nodep5

I'm a fan, and was excited to hear he had a new one coming out so soon. I played it just a few times and other than Let's Break Up, which is great, I shelved it. How does it stack up against In Field & Town? which is pretty, pretty, pretty good.

The title track, "Let's Break Up" and the final two songs "Never Lonely" and "Let it Pass" all instantly felt like good Hayden (also the instrumental "The Valley" is cool). The rest initially felt slight. However, like I said after repeated spins I think it hangs in with the last few Hayden records. It is worth the time, and is an album that can be easily overlooked because it isn't anything dramatic in stylisic shift. The fact that I can name almost all the songs says something, in context of this greater discussion we are having

I'm very thankful for the many new methods of discovering music (and the ability to listen at work). It has opened my ears to many new albums and artists that I may not have otherwise heard or listened to, and I have found many new favorites along the way.

 

If we were still in the pre-internet days, I would probably be discussing the new Wilco, new U2, and new Pearl Jam and call it a day; talking about how bad music has gotten.

 

However, as it stands now, my love and appreciation for great music has only deepened.

I agree on a certain level that we are able to "discover" things we likely wouldn't have. However I mostly find I now own more albums that i deem Mediocre, and I use to own only albums that slayed me. So I wonder if the quanity is killing the quality.

I think the whole money thing is right. I have a local library that gets in basically anything you'd want music wise. I find that I'm quick to dismiss something I checked out for free at the library due to a lack of investment.

Guys we have to stop this, we are missing out on enjoying this stuff by thinking we are missing out by not owning every album ever made (does that make sense). I just listened to the latest Hayden album from this year for probably the 10th time and you guys are right, it is really starting to click and connect. This was a record that I listened to a few times then put it on the shelf. Oh my.

I think there is just too much new music that is too easy to access. Also I have been lucky enough to have the resources to acquire new music. I have the same issue. I try to force myself to listen in the car to only one record per week, to really absorb it like I use to with records (this sometimes works, sometimes not.) Bottom line, I'm aware (and my wife reminds me) that it is more like an obsession to compile this huge record collection, but what does it mean? Am I emotionally connected to the music or the amount? This year I used my IPod Nano to only house new albums from 2009, and an hour before I go to bed I listen to a record from this year, and I can say I have spent a good amount of time with about 12 of the 22 albums I have from this year. We all need help with this I believe.

Well my view on this was short lived, I listened to Vetiver's Tight Knit last night and some of I & W's Around the Well and I don't know, I keep going back to those two also. Who knows? I still haven't had that one album that just floored me completely.

I'm a completist too, so I understand the plight. However, considering the dreams that have come true with AM and Summerteeth and UT Anodyne (NOV) on vinyl, I'm not going to get greedy at this point.

For one do not not speak your mind because you don't believe your view is popular. Anyone who attacks for thinking differently rather then talking is a fool. I for one wholeheartedly disagree with your opinion and that is fine. For example you mention grieving families but fail to make a connection with those being tortured and those grieving. But this isn't the important thing. I was not trying to have a conversation about US policy, if I was I would have placed this in another forum.

 

The question I have is over how art is used by others who did not create it. Regardless of what you feel the intent of US foreign policy, I'm sure you make the connection that the musicians intent and the use of this music are not one and the same. This is what I wanted to discuss. I also wanted to discuss the use of art as weapon.

Fair enough, It struck a chord, sorry.

As far as your question, I think what people do with art (esp music) is out of the artists (musicians) hands once it is put into the world. This goes back to the whole issue of is Marilyn Manson responsible for some teenager comitting suicide arguement. If someone isn't profitting I can't see where an arguement would stand.

Now in fairness, maybe I would have more empathy for this particular issue if it wasn't being pushed by the three musicians listed above. But that is a personal bias thing.

Beautful Is Beautiful - Moby Grape (from the album Truly Fine Citizen)

From the New York Times:

 

 

Curious what people thought about this. Its disturbing to think how many people were enjoying this music while it was being used for such awful purposes. I can't even began to imagine how I would feel if I created something to express myself and then found it being used in such an awful way.

I should leave this alone, because I have found that we all view the world in our own way and that rarely does differing opinions make a bit of difference. That being said, I disagree (or don't understand your comment). I think there are a lot of grieving families worldwide that would find it insulting if someone insinuated that the potential perpetrators of horrific acts having to listen to mildly loud music was in some way torture. In some ways it saddens me that I imagine most will strongly disagree with my view, but oh well.

I have listened to 22 new records this year (actually 21 1/2, I couldn't get through Beware by BPB). When it comes to music, I like most of you, can have an emotional reaction and can also listen from a music appreciation/critical standpoint. When it comes to my favorite of the year, I go with the one that truly killed me and not just the one that I know intellectually is better. (Does that make sense). Anyway, there is still a chance I will give the nod to I & W Aroung the Well, but since that is not truly a record of new music I might just go with Wilco. However, I have high hopes for The David Rawlings Machince and Devendra Banhart. This is all of course due to the Avetts not taking the top spot like I assumed they would. Oh Well. None of this matters anyway.

The only song I could live without would be "The Lonely 1".

Maybe it's just that I find that 1 to be so obnoxious.

Really? That song always breaks my heart. Too precious? What it is for you that turns you off?

Well after another spin of (The Album) on my way to work this AM, I think I made it official that this is my favorite record this year (so far). It is my least favorite Wilco record, so I guess this says something about how much I like Wilco or how little I was blown away by anything else this year. Bottom line, I have recieved more enjoyment and listened to this album more than any other record this year. This by the way will be the first Wilco album that was my personal favorite of the year since YHF. I & W Endless Numbered Days beat out the boys in 2004 and Avett Brothers Emotionalism beat out SBS for me in 07. Anyway, thanks for caring about my little opinion.

If i'm keeping track correctly, it seems that everyone's least favorite song on Being There is "Someone Elses Song" ?????

It was for those who preordered (The Album) only. Similar to the red converse all stars tshirt that came with the SBS pre order. I think they did this with AGIB also.

I bet you could score one on EBAY and probably the iron on stickers also. (Even though buying tshirt on ebay seems weird for some reason)

 

 

That's just what I think and it may be very wrong for you.

For me, this is probably the strongest emotional connection I have with a record. I was in my second of year at college. I had just started dating/falling in love with the girl who is now my wife. We use to sit in her car and listen to every single word like it was some greater truth.

Has there ever been a greater opening line to an album "When you're back in your old neighborhood, where the cigarettes taste so good" ?

I wish I could feel the way I felt every time I put this record on. Man o man.

Just rec'd this email from the good folks at Kung Fu. Emphasis mine.

to comfort all of us, I just recieved my music direct catalouge/mailer and Anodyne (vinyl)is now listed for purchase. I believe it is also released in Nov.

I'll play too. If we assume (I will, anyway) that we need to cut five songs to achieve the single-album masterpiece, here are my choices:

 

Hotel Arizona

Outta Mind (Outta Sight)

Kingpin

(Was I) In Your Dreams

Why Would You Wanna Live

 

Some (but not all) of those pain me, but if I was tasked with making these cuts, that's how I'd do it.

Hotel Arizona slays me. I don't know why, but that song, especially the "I guess all this history, is just a mystery to me, one more worried whisper right in my ear" Oh the tears.

"You and I" is certainly a good song. I'm not sure Jeff Tweedy has it in him to write a bad one. (And that definitely includes "Leave Me Like You Found Me" for me.) That said...if you'd heard about Wilco over the years, and wondered whether you might like them...and "You and I" was your first actual exposure to the band...I can see where you might be underwhelmed. "Seriously? This is the cutting edge band I've heard so much about? It doesn't sound like I've missed much...". It's a nice, well-crafted song, but that's about as far as I can go. Kind of generic...and that's not a word I would typically ever associate with Wilco.

Unless you were a fan of Tweedy's songwriting from the get go and "You and I" isn't that huge of a leap in term of simplicity of songwriting compared to "Screen Door" or shit "Gun" for that matter. There was a time of course when some people argued the merits of Tweedy's simplicity over the more lyrically obtuse Farrar songs. This whole cutting edge stuff really in my mind only accounts for two albums in his entire catalouge (YHF & AGIB) not counting Loose Fur stuff.

Ok, I'll play. There is only one song on that record that I could see not completely missing and this is Was I In Your Dreams. Was I? I like that part. No, I could live without that song, wouldn't want to, but I believe I could. I use to be luke warm on Why Would You Wanna Live?, but the banjo lick hooks me everytime now.

This is destructive, and my fanboy membership specifically details no such activity being permissable.

So I can also have my opinion on why their opinion of someone else's opinion is inappropriate. And you can have your opinion on why my opinion on someone else's opinion of someone else's opinion of a song is inappropriate I get what you're saying, but I still think it's easier/fairer to judge songs than to judge other people's opinions of songs.

I don't think it could have been said better. Common ground. I knew we had it in us

now I'll just work on the Bread thing with you.

No harm done.

 

Oh, and take a bottle of quaaludes, then listen to some Autumn Defense. Then, meet Bread.

 

 

 

Now, I've said this earlier in the thread, but that's not fair at all. If the song has that "soft-rock feel" and they don't like that feel, then they don't like the song, content be damned. There are lots of country songs with good lyrics that I can't listen to because they have that "TNN-feel". And that's where it stops for me. And that's okay.

not to rehash yesterday, but on the same token, if someone has an opinion of why people are dismissing this song, that is no less/more legitimate than what you are saying. Not being pissy, just pointing out a slight issue here.

I was a HUGE pj fan from about ten - no code, then I started shifting to other music. I think No Code is their best record looking back on it all. Anyway, I was more than excited when I heard "the Fixer". What a song. I finally heard the rest of record. Brief summary opinion: more than down hill from there.

Anyone anywhere whose artistic aspirations include reaching an audience with implements in its mouth deserve all the ridicule they can bear, 10x.

 

I hate on bands like Bread because they sound like music + horse tranquilizer. Utterly sedate and boring.

 

I love pop, and I love love songs. That does not mean I like soft rock.

That is me with my collection of soft pillowy rock. Thank you Bread, the Carpenters, America, that one Dan Fogelberg song, the late night infomercial (you know the one), Roberta Flack, oh, too many to mention. Heaven indeed.

I know I have a problem with sarcasm, but don't read this thinking I'm joking. I love that stuff.

See, I think it’s the opposite – it sounds a little too radio friendly, and not unlike the sort of bland easy listening stuff folks tend to enjoy listening to while at work. If it were not a Wilco song, how many fans would actively seek it out?

If you are speaking of the sweet tunes that you hear at the dentist's office, then I think Wilco would take that as a compliment. Why do people hate on bands like Bread?