complained about Nels to the point where they wanted to back off a little and have him blend more with the band.

     

    Don't get me wrong, I've developed more of a taste for WTA than I thought I ever would, but I'm just not as impressed. I am totally not someone who wants to just see Nels wailing on a guitar, either. When I say he's being "reigned in" I don't mean I want him to do the hair band bit (powering through the fretboard until his fingers bleed), I just would love to see more of his work and that's it. In all fairness he was pretty heavily featured, and the parts of the album I like were parts to which he really did contribute.

    Wilco (The Album) or Sky Blue Sky?

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    SBS for me... I find SBS to be more sophisticated lyrically and musically. WTA has a good quality but it's not nearly as deep. Most of the songs on WTA are kind of strum-happy ditties. I'm also a big Nels Cline fan and it really seems that he was heavily reigned in for WTA. Sunny Feeling never grew on me, and I find myself more irritated with Feist every time I listen to You and I. :)

    First Impression

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    Did anyone else have a hugely different experience with the vinyl? I knew the leak would pale in comparison quality-wise, but I am loving the vinyl. Even the .aiff encoded CD sounds leaps an bounds richer than the leaked audio. I definitely have a new appreciation for the album after hearing a few tracks live in Cincinnati and then hearing the vinyl.

    WIlco on the Tonight Show

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    I like that song, Nels' slide guitar sounded a lot like George Harrison. Can't wait for the new album now :)

     

    At the Cincinnati show Nels hardly attempted to reproduce the harrison riff, but it was much more pronounced on Conan last night. At Cincinnati Jeff was watching him to see if he could pull it off and he really didn't do it. You could tell that solo was new for Nels because he seemed concerned about playing it.

×
×
  • Create New...