rwilson580

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I think there are some very cool things happening in this song. And I hardly think inspiration is an issue here, unless you can point out other Tweedy songs that employ the same device. As someone else mentioned...using the same technique that worked so well in some other song wouldn't have been particularly creative. This one sounds fresh to my ears. This is hardly my favorite Wilco album, but the lyrics in I'll Fight are the least of my complaints.

Great Tweedy vocals. I've made no effort to understand what's going on in the song, but enjoy every trip thru it. I agree that (ta) would be stronger with its addition, although I can see why they left it off. Its vibe is SO similar to BBN, at least to my ears. Not that an entire album of BBN's wouldn't be kind of cool.

I think this is actually a very interesting song lyrically. The way the 60's girl band repetition transforms into something else entirely in subsequent verses. He manages to compress a phrase as complex as "You’ll wake with a start from a dream and know that I am gone" into the same melody that the "I'll gos" and "I'll fights" mapped to earlier in the song. It's a decent trick, not one I've seen lots of precedents for. This is far from a simple song.

I've been giving the album a break. My initial impression was somewhat negative -- it seemed a bit too accessible -- but with repetition I appreciated it more. Like some others, I find the Deeper Down / One Wing / BBN stretch one of their greatest ever. Country Disappeared is my favorite overall, with I'll Fight a favorite as well. Five outstanding songs out of eleven for me, and I don't dislike any of the others. That's not bad. It's good enough to confirm to me once again that no one in music today knows as much about constructing a song as Jeff Tweedy. The one song on here that I am

I've built more Wilco fans than I have any other band, ever. There are at least four rabid ones out there, with a couple more on the fence. It makes me very proud. As I mentioned in another thread, I've found SBS to be a good entry point for some people. The same "a little close to the mainstream" aspect that bothers some long time fans makes it a good gateway for new people.

Hate It Here You Never Know.....> Interesting choice for opening song. Kind of a polarizing selection. Hated by many diehards, of course. And I've heard non-fans whose first inclination is to mock the song. I think you're taking a chance on alienating them right out of the box. I like the rest of your choices, though.

I appreciate any PR the band receives, and enjoyed the piece. At the same time, as a big fan -- didn't it seem like they were telling some other band's story? Sure, none of us would argue that the band is underrated by the world in general...pretty much unknown by the world in general. But does anybody feel like they're a long suffering band, looking for their big break? "The little band that could"? Hilarious. Hey, how much would it suck if the premise of the story was correct? That after years of obscurity they're ready to make that quantum leap? As a fan of only a few years, it's b

It's nice to see SBS getting some positive feedback. This album is far too beautiful to be anybody's punchline. It's a great gateway drug to the band, btw. I've created several Wilco fans by handing them off a copy of this album.

1. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart 2. She’s a Jar 3. Poor Places 4. Jesus Etc. 5. Gun 6. Via Chicago 7. Shot in the Arm 8. Ashes of American Flags 9. Impossible Germany 10. Spiders (Kidsmoke) 11. Cars Can’t Escape 12. Sunken Treasure 13. Magazine Called Sunset 14. I Am Your Face 15. Misunderstood 16. Pot Kettle Black 17. Not for the Season 18. Bull Black Nova 19. Venus Stop the Train 20. Ruling Class

LOL. I expected to find all you "cultists" deploring the faux pas during the display of all eight Wilco album covers. In order, except for the YHF / AGiB flip. Good to see you cultists have a life after all. (Well, not all of us apparently.)

I agree. I'm not sure it's in Jeffy Tweedy's DNA to make music that is not enjoyable. If you really, really cannot stand SBS or W(TA)...then, sure, it's time to move on. If you just believe, hmmm, don't like it quite as much as the masterpiece -- hang in there, maybe he'll hit it out of the park for you personally next time. Because I don't know how anyone can listen to either of these albums and believe that the guy has literally lost a step. He can still write melodies, hooks, wordplay that are as delicious as anyone has ever done it. The differences with these albums -- and pretty muc

This is a mystery to me as well. People complain that SBS is Wilco playing it safe. And yet there's some nice little dissonance going on in Shake It Off, and everybody likes to pile on the song. I'm sure this isn't quite the paradox it appears, that there's a good reason for it. But as a big fan of the album and that song, it confuses me.

Not a big surprise, after seeing HMD and Hummingbird so near the top. I've got no complaints with this one. Great accessible song. Good calls with the YHF choices for #1. Among others that I would have thought were favorites -- at least before we saw the rest of his choices -- aren't Misunderstood and Via Chicago still on the board? Of course after seeing his last few choices, Outasite Outamind could be #1.

Well, anyway. #5 is a pretty big surprise too. But at least now he's overrating a song I seriously love.

No, I got it. Just wanted to reinforce my primary point that HMD is not one of Tweedy's great songs. My bad for throwing a small bone to the HMD fans and muddying the waters.

I'm surprised anyone would start doing surgery on SBS and "Hate It Here" would still make the cut. I thought that was Exhibit A for people who hated the album. But I'm in the opposing camp (SBS boosters), so who cares what I think? I'm curious about one thing -- I can understand someone believing that SBS's title track does not represent Jeff Tweedy's most adventurous work. But are there people who believe this is not a beautiful song? Not being a wise guy; literally curious. I love "Country Disappeared." But cannot stand black olives. What does this say about me?

Well, clearly my point was that HMD is the slightest song on YHF, the one least deserving of critical acclaim. But I do admit that when the band plays the song in concert I don't sit down and scowl. I guess I could be a more dedicated hater. Sorry.

My initial gut reaction to YHF was man, what a collection of great songs. One after another. Then I hit HMD...and...while it certainly wasn't a bad song...it WAS just a song. Nothing special, the same kind of thing everybody else writes. This is the only song on YHF that I wouldn't expect to find anywhere near a list like this one. Yeah, we all love it, gotta hear it at the show...but among Tweedy's best? Still, appreciate the suspense, man. Keep 'em comin...

I still appreciate this guy taking the time to do this. But he is totally on a different page than I am.... My link

It's interesting that anyone would believe the Summerteeth "overproduced" thing is a result of any propaganda, Kot's or otherwise. All you have to do is listen to it. I agree that the songs are phenomenal. And with enough repetition I no longer cringe at some of the arrangements in there. The things that I love about Wilco have now overwhelmed the other stuff. There's no doubt, though, that several of the songs would benefit greatly from sparser arrangements. I would argue that "Shot in the Arm" is one of these, along with others mentioned. Some of the devices here -- the ooh-ooh harmon

If the writer's point was the incredible melody for this song, I think you could make a case for including it. As I recall, though, the blurb for this one pretty much just raved above Guthrie's lyrics. It's a silly inclusion for a list of "Tweedy" songs.

At least you have to give this magazine's editors credit for originality. People are constantly writing "your" when they mean "you are." Much rarer is the elusive "you're" used as a possessive.

I thought it was great fun on Colbert, but never dreamed they'd let it anywhere near an album. Well, it is a better song than (the line) suggests, but (the line) definitely nudges it into novelty territory. Any new song should be a tough sell on this kind of list, and this song more than most. Bad choice. But, hey -- I love the guy for doing this. Anybody who devotes an entire month to a countdown of my favorite songs is ok by me. Even if his taste doesn't exactly gibe with mine.

That's the line, Tommy. That and "Deep in my heart"...great song.

Like most of us, it probably depends a lot what I was just listening to. But I know that if I get "Shot in the Arm" or "Far Far Away" in my head, that it's not going away for a long time.