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Made this argument on another site a while back...

I think there are similarities perhaps in what they brought/bring to the table: multi-instrumentalist, songwriting with serious studio/production chops.

Personality wise - they seem different to me, as far as I can tell. Meet Bennett at a sound check in 2002 or 2003 for a Bennett and Burch show and talked to him for about 20 minutes. Sharp dude and he knew it and... he also let you know that he knew it (i.e., big ego IMO). Pat from interviews seems more... reserved and humble and... willing to fit into the confines of an established band.

Also the dynamic of the band is/was different then and now. Bennett admitted made a power play while Tweedy was down and lost. It appears that Tweedy is heathy now and is clearly the band leader.

Pretty funny concept! Where can I find a "Dad Rock" T-shirt?

Not that I think Wilco's a jam band, but having lyrics isn't what makes a band a not a jam band.

Agreed. That was a... joke.

No. Their songs have lyrics. Also they're too...pop oriented for me to call them a "jam band" per se. Do a handful of songs drift into that genre? OK. I might buy that argument.

These guys did it right...thirty-one years is/was a good ride and is pretty damned impressive!

How do you approach songwriting? A melody, lyrics, chord progression...what usually comes first?

Just before SBS came out, I recall some JT concert banter about making "a dirty little soul record" or something. There are some soul elements in most of the songs. Hear the soul in vocals more than I do the music... and perhaps there may lie a disconnect. Dunno.

Read a slew of threads here over the years and I don't recall reading/seeing much said about the soulfulness... blue-eyed soul or country soul on SBS. Ballsy move IMO given the band's....demograhics.

Wished the Thanks I Get/We Can Make It Better and that song from the Heros...Glad It's Over would have made SBS.

Ranking band members is right up there with which soups you or I might like best.

Been listening to the 2 new songs... "Dawned on Me" is the most infectous (catchy) Wilco song I can recall in some time.

Streaming on NPR site...best REM record i've heard in years.

It's been well documented that Tweedy doesn't appreciate talking during shows, which is very understandable. No real news there. They've been doing quite a few acoustic numbers or versions in recent shows. When folks chat during an acoustic set, it really takes away from the performance. Which makes thing worse and may explain more "crankiness" that some have suggested. I haven't seen a live Wilco show in... about a year, so all I can comment on is from what gets reported here.

Judging from the rise in acoustic numbers in recent sets, I would guess that the next record will be more of an acoustic affair. Time will tell.

Producing a soul/gospel singer is interesting. Most people don't associate him with that/those genre of music. Then again, Sky Blue Sky had a lot of tunes that IMO had a strong soul vibe to them. Something that a lot of people missed or didn't get.

Read somewhere that Conan is really tall. 6"4" I think.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPosted May 26, 2009 @ 10:06 AMLast update May 26, 2009 @ 12:55 PMURBANA

QUOTE (mpolak21 @ May 12 2009, 11:13 PM) Mine is transfering in, when I get it, I'll hook you up.

--Mike

Any help would be much appreciated.

QUOTE (sky blue bats @ May 7 2009, 01:33 PM) So they sent out promos with no artwork? Not unheard of I guess but the release is next month, i think it is weird there is no artwork.

 

It is strange that were a little over a month away with no artwork, but its not unheard of for bands to send promos without artwork or with alternate artwork. I used to work at a radiostation, and I have several promos that not only have different or no artwork, they also have different tracklistings. My prize is a promo of OK Computer which came in a paper sleeve with alternate art work, as well as a CD with alternate disc art. (same tracklisting though)

Perhaps the cover will be blank like Spinal Tap. Wilco's always had excellent but... tastfully minimalistic covers.

Does anyone else think they are trying to keep this under wraps? A very strange move for Wilco!!!

 

i do agree with this. maybe they are trying to go the total opposite route with this one than they did with sbs. i like the idea of the record having an "impact" as someone put it, b/c for me, sbs did not...i had my hands on the album a couple of months before it came out.

 

after having seen them in knoxville saturday and asheville last night, i am surprised that no new material was played. i think the only new song i have heard is "wilco the song." don't know if anyone has heard the rest. i am trying to go the opposite route that i did with sbs...so that the record will have an impact.

 

but damn that's difficult!

Good questions. Maybe they are keeping the new stuff under wraps.

Assuming there will be some promotion for the new record, I also find it a bit unusual that their shooting for a late-June (2 months away) release date when the record is still "untitled." The 1 or 2 articles that I've read that mention the new record it appears that the "theme" of this one isn't as defined or solidified perhaps as other records.

The question seems a bit ridiculous to me, and the fact that this thread is... several pages long is baffling.

I'm always pumped for a new Wilco record. I'm curious to hear what they'll produce, especially when they appear to be back using the studio as another instrument per se.

I've said a zillion times but these guys are one of the only bands I know today that make albums in an mp3 age. Everything else aside, why would anyone want an artist or group that does that in today's music climate to cash in their chips?

Down loaded the Pronto record about a week ago from itunes and I can't stop listening to it. One of the better records I've heard in a while IMO.

To me Mikael vocals sound a little like Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails but without the tortured angst vibe.

Of all the Wilco side projects, this one might be my favorite.

Cool! Sounds like there will finally be a duet on a Wilco record.

Forget the Flowers was written as a duet but only performed live as one. Always thought At Least That's What You Said had a duet quality about it.

Hall n Oates

I think that Tweedy's and Bennett's background (pre-Wilco) might shead a little light on things.

From what I have read, Uncle Tupleo albums (perhaps AM too) were recorded with little to no overdubs. When Bennett joined the band just after AM had been recorded, he brought a slew of that studio wizardy and piano/keys to Wilco. Seeing an opportunity, Tweedy I'm guessing utilized those new attributes to push the band into new directions and develop new sounds. That vision and skill in my mind made Being There, almost pushed Summerteeth too far, and the YHF demos IMO sounded like Summerteeth II (very dense before Jim O'Rourke stripped some of the extras away). After Bennett left the band, I think Tweedy made a conscience effort to make AGIB and SBS in more striped down, live environment.

I loved the Bennett and Burch record but honestly stopped listening to Bennett after Bigger than Blue. Listen to Bennett's version Reasons for You to Love Me (Cars Can't Escape) and you'll understand why. In short, Bennett needs an editor - loves the studio too much. He can play anything and will add a zillion instruments to a single song.

In a lot of ways, I think Tweedy and Bennett tempered each other. Perhaps a return to using the studio as an instrument will quiet all the "bring Bennett back" comments.

Sure Bennett was an important part of the band's history. He was a right hand in songwriting on the Mermaid records, Summerteeth, and YHF and brought piano/keys to the band on Being There. His knowledge in the studio is well documented although at times he appeared to need an editor. Arguments could be made that when he was in the band that they were... more raw. Was that because Bennett was in the picture then or just because the band was younger at that point in time?

Today as a unit... they appear to be healthier now. From what we "know", some of them have settled down (i.e., married w/ children) and the days of drugs and alcohol seem to be behind them. The current sound is more refined and tighter now than ever before. Is that because former members have left the band or because most everyone eventually gets older or matures?

At the end of the day - I'm getting tired of seeing Jay Bennett threads. Didn't he leave the band in 2001? The fact remains that those days are gone, so please just let it go.

Oh yea... I know where the loft is.

It's two blocks west of stalker street and three blocks north of restraining order avenue.