nodep5

there is a thread on here about this. I think. Haven't heard it yet, but Olson/Louris are strolling through town in FEB

Just wondering, what records people enjoy from this period or the late period Neil. At times I find it depressingly awful, to the point I have to go back and listen to Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere just to feel better. I'm not going to hold the 1980's against him, because I dislike 90% of music made in the 80's. But albums like Greendale or Are You Passionate? kind befuddle me. Anyway my top three from this period are

1. Sleeps With Angels

2. Silver and Gold

3. Harvest Moon

Is that the band that has opened for the Black Crowes recently? I missed their opening act earlier this month but if it's the same folks, Chris Robinson came out and did a tune or two with them.

Yes, they have also opened for Gary Louris during his Vagabonds tour.

Well, after putting off purchasing Vetiver's Thing of the Past (a record of all covers of relatively obscure ditties from yesteryear) I finnally broke down and got my copy. I am really enjoying it, and the subsequent EP is almost better. I own a handful of the originals covered and it seems that Vetiver went for the straight ahead route when covering these tunes. I'm not sure the merit with that, but it turns you on to some new musicians and shows off their chops. I'm looking forward to their upcoming album on Subpop in Feb. Any thoughts on Vetiver?

a singers voice matters, but not that much. if people didnt worry about it so often, the world would have more singers. amateurism is being lost in our society. if you sing, its just as legit as any "american idol," you know? theres too many "experts" and people have the mentality that theyll never be as good, so why bother. i dunno, just a pet peeve that always bothered me.

 

i watched i am trying to break your heart the other day (cause of this thread.) i love jays sg, that thing is so badass.

I think I agree with where you are coming from. I tend to prefer individuals with mediocre musical ability but lots of originality and creativity (neil young/jeff tweedy) I also have always preferred people with less that great voices but voices that grab me or are unique (j mascis/jeff tweedy) But a voice has to pull me in and some voices (like when I hear myself) don't pull me in. some people grab your attention and others don't. And for me the better the voice in musical terms the less it tends to grab me. This made no sense at all.

 

Found this statement a bit puzzling? Are we not supposed to like concert films?

 

p.s. Great news!

I tend to completly agree with this statement about concert films

I've been there since the beginning and have seen Wilco on every tour except for the first Mermaid Ave. (i already sound like an ass) To me, I enjoy all of incarnations musically in terms of what was recorded, but back in the day, specifically Being There Tour, Wilco was a rock and roll band who put on an amazingly intense/stupid live show. Now Wilco is a technical live show where artistry appears more important than having fun. This is a general statement and I'm not saying one is better than the other. The worst of this was the YHF tour right after sept 11 (mayber appropriate for the time) but an awful live show in my opinion. Now I have seen this latest lineup have fun and be intense in a fun/crazy way a few times, but back in the Jay days it was every time. But to ramble on, that got old too and it became insincere at times. You can only see Jay soloing with his moppy hair flying around so many times before it becomes tired. Or maybe I was just young and inspired back then. Maybe it is all perception.

I love Iron and Wine, but never ever could get into this album. Ressurection Fern is a great song no doubt, but this record felt like world music to me

Just a reminder to not forget the great record by Mathew Ryan (Vs. The Silver State)

Also Hayden (In Field & Town) I love me some Hayden

I saw him mentioned on Muzzle of Bees blog site yesterday. I listened to a little bit of his album via song clips and wasn't overly impressed, but he sounds real nice on his Daytrotter session. Anyway, I use to own his previous band's album Verbena Souls For Sale. I was living in Bham at the time and the local record store was promoting these local boys pretty hard. Listen to "The Song That Ruined Your Career" from that album.

It is always going be a complete mystery of why people hear what they hear. I can't tell you how my mind was blown the first time I heard a Mark Koselek song. I was in my car listening to the college radio station here in Columbia MO, and they played "Glenn Tipton". It was one of those moments where you almost pull the car over and say "what the hell is that, did Neil Young just write one of his best songs in the last 30 years?" Anyway, so that is how I first got into anything by Mark K. April just didn't do that, but i'll admit that "Lost Versus" is a real rewarding listen. I just listened to Tiny Cities on vinyl last night and I love it and always have loved that record. Who knows?

i love ghosts but april put me to sleep. i've tried other stuff of mark's & had the same reaction as listening to april.

I kind of agree. Ghosts had great musical hooks to keep you interested, Tiny Cities was short and sweet, while April meanders. I'm not saying it isn't pleasant and that Lost Versus and Moorestown aren't beautiful, but as a whole it become overwhelming in the sleepy way. I also had this reaction to most of his Red House Painters albums.

Hey while we are talking about sad depressing stuff, anyone heard Damien Jurado's Caught In The Trees? Just when I think I don't need any more sad stuff I'll here Damien Jurado's voice and it grabs me and pulls me in. Listen to "I Am Still Here" from Now That I'm In Your Shadow and you'll know what I mean

Tiny Cities (Sun Kil Moon covers Modest Mouse)

Acompleterejectionofwhathasbecomesustainabletourablemusicthatsellstickets.

 

 

I don't care. I just want something that takes on its own life each and every show. That way I'll start going again..

 

I know I'm being critical, but I want to go to a show again... (I've passed up 3 in a row now)

 

I don't want to know where Wilco stands at the end. I want to walk away wondering...

I'm glad you said this (not that I completely agree) but I have felt that the tour has become a tad more important that the music. I almost want them to stop touring for awhile so this doesn't becomea DMB kind of thing. I know that is a gross overstatement, but you get my point

So I have been glancing at everyone's fav's for this past year and I haven't seen that many mentions for April by Sun Kil Moon. It barely makes my list of favorites for 08, which was a tad disappointing considering how much I loved Ghosts of The Great Highway and Sun Kil Moon's Modest Mouse Covers Album (can't think of the title). I know the Modest Mouse covers didn't get a lot of love but it single handidly made me like Modest Mouse (that is cool). Anyway, I thought April was a little tired sounding (which isn't a Mark Koselek joke). Any thoughts?

I think I've finally solved my problem. I think I'm doing some caretaking here (in all seriousness, not that he is listening or anything). I've probably read to many posts on Ryan's blog, but I think it is obvious that he is riddled with self doubt and I just want him to have a moment where he looks at his body of work and says "that is impressive" and leave it at that. I recently ready an article (i know here I go again with reading articles/it may have been the same Relix article) where he talks about how his songs didn't reflect his addiction issues and that he thought he actually wrote a lot of hopeful songs that helped people out. I would disagree and say you actually did write a number of dark songs, but you are right you did right some hopeful stuff and it does help people. Ok I'm done trying to make him feel better.

which brings me to my larger point. Why do I keep reading interviews and articles on musicians. I swear I rarely come away feeling goog about the musician. It is either wow they are a raging ego maniac, or they are a drug addict or they hate themselves. OR and this is the worst for me (I'm talking to you BONO) they want to tell me how freaking smart they are. I know I know this makes them just like all of us, but for me it is a mind blower. I listen to Neil Young for example and musically he speaks to me and it helps me in different situations and times throughout my life, so I guess I place meaning on the person and the music because it has brought so much positive to me. And then I read an article and I think how did this person create something that is meaningful to me, because they sound like a complete asshole.

I don't have the Relix magazine article in front of me, and will post the exact qoute later, but basically the qoute is "I'm not going to make any more of those stupid records" when referring to older solo albums. I also have a live show from Oct in Madison WI where he lays into some jerk yelling out Whiskeytown songs and basically says "That song sucked then and it will suck now, so we are only going to play what is on our setlist..........." Once again, all of that is fine and I'm a huge fan, and love the new record, but I also think a song (for example) like "Excuse My While I Break My Own Heart" is crazy good and he shouldn't dismiss it. If that is what motivates him now more power to him, but recognize what you have done and pat yourself on the back and be proud

Notorious Byrd Brothers

I also love Untitled, Dr. Byrds, and The Ballad of Easy Rider

I never said it would change my preference or tastes or opinions, I just stated that it rubs me the wrong way sometimes. I can totally understand the past problems making some older stuff feel less than inviting. If that is the case, just say, "hey I was going through a real hard time during those albums and they just remind me of all of that shit and I'd rather not, at least not now." You don't have to act like your earlier stuff was below you. In the end I don't care to the point of not listening, I guess if anything it just reinforces what I already know: Even though I love someones music I probably couldn't be their roommate?

What an amazing record. I love Straightaways also, but Trace has to be the highwater mark. You listen to the "new" Son Volt and then listen to Trace, is it even really the real Jay Farrar?

He hasn't done anything to me, but break my heart with his songs. I'm just saying that I wish some musicians could be ok with themselves once in a while. I want to tell Ryan, "hey don't give a rats ass what some hipster critic says, you are super talented, you put out sweet records, and a lot of sweet records at that , and I personally don't think you need an editor, your stuff is cool, let it be".

So I was reading this months Relix magazine because I hate jam bands and all. Anyway, the cover story is on The Cardinals I think because of the Ryan Adams/Greatful Dead connection. So in the article Ryan talks about hating his old solo records and that the Cardinals have helped him learn to be ok with playing some of those older songs live again. I love Ryan Adams and I'm probably the only one here who wishes he'd release an album per month not one per year, but God I hate when musicians do this crap. Ryan still completely disses Whiskeytown and remember reading an article where Tweedy disses early Tupelo records. Not that I care what they think, because if I like that is all I need, but these records have meant and still mean a lot to people, be proud of it and cherish it, because Strangers Almanac is brilliant and I love all of his solo stuff and early UT records meant so much to fans and other musicians. It is ok to love what you are doing now, but don't deny the past. I'm done.