nodep5

Ugh, I wish they wouldn't.

 

Did anyone watch the stream yesterday? It was okay; the sound quality was terrible though.

Ryan is prone to making these sweeping statements about the future that don't always pan out, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. He claims his next solo album without the Cardinals will sound like an old crooner album. Who knows? All I know is when he does release stuff it always sounds good to my ears. Even Rock n Roll satisfied me. I thought his half hearted attempt at a rock album sounded 10 times better than most rock bands. I think he is just naturally talented when it comes to melody and song construction.

I'm glad they have tried to hide the Shot In The Arm video from us all, that is completely ridiculous!

does anyone else think 'Cobwebs' could have, maybe, possibly, been inspired by Wilco? the song sounds like its an outtake from the AGIB sessions.

That song ends wonderfully, and it is definitely a different sound for him especially when looking at the rest of the album. It kind of has that Wilco "panthers" feel about it. I know someone tried to explain the lyric earlier, but what does "confuse my love for the cobwebs" even mean. I want to totally love this song, but that one line, unfortunately the key line, perplexes me.

Well I have now spent a day with this record (I had it on at work on Ilike on Monday and don't do that, listening to music on a computer never sounds as nice) Anyway, I must say with the exception of a couple things, primarily Sink Ships (I don't think I will ever understand this song) I really am enjoying this album. Let Us Down Easy and Like Yesterday are truly standouts. Like Yesterday almost rips off part of the Allman Brothers Blue Sky solo, but that is a good thing. Overall, I ended up really digging Easy Tiger but that took awhile, Cardionology hit me more the first few times around. I like the positive self talk throughout and I like hearing him do an optimistic record after years of woe as me (which I also liked). I don't get some of the lyrics "cobwebs" but that is ok too. And suprisingly I really enjoyed Magick. I think as I get older, some straighforward blatant rock is refreshing after years of indie rock too cool posturing. Anyway, can't wait for the vinyl

i don't really care for any of A.M. and there are definitely a few i'd cut from Being There as well, so i don't have this problem. plus, i like "Glad It's Over," i just really wish it had been on the SBS import bonus disc or the other 2-song bonus disc...

 

-justin

This is kind of odd, I remember when AM and Being There meant everything to me. What is it you don't like? AM is a little precious, but take it for what it is, and Being There is really solid and beautifully all over the place.

I'm terrible about remembering which records came out during the year, but I think this has to be my on the top of my list. I really have enjoyed The Avett Brothers The Gleam II, but I would have trouble picking an EP for the top spot. I'm sure I'm missing someone, the Fleet Foxes was solid but nowhere near a great album. I would like to hear the new Damien Jurado album. Anyway enough rambling, but I think this is the record of the year. (so far)

Neil Young & Crazy Horse Live at the Filmore East (1970)

I usually don't recomend music to people and honestly haven't recomended anything to anyone (except my wife) probably since college ten years ago. Too many bad experiences with roommates in college who were into Sister Hazel and Creed? anyway. I wanted to throw my 2 cents in on Mathew Ryan's latest, Mathew Ryan vs. The Silver State. I own one other MR album and the Strays Don't Sleep album and overall was left mostly ambivalent, but this new one is seriously good IMHO! There are no complete duds and only three songs I would consider average. The rest are as solid as it gets. I felt compelled to post this because there are so many singer songwriters out there and it is hard to give them all a chance. Anyway, I think this album is worth the time exploring. Sorry if this album has already been covered.

I've always tried to think of Ryan in terms of a similar career path as Neil Young. Early band breaks up, solo artist, off an on relationship with backing band. Odd musical turns, a ton of albums, great songs, etc etc etc.

A couple other Ryan thoughts:

I think Love is Hell is his masterpiece.

I think Cold Roses is epic.

I find myself listening to Easy Tiger more than his other albums, not sure why?

I look forward to every single thing he does and don't expect a great album everytime out, but look forward to adding a few wonderful musical moments to his already huge catalouge.

I haven't heard anything off the new album except "fix it" so I don't have an opinion on that.

I gave it another try recently. I've been a pretty decent fan, but I struggled wtih this one from the start. First the album cover and album title (I know this shouldn't matter) but this is awful. It looks like a bad metal album. Then I started paying attention to Jim James lyrics, which is a mistake. However, I put it in the other day and told myself, just listen and you know that guitar jam on evil urges hooked me in, Highly Suspicious made me smile and I'm Amazed sound like home. It is growing, my god it is growing! All that said, easily their worst.

I like early Steely Dan around Aja they started getting a little to porno sounding. Anyway, there are a few bands my wife refuses to allow me to listen to around her. Steely Dan is one of them, and Heart is another. Anyhoo, when I was about 9 years old we drove from Illinois to Colorado and we had two cassettes, Dire Straits "Brothers In Arms" and Steely Dan "Can't Buy A Thrill" . What an album that is.

That is hilarious. I bet Jeffrey gave you a stranger than normal look. I would have paid money to see that.

He looked at me and my buddy exactly like you would expect him to. he was pissed we snuck up there and then that was the best I could come up with, Geez! I was so stupid that night, I was also wearing an Uncle Tupelo "still feel gone" tshirt and kept yelling from the crowd and pointing at my shirt, like I was the only one who knew he use to be in a band called Uncle Tupelo. I survived though, and my concert behavior has improved.

My first time was sneaking backstage in Atlanta on the AM Tour, backstage was up a spiral staircase at the Variety Playhouse. Well me and my buddy snuck up, and opened the door and their was Tweedy. On another planet is a good descriptor of how he can be. Well things ended abuptly when I said "hey Jeff I know one of Jay Farrar's brothers". God, now that was stupid and I was quickly escorted out of their. Live and Learn I guess.

After reading the debate about best of 2008 and continuing to read about For Emma, I need to be told if I should just pick this record up. I've only heard "Skinny Love" and although it grows on me everytime, it by no means blows me away. I have also been struggling with the lonely singer songwriter types this year. So tell me what I need to know?

I second that, and it gives bands the chance to show off their record collection cred! Hey I just played Mott The Hoople and none of you guys out there even know it.

I'm not a Comment fan either. Disappointed when I saw it was on KT.

Best Wilco cover i've experienced in Concert was Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.

The Being There Tour covers were nice.

Aside from the fact that Kicking Television is a live album, not a studio album, I don't have any problem with it.

I give up!

Ok, Ok, Ok,

I've thought this over all day, and read every post on here (all 26 pages) and I think I have come up with the definitive ranking

AM

BT

ST

YHF

AGIB

KT

SBS

What do you all think?

My explanation on all of this for me personally comes down to age. I once read an interview where Tweedy talks about not being able to hear music like he once did. That he struggled to find it as emotionally engaging as say when he was 19 or 20. I agree 100%. For me Being There and Summerteeth were not cerebral, they were a roller coaster ride on a gut level. I hung on every word. I was about 20 at the time, think back and you'll remember. Now at the age of 30 when Sky blue Sky comes out, I have moments of that, but mostly I'm coming at it from a more brain oriented place (that sounds stupid). My example would be "You Are My Face", lyrically it sounds cool, but doesn't punch me in the gut, and then I think man that guitar part is cool, and I started thinking and thinking, instead of like the first time I heard "Sunken Treasure" when my reaction was I'm crying all of a sudden.

What did I say that was so wrong?

 

Can you do me a favor? Can you pick me up a Shakespeare's Pizza and bring it to my house? Thanks.

Oh I don't know, maybe I would like to still have the Cubs around to finish out the greatest season in 100 years (I'm a fool for believing)

As for the Pizza, sure why not!

Also, I won't take exception to the comment about wiping out "most of their fans", because I know you didn't lump me in the "most of their fans" category.

I don't like your tone

"Promising" at Chipoltle last week. I swear I can't go to Chipoltle without hearing Wilco.

"He (Tweedy)...can't sing very well."

 

WHAT?!?

I think it should've read, "He is no crooner"

About 10 years ago, a Schoolhouse Rock compliation was put out with a bunch of alternative bands on it. Blind Melon does an awesome "Three is the Magic Number" on it. Cool stuff.

I swear, this is the pinnacle, the mountain top, oh yes. My beloved Cubs and Wilco all wrapped in one. And the Cubbies won (despite the 8th inning meltdown)! I also thought Bob Brenly didn't want anything to do with Tweedy. Who knows, I can't help you if you get excited about Rage Against the Machine anyway. Which reminds me, for any of you who deciced on Rage against Wilco on Saturday, I will ask my favorite therapist question. So tell me, how did that work out for you?

I thought Jeff's answer to the why are you wearing number 3 was classic. Nobody in the booth got it, but I laughed my butt off. Jeff looked so nervous and anxious and the whole thing was classic.