Relatively Clean Rivers

"Sky Blue Sky" is abosolutely incredible on vinyl, you can hear every single flourish and detail, even Mikael hitting a random note on the piano at the end of "You Are My Face" (it has to be turned up loud for you to hear that). The thing is, the louder you turn it up the better it sounds, unlike a cd.

"Despite his technical prowess, Cline

It clearly goes like this:

 

AM

BT

ST

YHF

AGIB

SBS

I usually dont like to be negative, but your statement is completely riduculous.

One reason I love Sky Blue Sky is because it is essentially a live album, only recorded in the Loft instead of a concert venue.

I will just share my number one pick:

1. Sky Blue Sky/Kicking Television (tie)

Sell Out, Tommy, Live at Leeds, Who's Next and Quadrophenia, perhaps? Same years, basically. 1968-1973 were arguably the 6 best years in rock and roll history.

Also, the Beatles released a stream of perfect studio albums:

Rubber Soul (1965)

Revolver (1966)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

The White Album (1968)

Abbey Road (1969)

(I didn't count Magical Mystery Tour because it wasnt a proper studio album- unlike the others it was made up of various tracks recorded at different times and can be considered a soundtrack).

Nothing beats this lineup (though they are all good and unique in their own ways)

Jeff Tweedy

John Stirratt

Glenn Kotche

Mikael Jorgensen

Nels Cline

Pat Sansone

A.M. - Casino Queen

Being There - Kingpin/Sunken Treasure

Summerteeth - When You Wake Up Feeling Old/My Darling/Pieholden Suite

Mermaid Avenue - California Stars, One by One

Yankee - War on War

Ghost - Theologians

SBS - Anything

Where does the title come from (and I don't mean "from Jeff Tweedy's brain")? How does that relate to the lyrical content or anything? I'm just curious.

I'll rip it from the .TS file (hi-def video) that I downloaded from Usenet a few weeks ago. I assume it's the highest quality audio available anywhere.

 

Here it is.

Thank you I've been trying for months to get it!

The live version that you get with the Sky Blue Sky bonus content is very comparable to the live version on ACL.

It is good but they kind of get off track in a few spots... the ACL version is flawless.

I'll go along with that.

I think they are taking the high road by not going into extended jams- thats the easy and obvious path that most bands would take. Besides...Spiders is essentially an extended jam. Wilco is a song based group, and they do what best suits the songs. Now, I'm sure a 10 min solo in Impossible Germany would be cool..but is that necessary? I don't think so at all.

I posted this on another thread, but it is relevant to this one:

 

 

OK, I KNOW I'm inviting the wrath of the rock gods AND showing my age here. But I can't help myself.

 

I've seen 25+ Greatful Dead shows, and I have to say, I've enjoyed every single Wilco concert more. Let me explain myself. With the Grateful Dead, I got into it late in the game, my first show was in 1985. All of the shows were in big auditoriums then and only got bigger-arena shows. Then, it was a crapshoot whether the concert was going to be good or not. Expectations were high, we had all heard "epic" concert bootlegs, and were hoping that this was going to be one of them. Then, it was freakin' exhausting. 15 minutes into a song, sure, they were jamming, but sometimes, I have to say the only word for it is "masturbatory." And also, it was such a scene. Too many people, many who were not there for the music.

 

My husband and I get in this debate all the time. He says I didn't get it. He's wrong, I totally got it. I went to concert after concert, enjoyed myself immensely, the magic moments were, indeed, magic. There just weren't that many of them, per show.

 

Now, Wilco. I get many magic moments, every show. I walk away invigorated, not exhaused. The music is amazing, they go those same places the Dead went, they go quicker, they come back cleaner, I'm talking to YOU, Nels. The shows are smaller, and the folks I meet there are real music fans.

 

Now that I've exposed my true self, I'll crawl back into my cave, ashamed. May I burn in rock hell.

 

That said, I love how two of my favorite bands ever are compared, and it's AWESOME that I have the opportunity to love a great band that is actively touring. And Darkstar, I already know how you feel.

This should be the post of the year! You got it right on.

I'd really appreciate it if someone could direct me to a high(er) quality mp3 of "Impossible Germany" at Austin City Limits (the taped show). I tried making one myself but I don't have quicktime pro or any ripping devices. Thanks a bunch! If not, no biggie.

"come on now. wilco shows are great but they aren't that much different from what you hear on the records or in other performances. the grateful dead threw something new at you every single show. you could hear the same song two nights in a row and it would be completely different "

I don't think an amazing live band needs to completely change the songs from night to night in order to be good, I think the material is strong enough for Wilco that they dont need to change it around (but if you see them play "California Stars" or "Too Far Apart" or "Ashes of American Flags" or "Sunken Treasure" now you'll see the songs have evolved). Watching them play live is great because you can see the interaction of the group and see how in tune everyone is with each other. They play flawlessly and with energy and passion, so when you see them you realize they are the real deal, a complete "band" if there ever was one.

The only similarities between the GD and Wilco are imo they are a fantastic live band ( as darkstar said) and they don't rely on any rock star gestures in order to get the music across - they just play their asses off.

 

If they weren't such a great band live I wouldn't be nearly as crazy about them as I am.

Definately! I loved Wilco on their studio records but it wasnt until I saw them live that I was completely in awe of everything they do. (Sky Blue Sky is the most incredible album of their career- if anyone can listen to the vinyl LP do it..its unbelievable!)

I'm guessing what they mean by the Dead comment is that the band is now probably the best live act around, and that they merge several styles of music and playing together. I'm obviously biased but I think it's a huge compliment. Say what you want about the Dead, there is not one music act out there that wouldn't wish for such a huge passionate fan base like they have.

Yeah I'm not trying to trash the Dead, I listen to them fairly often (Workingman's Dead, American Beauty, and Europe '72 mainly). I wasnt able to see them in concert (Jerry died when I was four) so maybe that's why I can't say they are as good as a lot of people belidve. But from 70-72 they were really great (they had the best lineup then in my opinion). Wilco is similar in the fact that the band has always been changing in terms of whose in it.

I don't see why playing guitar based music makes them like the Grateful Dead. In fact, they are much better than the Grateful Dead. This is strange considering Rolling Stone said they should win this year's grammy for best rock album, and said something along the lines of "gorgeous...even better sounding than when it came out and then it sounded friggin good".

What is with all the hate towards Pat, Nels, and Mikael? Jeez, if you really want to know what is embarassing its not Pat's hair style or windmills, its all you "fans" trashing 1/2 the band! Each member contributes equally to the greatness that is the current line up. Wilco has NEVER been this good, they are- dare I say it- literally the perfect band. Six amazing members = passionate, complete, and full sound. I don't think Wilco would be the same without any of the current members.

Well, why wouldnt it be professionally recorded? This is a huge event.

There is no way Wilco cannot record this unbelievable event, this is truly one for the books! Anyone hear any rumblings of a live DVD or anything like that? There is no way they can go without recording this.