Livin' in New Orleans

It's the worst Wilco record so far. There are a handful of really bright moments that drown in a sea of mediocrity. I didn't want them to make another YHF, I just wanted them to keep being progressive. Yeah, they made the album that makes them happy, good for them, I'm sure the Jonas Brothers made albums that made them happy too. Doesn't mean I have to give a shit about it. The nice thing is that I still have a lot of trust in Tweedy and company and I'll keep seeing them live. Hopefully the next album doesn't sound like any sort of Wilco we know, but still kicks ass. That's what they've been best at doing, and it's when they shine the brightest.

Well, I think we may have to accept that Wilco may not want to do what we think to be "the best at what they do," and "when they shine brightest." It always comes down to them..but yeah, it would definitely be cool to see them do something different. I do enjoy this album though. I like to think in terms of that three songs that for me stand among the best Wilco songs (Deeper Down, One Wing, Bull Black Nova) will be added to the live repertoire

Played it in Berkeley this year.

 

That being said the studio cut seems like Jeff's really trying hard to croon. I don't know. This whole album seems stressed, as if a facsimile of wilco albums past have droned into a strokes style tiny progression of same chords. To me it's spiders with edgier (trying too hard to be edgy!) lyrics.

I believe you are mistaken... Dark Neon was definitely not played there, and I don't believe it has been played live at all (just checked Wilco base)

Any chance that they would ever play this live? I hope so..

So this is what you just implied...

 

If AGIB/SBS does not sound like element A, people will not like AGIB/SBS.

AGIB/SBS sounds like element B.

---

Since AGIB/SBS sounds like element B, they do not like AGIB/SBS.

 

By the way, I can say a majority of the songs are bad, but I can't use any examples because you're being vague. And yes, lack of change following a consistent change in directions is considered change.

 

I definitely hear a change in the way the vocals are done on Wilco (The Album). There's a more confidant groove in the entire album. There's nothing wrong with mixing a bunch of elements to form a new element, and it works a lot of the times because nothing is entirely new.

No. Sheesh. I will use the same lettering system as your condescending post.

a. I was saying that the albums before were each different from the one before. SBS was very different from AGIB for example. As the poster that I responded to said, people want to "hear the Wilco they want it to be," and since those two albums were initially met with some hostility, as was this newest one, this seems to be the trend here.

b. I was then stating that both of these albums were treated with some initial hostility, and the fact that in MY OPINION and FOR ME, the majority of the songs are enjoyable. Therefore, I don't have to be specific, as I was not making a statement about others.

c. Yes, you can say the songs are bad because that is your opinion. I should have said "I" instead of "you." I know you can say the songs are bad, but we are Wilco fans here, and I think the general opinion is that with each album, Jeff Tweedy can create songs that we enjoy even just a little bit. Sorry for being vague... I hope that my foolish, silly, incapable of sharing his personal beliefs-self can better follow your guidelines for intelligent posting next time.

d. Piss Off.

I don't put much stock into what the 'intelligentsia' thinks about records until at least three years after the release.

 

I decided remember some self proclaimed super fans complaining that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was 'more of Jeff Tweedy's stupid noise experiments'. (not here of course. This place was not around.) I also seem to remember A Ghost is Born being greeted by some here with decided indifference if not outright hostility. We don't have to go very far on this very page to find the negative vibes about Sky Blue Sky. We all love the band we THINK and HOPE Wilco is.

 

This is a very good point... I think people have certain expectations for what they imagine and want the band to be, and when the record doesn't match this, it is frustrating to them. The fact that AGIB and SBS were treated with hostility initially seems to bode well for this album in the future, because the songs here aren't bad by any means. I mean, you can't say that most of the songs here are bad songs.. the majority are highly enjoyable all the time to me, and those that aren't still have something for me.

That said, it is true that this album was not a step in a different direction in the sense that the others were. However, I feel that it is a "step" of its own in that it shows comfortability in creating music that dabbles in the various directions that the band has undertaken.... That is what I like about the statement of the album in my opinion: comfortability in not taking a step in a new direction. Rather, turning over a stone in the same place, so to speak. does this make sense?

I LOVED the album initially... I could not stop listening to it. However, this was after a period of waiting obsessively for the album to come out, checking updates, etc. When it leaked, I was ready to like almost anything, and the fact that I enjoyed it more than Sky Blue Sky was another plus. However, this was the first Wilco release that I have awaited with such anticipation, but I can say with confidence that even if I did await SBS with such anticipation, I would like W(TA) more than it upon first listen. Regardless, I was itching for new Wilco, and that's what we got when it leaked. I then cut myself off until release date, and when it did come out I listened to it nonstop for a week or so, then gradually less.

As of now, I don't find myself listening to it as much as other Wilco material, but this could be because I simply wore it out for a while, and I am listening to other things for the time being. This is how I often am with music, although there are some records that simply don't wear out. W(TA) may not be one of those records, but I still think it is a great album. Or maybe it didn't wear out, and I just don't find myself listening to it as much as other Wilco releases. OR maybe, it is because I am in my first year of college with lessened listening time and find myself listening to music that I am very familiar with given the busy and sporadic schedule (walking to class, etc.) rather than acquainting myself with a new album.

Regardless, of the reason, I believe that it is too early to make such judgements, as the album came out 2 months ago.

I don't put much stock into what the 'intelligentsia' thinks about records until at least three years after the release.

 

I decided remember some self proclaimed super fans complaining that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was 'more of Jeff Tweedy's stupid noise experiments'. (not here of course. This place was not around.) I also seem to remember A Ghost is Born being greeted by some here with decided indifference if not outright hostility. We don't have to go very far on this very page to find the negative vibes about Sky Blue Sky. We all love the band we THINK and HOPE Wilco is.

 

I'm just along for the journey that this band is taking. We have to come to grips with several things. Even before he tragically passed, Jay Bennett was never going to be asked to come back. Wilco is Jeff's band...his vision, his songs. In firmly acknowledged hindsight, I think that the noise tht covered up the songs in YHF (that Jim O'Rourke significantly lessened) might have been some of the bone of contention between the two. Jeff has moved away from the deconstructed songs in a decided manner over the last three records with one NOTABLE exception (the drone man...the drone).

 

I still bristle at the poster who, in a thread rightly forgoteen, jokingly (I HOPE) wished Jeff would start getting high again so he would write more 'interesting' music. That poster is/was an ass with internet cojones. Now, I don't presume to suppose that this disgusting opinion is widely shared here, but the sense that some want something much different from the band has been stated firmly in this thread. I'm not a fanboy by any stretch of the imagination. I approach the music in the following fashion: I like the musical journey that this band has taken. I like and enjoy the music that is being presented. The day I don't like the music, I won't come on here and piss and moan about the good old days of Being There, Summerteeth etc.; I will simply no longer follow the band. I am almost there with some of the bands I follow (I won't get into discussions about the missteps that Springsteen has taken lately), but I still enjoy what Wilco is producing.

 

Let's have a little perspective here.

I really do agree with this.. it needs time to sink in.. And I can't really say that any songs here are bad songs at all. I mean, we have a batch of well-made songs here, they are what they are in my opinion.

It's technically sound but it's missing soul. Some of the lyrics are AWFUL.

 

The songs are much better live, especially BBN.

Really? I agree with the other songs, but I love the studio version of BBN

I'd like to hear the songs grow with some more live performances. I initially loved it. Still think it is a very good album.

I definitely agree with this.. I love the album, but I do think it will grow and mature with a year or two of touring.

should I get mono or stereo? Which would be better? I know this has probably been discussed, but I couldn't find anything

Either:

 

1) a prolonged break (which might actually mean the end of the band as we know it)

2) solo projects (Jeff acoustic, Jeff book of poetry, Autumn Defense, The Singers, Pronto)

3) collaborations (Minus 5, Loose Fur, something new a la 7 World Collide)

 

Wilco is at a crossroads...

A prolonged break could be possible, but this band will be around for a while... Jeff loves doing what he does..they all do

I listen to the Ashes of American Flags Audio tracks more than any other recording. It has taken the place of Kicking TV. It's far superior as Nels is full unleashed and the solos are far superior in my opinion. I love the track listing and the more up to date track listing and the mix is ACES. I have been telling people all year these audio tracks are better than any other Wilco release or recording IMO. Outside of the audio tracks from Ashes I listen to Winter Residency Night 1. I don't know if it was because I was there but that night had my favorite set list and the best energy of all the Residency nights. What's the consensus on what the best show was of the Residency from people who attended all 5 nights?

 

Finally I listen to the new album. So those are my top three in order.

 

1. Ashes Audio trakcs

2. Winter Residency Night 1

3. Wilco (the album)

 

Keep in mind I used to listen to Kickin' until the Ashes audio came out and now I don't even bother.

Hmmm... Well I wouldn't say the mix is far superior... I agree with some tracks, some sound better than their Kicking Television counterparts, and some songs on Ashes that aren't on KT just sound a little better as far as mixing.

However, try comparing ALTWYS from the two recordings next to eachother... The KT version's mixing of the guitar part sounds clearer, louder, and more sharp. It is much more piercing and raw, and from a non-sound related observation, the performance of the song is also more raw, matching the rawness and piercing nature of the mixing. Some are better on Ashes for sure as far as mixing and performance (Ashes, Wishful Thinking, IATTBYH) Some are just better for their performance, some better for just their mixing. In other words, I don't think that KT or Ashes is totally better than the other

Dick. However, if you guys say he has some good records, I believe that.

I saw the story below on Billboard.com the other day.

 

I sure hope so..people are saying it was a hacking group, but this is very characteristic behavior of Radiohead

Jesus, Etc. is heard playing through Seth Rogen's car... that is the only Wilco song heard in the film

This is really cool, thanks for posting.

If you haven't heard, a new track leaked on their fan site, with some clues and stuff, and recently, the site for this supposed ep directs you to the radiohead digital download site...

what are your thoughts?

I recently attended the show in OKC, and I saw that Jeff does the soloing throughout the song, and Nels did the metronomic part...however, who is doing the soloing on the Kicking Television version?

Wow... I forgot how incendiary Shot In The Arm is on Kicking Television...damn

that's awesome

So I've been listening to both KT and Ashes the last few days, and I really think KT is a stronger effort. There are some subtle and not-so-subtle changes in the arrangements of some tunes. And then I remembered that Nels' first solo on "Handshake Drugs" from Ashes is the exact same solo I heard him play at the Red Rocks show back in July. I felt that to be a bit "going through the motions," but nonetheless my face melted.

 

Speaking of the bonus KT tracks, anyone know how to get a hold of these if you didn't get them when it first came out? I bought the CD at a record store not knowing that extras were available. Would love to hear "How to Fight Loneliness," "Monday," and "Theologians" from that run...

Definitely more raw and spontaneous... ALTWYS is the shining example of this... it even beats the Ashes version. Plus the guitar sounds clearer... Also, Kicking Television and Ashes have different sound, can't tell which is better

Anyone else really like the IATTBYH on the Ashes DVD?? i think that shit smokes

Yeah I love that version...better than the KT one I believe.. but as for AGIB, I slightly prefer KT... u gotta agree, the ALTWYS takes the cake lol

The audience at shows never really bugs me... or maybe I just don't let it.. I can't control what others do, so I just enjoy the show and enjoy the fact that I don't look like a douche to others and the band I enjoy so much.

The more I think about it, KT, to me, has more edge to it than Ashes. The SBS material sounds great on Ashes, but I prefer the KT versions of most everything else.

I know... ALTWYS is just more searing... like burning magnesium as some people describe it

I gotta say... I love Kicking Television