MountainGerbil

Well, it's a silly article anyway because it starts with the following premise: And, well, where does this premise come from? It's a straw man: fans of Wilco don't really like the songs on the album, they only like the musicianship! See, the songs must be dull! People are complacent! This must end! That's pure conjecture. I've not heard such a claim. Wilco is not Phish; "The Whole Love" is not "Billy Breathes." The focus is still on the songwriting (note that he dismisses the ones that most people here talk about, "The Art of Almost" and "One Sunday Morning..." as "ones you might

And the schtick. I've seen them 5 times since 2003 and the general gist of the experience is almost exactly the same. I mean, it's really fun and I recommend it to everyone, but aside from substituting 4 or 5 songs per tour, it's the same show each time (confetti, giant gerbil ball, hypnotic imagery, some naked dancing chicks on the screen, people dressed as aliens/santa/construction workers on the stage, camera view up Wayne's nose...).

It's dark because shows that get filmed for wide-release are given extra lighting (or else they appear like this). For instance, in the Sydney DVD, and there are lights everywhere at all times. Especially 20 years ago, the video cameras simply couldn't pick up a good enough image unless there were added lights. If you were actually at this show, there would have been the spotlight on Bono, some low purple lighting from the overheads, and aside from some stuff on the video screens, that's about all. Filmed for a wide release, there would be 50% lighting across the whole stage. I mean,

One thing that's always frustrated me about U2 is their unwillingness to release a comprehensive live album once in a while. I remember getting my hands on the "Outside Broadcast" disk that someone posted above (I can't get the new links to work, unfortunately) and being blown away by the energetic renditions of songs like "Mysterious Ways" and "Until the End of the World." Likewise, as someone who likes "POP" and enjoyed the Popmart tour, I always thought live versions of "Gone", "Please", and "Last Night on Earth" exceed the recorded versions. I'm aware that it's possible to scrape tog

I disagree. The author equates Wilco and Feist's music with the established "meh" music of the 1970s, which led dissatisfied youths to embark on the Punk movement. He uses the names of new bands (the Pissed Jeans, etc) as a sign that there are signs of dissatisfaction with the "contemporary" music of today. However, because the music scene is so diverse and fragmented right now, people that would have upended the current "meh" music of Wilco and Feist in days gonebye can just ignore it and it will continue to exist. This is not a complimentary piece on Wilco. Nor is it outright anti-Wil

As they do mine, every time. Those rhymes be fine.

Well I'll be dang-gummed.

I've resigned myself to the idea that, with SBS, Wilco entered their "Mars Hotel"/ "Steal Your Face" / "Terrapin Station"/ etc... era. That is, they put out albums that fans will either really like or merely find acceptable (depending on taste), but there will be no more grand statements, and each release will inevitably harken back to the foundation established during the golden years. Meanwhile, the live shows will steam on, always being very good. It could be a lot worse. And I like the last few albums. Bands just inevitably get older and lose a certain restless energy that makes them

Wait...I don't think "Standing O" has an organ part. "I Might" has the "96 Tears"-esque riff. Are you thinking of that?

I really like "Shake it Off" until it gets to the actual "shake it off...[drr-r-rrr, Galoomp-gloomp] shake it off...[drr-r rrr, galoomp, gloomp] part.* *Speaking of alka-setzer.

Re: being 17. As others have noted, some of us were "obsessed" with various bands, albums, songs, etc... when we were younger. For me it was Neil Young and the Rolling Stones. There was no way I would fail to take umbrage if someone knocked Mick Jagger, or said that Neil had a funny voice. It was like someone had just kicked my dog. And while that sounds ridiculous now, at least to anyone who didn't experience devotional fandom, I can also attest that it was pretty amazing, too, to be able to be blown away so much by a song that I'd heard a thousand times already (often literally). But

I was always under the impression that the bru-ha-ha surrounding the Rolling Stones' Sunset Strip billboard to promote "Black and Blue" was the inspiration for "Smell the Glove", but you may be right. -Time, 1977 [/left]

Perhaps. But in my experience there are far more Radiohead fans that fit that description. I don't think it's ever been as "cool" to be a Wilco fan as it was/is to be a Radiohead fan. This was true especially in the late 1990s, after "OK Computer" came out. Wilco has never had an album that huge, and Radiohead has a much larger fanbase than Wilco. There are a lot of people who listen to Radiohead and aren't otherwise into music, because of what listening to Radiohead "says" about them (i.e. "I am a serious person with serious tastes."). I just haven't encountered that with Wilco. Th

One of the comments hit on something that I agree with: I have been turned off of Radiohead, in large part, due to the humorless nature of A) their music, and B ) Their fanbase. I realize that an artist doesn't really have any say in what kind of fans they attract, but even people whom I respect, people whom I like to talk music with, are insufferable when it comes to Radiohead. It's like there's a Radiohead album, and then there's everything else. "The only band that matters" and all that shit. I gave up years ago when I argued that, as great as Radiohead was (and I certainly respect

Please. There are scores of worse album covers than most of the ones listed. This guy didn't try hard enough. Also, he's being willfully obtuse or plain ignorant regarding "Magical Mystery Tour." That album was the epitome of psychedelia, and that is clearly the motivation for that album cover. And appealing to little children is not the same as appealing to teeny-boppers. I also refuse to take a guy seriously if he refuses to listen to, and apparently had never heard of, Creedence Clearwater Revival simply because the album was not in a pretty cover. As for the A.M. cover: the al

Does anyone know where I can get/download most of these? I am missing almost all of them, and don't see them on iTunes. Thanks!

Sounds like they must have been done for Long Island Railroad, perhaps inside Penn Station.

Just announced on Facebook.

Glad the setlist is/was a little longer than in Boston. 23 songs, 2:10 seems to be the general running time for Wilco, and that's about perfect.

I suppose. That argument is, of course, mostly correct (I'd argue that the the market has some serious flaws because the ticket brokers overcharge with the understanding that not all of their tickets will get sold). But so what? Why should going to a rock concert be an exercise in capitalism?

But there are other ways than having to be online at a certain time. One can make arrangements with friends, or (if push really came to shove), someone who has a commitment at 10 A.M. on a wednesday (or whatnot) can ask/pay someone else to do it for them. Annoying? Sure. But again, if seeing Wilco is something that is a high priority, it shouldn't merit a second thought. I agree that sometimes life does get in the way (meeting runs late, computer crashes, sudden bout of nausea/wife going into labor, etc...) and in that case the secondary market can be a benefit. But having life get in

Maybe "per year" was inaccurate. "per tour" seems more appropriate. NYC almost always gets 2 shows (and Jersey sometimes gets 2 as well). Chicago usually gets 2 shows. In addition, in recent years, Toronto, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Austin, D.C., New Orleans have seen multiple dates, and on their upcoming dates Minneapolis, Nashville, and Atlanta have 2 shows apiece. I will say, however, I am surprised that there aren't more 2-3 date runs. Looking at WilcoBase, I expected to see a lot more then there have been over the past 4 years.

It's a zero sum game, so they can't please everyone. Option A) Play small theaters, 2-3 dates per year in major markets, 1 date in select secondary/tertiary markets per year. Satisfies: most, not all, fans in major markets, and generally all fans in the other markets. Secondary benefit to die-hards who are willing to travel 2-3 hours to see band play in Duluth, or Worcester, or wherever. Disgruntles: A vocal minority of people in major markets not lucky enough to get a ticket or who can't afford one on Stubhub. Option Play small theaters, focus on satisfying demand of the major m

Bump for regular on-sale info. Got row X (floor) for Wed. night. Has anyone seen a show at the State Theatre?

"Be more like Radiohead! Put out "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" again!"