nodep5

Ok, well Dr. No I will focus on your positive stuff now. I also love Phosphorescent To Willie, but I'm not sure I can put a cover's album to high up on my list. I think Iron & Wine is easily my favorite (however also conflicted because it is a Rarities comp) That leaves me with Justin Townes Earle at the top of my list. I'm hoping that Wilco or The Avett Brothers will take the top spot to rid me of this indecision

As far as Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Panda Bear, etc. I will mostly concur with you. (I must admit I haven't heard the majority of these records in their entirety) but what I have heard as well as older albums like Yellow House, make me feel pretty underwhelmed. Inide experimental rock sometimes makes the bloggers go wild but the songs just aren't there. It is an insult to people like the Beach Boys or Wilco for that matter to have this stuff compared to them. Just because you fart around the studio and layer harmonies on top doesn't make it worth listening to. I'm just generalizi

Blue Mountain Dog Days oh, brings me back to my college days and dorm room fun.

I saw someone post their question under the traveling revival show post concerning David Rawlings Machine etc, about why we are still waiting for a new Gillian Welch record. I have to say I was always a Gillian appreciator but her last album "Soul Journey" really blows me away. Anyway, does anyone have any news, her website offers nothing in terms of her own projects just news on guest appearances. Maybe she is entering into her Lucinday Williams early 90's phase.

Just curious. I never win with these things, not even the smaller prizes.

ok, loathe should read, "not my cup of tea". It is just personal preference. Eric Clapton bores, Neil Pert bores me, etc. I just personally have always valued originality and creativity over technical mastery. Hell, there is probably someone on my block who can shred like there is no tomorrow, but that doesn't make their music interesting. And I should state that I don't think Wilco is this way on album, more of a live thing. But the albums are little more reserved with this lineup, maybe more cerebral (which I think could be a byproduct of this issue we are discussing. Hey I can ap

Wow, he has his thinking cap on. Really seems in tune with things and observations. Anyway, I imagine it is hard to wear a Nudie without feeling like an ass most of the time.

This lineup is walking a very fine line between keeping the focus on the songs vs. focus on muscianship. I tend to loathe amazing technical musicians, so having Nels in my favorite band is a bit hard for me, hell Glenn for that matter. However as long as Tweedy is ther ringleader, I think we will always get more emotion than technique. That being said, the beginning of Ashes with the Ashes soundcheck shows how great this current lineup can be. That is just beautiful. Unfortunately, their version of Kingpin shows us the oppositte.

Well I think we are almost halfway there and I have listened to around 10 records this year, most of which are not overly blowing my mind, but here are my thoughts so far. In no order and doesn't include Wilco (The Album) since it hasn't been officially released. Of course I can change my mind at any time. Ben Kweller "Changing Horses" B+ I love the old LP concept/sequencing and I think this is a strong country pop record M. Ward "Hold Time" B Nothing wrong with this record, but at this point I think "Transfiguration" and "Transistor Radio" were his peak and "Hold Time" makes me wond

sweet!

JTE Midnight at the Movies Wow, how about Mama's Eyes This is real solid, I'm digging this more than the Good Life

I'm a huge Hayden fan, didn't even know this was coming out till the other day. Anyway, nothing new from Hayden in terms of the music, but some gems on here.

Really? I thought I was the only one who loved the Where You Been/Without A Sound Dino Jr. If your description is right this is good news. Not a L Barlow or early Dinosaur fan, so Beyond was hit and miss for me.

This year has been hard, a lot of records, but a lot of mediocrity. Here are some suggestions from the past few years. Josh Ritter "The Animal Years" or "The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter" Dolorean "You Can't Win" or "Violence In The Snowy Fields" Iron & Wine "Around The Well" 2cd b sides/unreleased (freaking awesome) Matthew Ryan "Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State"

Also, what is so freaking wrong with "You and I"? I remember going to the snotty indie store the day Ryan Adams Gold was released and the clerk said, "are you really buying that James Taylor sounding crap". Why does soft and sentimental equal crap? Does music always have to have a dark edge. Crap Wilco gave you "Bull Black Nova" and then they gave "You and I". People can be leeches.

do we really care at this point? I use to really get hung up on Wilco reviews (back when the critics worshipped these guys) mostly because I was trying to show proof to others who didn't know or get Wilco. Well times have changed on that, and I'm sure there will start to be the backlash factor. But mostly record reviews have become nothing more to me than watching the news. I give it a glance to get the temperature, but I recognize it is all fabricated and biased and about as relevant as vhs. I've also got to the point where 90% of time, my musical tastes will not be swayed by criti

I could be wrong, but the version on ATW seems faster. I'll go back tonight and listen. Either way, how could he get away with leaving these songs off the regular albums?

Now I'm on to the second disc and this thing is just wonderful. I wish the liner notes (all I have is the vinyl copy) listed where each track came from. The only thing I would change is I would have chosen the slower version of Love Vigilantes that has been out for awhile.

Lifelong Cubs fan here, and I unfortunately think this is here to stay (bad offense I mean) D Lee: it is over, just not the same guy. M Bradley: the longer the slump, the bigger the blow up, will not recover G Soto: soph slump, he'll be back next year (i hope) Sori: hot and cold hot and cold no better no worse Fukodome: Sad when he is your most consistent hitter Font, Theriot, Miles, Freel, Scales: about 3 too many utility players Aramis: Not back soon enough

I was telling my wife sometime last week, when discussing the new Wilco record, that although I love all incarnations of Wilco, something always seem to be missing since Jay has not been in the band. A few minutes later she told me that she agreed and that he helped add that extra something. I saw Wilco during the BT-Mermaid-ST era numerous times in some really cool venues. This was a special time in my life and Wilco was a huge part of my life at that point. They seemed more like a true band at that time (more than a Jeff Tweedy vehicle). The collaboration between the guys then was und

My copy arrived today. Me and my wife were floored by the first disc. We had a few already, but all of these together is unbelievable. the third vinyl is just the Trapeze Swinger. I like to think of it as the indie rock stairway to heaven. What a collection.

nice......another great tweedy melody.

I've always felt that Wilco's version of Thirteen is the definitive version of this song. I like it better than Big Star's original and better that an Evan Dando live version I have. Wilco's version just takes it up a whole other notch which is for sure saying something. BTW, for my money the Outta Site/Outta Mind CD single with both Outta Sites, Thirteen and Blasting Fonda is priceless.

Yeah we need to look into this. Just off the top of my head there are some killers. IATTBYH (solo acoustic), I'm Always In Love (rehearsal), Kamera (alt studio take), Pieholden (pre show rehearsal), Bob Dylan's Beard (jeff on his couch solo acoustic), Be Not So Fearful (pre show)