jbray

Wait, what?  The Porsche refers to the current lineup, which has been appearing on Wilco studio records since Sky Blue Sky.

I was going by Chez's use of the word recently, meaning the last few albums. By the standards of this lineup to mean "recently", Wilco hasn't made anything consistently Autobahn besides Star Wars. All I am saying is that Wilco has been pretty heavy on the quiet songs with noise sections, with a couple of experimental tracks, and almost no barn-burners since AM or Being There. Summerteeth was the last record to have about half fast songs and even then it's like 6/15. 7 if you count "Summer Teeth". I want to push back against this notion that Wilco, not including Jeff Tweedy solo, has been dry with rockers since AGIB. AGIB has 3 Autobahn songs on it tops.

Yep.  Jeff's got a Porsche of a band and has only been driving on suburban side streets recently. C'mon, Jeff.  Take it out onto the Autobahn and let it rip.

The Porsche has only been on Star Wars and Schmilco and one of those was decidedly Autobahn. 

When do people think the next song will drop? Schmilco  was a mid-September release and we had two songs by now (July 14th for "Locator" and July 18th for "If I Ever Was a Child") with a third on August 29th ("Someone to Lose"). Given the October 4th date, I assume we'll get one each month if they're doing a three song preview. The Whole Love is our other comparison with "I Might" dropping at Solid Sound 2011 and "Born Alone" dropping on September 7th before the 27th release date. 

What song will be next is another speculative question for the people to consider. 

I was surprised that "An Empty Corner", "White Wooden Cross", nor "Before Us" was the lead. I'm thinking "Before Us" is one of the three but is not the next one and I don't believe that "An Empty Corner" will surface until the record. Second single I'm slating for Mid-August and I have a feeling it'll be a different song entirely.

Saxophone by Paul Von Mertens. 

Are we going to ignore this? 

I like the song, but I hope there's more stylistic variance to this record -- a la The Whole Love -- than there has been on the last couple of Wilco records and Warm/Warmer. 

 

I like the "big folk" thing, but I want the occasional curveball and revved up I'm a Wheel-esque rocker thrown at me. 

I'm hoping for some real curveballs on this one.  The band was totally underutilized on Schmilco, and I hope that isn't the case with this one.

 

I've read a number of interviews with the band members in which they talk about the various and wide ranging side projects, and how Jeff encourages it because it makes a richer tapestry when the group gets together.  The implication being that elements of each side project will work their way into what Wilco does, and as a result, Wilco's sonic universe will expand. But I haven't seen much evidence of that.  On the contrary, it sometimes feels like the side projects are a way for the members to get that stuff out of their systems so they can reconvene and back up Jeff on new batches of mostly standard folk/country/pop/rock tunes.  With the exception of the occasional Art of Almost or maybe Impossible Germany or Bull Black Nova, Wilco's sonic universe has contracted with the arrival of the new lineup.  The current lineup is probably the best ever/only one capable of performing the more experimental music in the back catalog, but the records this lineup has made only tap into that kind of experimentalism once (or zero times, in some cases) per album. 

A few things here: Has everybody forgotten what Star Wars sounds like? What part of "Pickled Ginger" doesn't sound like "I'm a Wheel"? It seems like everybody talks about Sukierae, Schmilco, Warm, and Warmer as if tonally that's all that happened. Go back and listen to "Cold Slope/King of You". Show me where else in the catalog "Magnetized" exists. All of those sad, folk waltzes like "More...", "Where Do I Begin", "You Satellite", and "The Joke Explained". End Rant.

Next, I think I sit on the fence about the diversity inside of each record. I liked the laser focus of Star Wars (clearly) and Schmilco. Both records felt purposeful even when I didn't like the choices. This point is why I am excited for Ode to Joy. They clearly had a vision and I'm interested to hear it. It also feels worth mentioning that each of the older records have other consistencies. A Ghost is Born is a heavy piano record and features the hammer dulcimer (find that on another Wilco record). Sky Blue Sky has direct lyricism, the mid song tension and relief, and the six member live feel. Summerteeth is dark, brooding candy-pop. Etc etc etc. Each album was a world, even if the songwriting tended to be more varied; it's part of the band's appeal. 

As for the experimental song structure or elements, this one is complicated. I, personally, believe that Nels Cline is hit or miss experimentally. His "noize" can feel like "noize for the sake of noize". For every "Art of Almost" is an equal "Common Sense". I watched Pillow Wand for roughly 10 minutes before I accepted that it was musical wanking. It becomes most apparent when you hear Nels' renditions of older songs. "Muzzle of Bees" is my favorite Wilco song, but I prefer the record because Nels ignores the droning aspect of the guitar swell to color it with way more notes than it needs. It ruins the build which is literally the whole point of that section. I also attribute my favorite experimental/more complex ideas post-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot to Mikael Jorgenson and Leroy Bach. A quick listen to either of Ryley Walker's Leroy produced albums reveals a missing piece of the current Wilco puzzle.

But I also think they may be less than capable, which hurts to say. Take "You Satellite". That song could have gone somewhere. A great song to compare that to is "Weird Fishes" by Radiohead. They are both these multilayered songs that build and coalesce but only one of them chooses to do something with that. If every song is A B A B C A B, then it gets old. The first half Sky Blue Sky proves that they can craft songs that go somewhere, it may be that Jeff simply needs to put down that acoustic guitar.

My last piece on the outside projects, specifically The Autumn Defense. It's well-produced, boring music. There's plenty of actual 70s AM music that is inspiring. John Stirratt did not not become an alt writer for Wilco for no reason. Pat Sansone is a better country guitarist than Nels and I always hope he'll get the solos on Being There or A.M. tracks. Actual End Rant.

"Before Us" is a perfect example of this.

For those that haven't gotten a chance to hear it, I will echo this sentiment. The piece that stood out to me in "Before Us" was the ominous, booming bass drum. I wasn't sold on the pastoral sound of the live tracks until I heard "Before Us" and it sold me on the tone of the album; this coming from a listener who wishes Jeff would put down the acoustic guitar. 

New track is very tasteful, which is not how I've felt about Nels Cline since SBS I'm sorry to say. I'm really excited for Ode to Joy

"Shake it Off" - I want to hear that vamp live because it would kill. Also, I've been shouting it since 2010 and all I get is push back from Jeff. No, Glenn did not put me up to this. 

Outside of that, I am requesting "ELT" because that's another song I've been chasing. I always hoped that "Cold Slope/King of You" would be part of the Star Wars rotation but we got "The Joke Explained" instead which, personally, is probably the last song I would have picked from the album. It's been a while since "One Wing" graced the SS stage and that's top Wilco for me so I would be happy to hear it. 

 

I watch this a few times a year.

 

I completely agree. The six-piece does a great job capturing all the layers of that recording which has Jeff on a 12-string baritone acoustic, Jim O’Rourke on acoustic, Leroy plays bass on it. Jim, John and Mike all put down piano parts and the electric parts are Jeff in pure “SG/prunes/custard/and migraines” mode.

I knew before I clicked it that this was the "Burn to Shine" performance, it's pretty amazing. "Muzzle of Bees" is the best Wilco. 

Great show overall and I will agree that they were rocking. Guess we lost Monday and Outtasite to the lengthy IG solo which was an impressive solo. This one was heavy on the technical side over tasteful, which is usually not my preference, but I was taken in none the less. 

Also: "You can't see it on the radio, can't see it any where you go." 

Jeff on singing the Spiders riff: "Don't let Philly beat you!"

"Here's some more mid-tempo rock" *Goes into "Jesus, Etc."

And was I correct in hearing: "He lifted up his shirt at the battle of the bands"?

I will admit I was hoping to hear a couple of alternates to the Solid Sound tunes ("Late Greats"!) but was appreciative of being able to hear the tunes that will probably be lost from the roster on the next cycle (ALTWYS, Someday Soon, Reservations, and my fave You Are My Face) and to get a second listen to the way some of the live alterations make the songs burn white hot (Locator, ALTWYS, BBN ((best version)), I'm Always in Love, RNG). What a great time!

Let me rephrase my statement: voting for Schmilco would be voting for one of the weaker Wilco albums...and an album that they've already been touring on. Voting for Being There gets you a full set's worth of classic Wilco, including many songs rarely performed by this lineup, some of the best pure rock 'n roll songs, power pop, the old alt-country, psychedelia and all sorts of amazing songs and styles in-between.

I hear you and Being There is my second pick, but I'm voting for Sky Blue Sky because thats the record that deserves the most due, it was written by this version of the band and they hardly play from it anymore, it's my third favorite after Yankee and Ghost (which they play from always), plus I don't think Nels really understands the style of playing that makes Being There great and will only vote for it if they let Pat play lead the whole time. 

You Are My Beard

I laughed hard for this one, would have also liked "You Are My 49th Beard"

Taste the Red Lung

Let's Not Get Bees

Can't Stand You (At the End of the Century)

At Least That's What You Think

I was thinking about the Friday night Wilco show the the other day and here's what I think they'll do. They have enough music from Alpha Mike Foxtrot and other B sides that they could do an entire show. I'd really like to see that because I've seen them several times since it's come out hoping to get anything off that played live and haven't heard a thing. I'd love to hear The TB is Whipping Me live.

At the last Solid Sound they played a bunch of the B-Sides and Jeff stopped and said something akin to, "That's enough Japanese B-sides for one show, we've played like 5." So with that in mind, I would not put my money on it. 

yeah if anyone was complaining about the covers set, they were in the distinct minority. that set ruled.

 

my head almost exploded in the photo pit when they played "Cut Your Hair." 

I think the problem is that if you only got to see the Friday night show, there was only one Wilco song. It was a fun set, but to be quite honest, some of us younger fans will never have the same breadth of music history to fully appreciate the set because we can only hear and love so much music. I enjoyed the set, especially the double "And Your Bird Can Sing", but the touring shows are not getting longer and the amount of songs by the band is not getting shorter. I would much rather see a full album set than another covers show. I would also be open to a hybrid of sorts or the band covering a distinct album so fans could listen to it before seeing Wilco play it live. They're an inventive band, and I look forward to seeing what they can come up with, but my favorite Solid Sound was 2011 when it poured and we got two distinct set lists that featured songs like "Hotel Arizona", "On & On & On", and "Hell is Chrome", all songs that are some of my favorite songs of all time and all songs that they don't really play in our area as much.

I know, right? The title song knocks me off my feet every time.

 

But I don't know how you guys can rank the albums...to me it'd be like ranking animals, they're all a bit too different to compare:

I mean it's different for everybody, for me it's about ranking the emotional impact or connection I have to the records. I don't rank them for quality. I'm sure there are people who rank them similarly or even to show their distaste but everybody is entitled to their opinions and reasons, I guess. I'd also say that's why you see a lot of people posting about tiers of their preferences instead of hard lists. If I let you know that I listened to A.M. five or six times in the month of September so far alone, what does that say about how little the list really means, you know?

Here is my incomplete list (Schmilco is too new for me):

AGIB

YHF

SBS

SW  \

ST    |

           - Sch. (Somewhere in this grouping) 

BT    |  

tWL  /

AM

WtA

Maybe slightly off topic, but I just listened to Sky Blue Sky for the first time in a very long time, and I'm floored. It's beautiful. I must rank it much higher than I previously did.

One day, I believe this record will get the due it deserves. It's a beautiful record with an awful lot of lyrical depth and emotional nuance. I'd say it's the most unique record in the catalog at this point.

I use Spotify to run all of my music at work as well as to and from. I have a cd/aux based stereo system at home or use my computer with headphones for close listens.

Washed Out

Belong

Feel it All Around

You'll See it

All I Know

Don't Give Up

^Good call here with Washed Out:

Paracosm

Far Away

You and I (The Adult Swim version)

Feel It All Around

Great Escape

The album is downloadable in the Kung Fu store at present (I'm 11:04 EDT).

"On and On and On" is literally the reason I got into Wilco in the first place. The moment when the organ line comes in over the inverted pyramid of guitar is one of the most sublime moments in the Wilco discography. I always get frustrated that the album on spotify ends with "Let's Not Get Carried Away" (even if I love that song) because it steals away the best closer the band ever made. 

So... Wilco Schmilco listening party at Amoeba vs lineup early for the first night of the Fillmore shows... thoughts?

I would line up if it was GA, but then I'm a bit overzealous.

Not overzealous, just a fan with priorities in sight. Let's be real, they're both listening parties. But one you can listen to in your home for the rest of your life and the other happens the one time coming live from the artists responsible. Maybe that's just me though...

My local mom and pop store already has Schmilco vinyl for sale.

I guess they missed the memo, that is a solid week. Does anybody else feel like the downloads will go out on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning?

I've never loved Nels more than after reading this: "Jeff stopped asking me for setlist ideas like 10 years ago because I would say, like, 'Let’s open with ‘Radio Cure’.”

I would go to every show that started with "Radio Cure". I love that song! This article made me super excited for the Schmilco tour, even more than the first article did. If they bring back the request tool I've been thinking about songs that haven't seen the light in forever that would shine in this setup. I would love to see songs like "Please be Patient With Me", "Country Disappeared", or "Remember the Mountain Bed" integrated amongst many others.

They announced on the Facebook page that they had enough orders of the turntable. Final date to order one is August 26th.

1). Wilco - June 24, 2011 @ Mass MOCA, Solid Sound Night 1

It POURED that night but I have never heard a set of Wilco songs than included the majority of my favorites like Hotel Arizona, Muzzle, Radio Cure, and One Wing.

2). Wilco - April 6, 2010 @ Orpheum, Boston

This show set a hard standard for how many songs and deep cuts I can expect to see at any show that it has almost ruined shows for me, what a wonderful night.

3). St. Vincent - February 27, 2014 @ House of Blues, Boston

4). honeyhoney - June 17, 2015 @ The Sinclair, Cambridge

5). Andrew Bird - May 6th, 2012 @ House of Blues. Boston

I pre-ordered the record the minute it was announced, and will try to find a copy the minute it leaks. Sorry, I have no control for stuff like this.

^Same. With a vinyl, a cd, and a t-shirt on the way, my conscience is clear. 

http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/08/the-25-best-rock-acts-with-unique-setlists/5/

Nice to see the guys get recognized for their ability to change things up. To be honest, by the time I got to them I was frustrated that they were possibly not considered. 

For a long-form lyric there is one true winner to me and that is:

The shows leading up to the Chicago show were promoted as Star Wars tour so we shouldn't be surprised if they continue to play a generous portion of those songs during those shows.

 

Critics have the album. Steven Hyden has tweeted about it "really good" "a cross of Star Wars and the acoustic songs on The Whole Love" "spare & gutted, feels like a solo-is LP"

Black Moon and Rising Red Lung are my favorites on The Whole Love, if this is to be believed, I am not yet worthy of this record.