smells like flowers

And it's piss and blood

(not pretty, but the staccato stab of someone's reality)

The pain in some of the earlier records, though, is expressed in such a sublime way that the songs affect you on a very deep level. But I have all the depth I need with this one (TWL)!

There's no way I can distill down to a top 10. But I'm interested in two things from people's lists. Hotel Arizona -- could someone who loves this song help me understand why it's in your top 10? It's never stood out to me as anything very special, but apparently it is to lots of you. What do you like about it?

Secondly, it's nice to see Country Disappeared on people's lists. That song gives me chills. It was my request for Solid Sound. I'd love to hear it live -- anyone had the pleasure?

That main guitar lick sounds like it would be at home on the Pixies' "Doolittle." And love Glenn's drumming on this song. I told myself I was taking a break from all things Wilco (for at least 24 hours!) but here I am -- rolling in it like always!

There have been some great songs from the post 2004 lineup as well, but the depth is not there for me on many of them.

Word. But I'm so glad they're not stingy with the pre-Ghost songs when playing live! I think they (Jeff, in particular) understand very clearly how important and resonant the earlier material is to long-time fans. And they do continue to feed the beast at shows... (our living in the past, of which I too am fairly guilty).

I just feel that their first albums went with the mood, their middle albums created a mood, and their latest albums you have to be in a mood to listen to...

Well said!

I've only listened to Being There a handful of times front to back. Maybe I should listen more, my opinion may change.

Funny, it took several years of only an occasional listen for BT to get under my skin. At first I dismissed it as over-indulgence on their part with the jammy songs and never-ending endings (disc 2). And then on a long drive, I listened to it and something clicked. Not knocking your affinity for SBS at all! I guess I just like talking about my feelings about Wilco. Thank god for this board, since my husband is so over my Wilco obsession!

 

Plus they were young.

By saying that, I meant I didn't mean that the songs were simple easy rockers because of the band's youth. I meant I love BT because the youthful energy it has... I guess what I'm really saying is you don't feel like that when you're older! You're so much more aware of yourself. And I'm almost as old as Jeff is too, so I'm not saying they're oldsters now or anything.

I respect everyone's love for the band, no matter which albums speak to them the loudest. I simply felt inspired to articulate the reasons I love BT. And those songs are so kick-ass played live!

Since this thread got a bit derailed re: Being There, I've always wondered about the significance of the Sunken Treasure lyric "got my name from rock and roll." I've searched VC and the internet without finding anything to illuminate it. Is Jeff talking about his own name, or the band's name -- anyone know? (I know that Wilco = will comply, so I'm assuming he's referring to something else.)

What I love so much about Being There is the energy.... the songs might not have that deep, multi-layered style of ST or YHF, but there is so much exuberance on BT. I Got You, Monday, Outtasite... the unrestrained, rock-out quality of these songs keeps me coming back for more. I think too, that what makes that balls-to-the-wall power-pop/southern rock-y sound so appealing is the contrast to the subsequent more introspective, troubled songs. It's fun to imagine Jeff writing a song where the only way the feeling could be expressed was a frenzied, ecstatic scream. If that's not "juice pumped into it," I don't know what is!

Plus they were young.

Edit: The above reflects only my deep and abiding love for disc 1. Don't even get me started on Sunken Treasure!

I love that in a few hours the stream is going to go away and we'll have to wait 3 more weeks until the next chance to dive in... kind of like that deliciousness of anticipating your long-distance lover's next visit.

One Sunday Morning is so pretty it makes my heart hurt.

Couldn't disagree more with those who found the second half of the record weak. Rising Red Lung, Whole Love, and One Sunday Morning were like a dream I didn't want to wake up from.

I'm so intrigued with the idea that your brain processes familiar things very differently than new things... while listening to TWL, my brain kept trying to fit each song into an existing category (oh, this part sounds like Nick Drake, the Beatles, Cheap Trick, the Pixies, even America..) but as I listened I knew that soon those shallow new handprints will push down deeper, creating their own space in my brain --without the comparisons -- and reveal their own whorl-y fingerprints and love-lines and life-lines...

As others have said here, thank you, Wilco! This record is a gem.

Then I'd expect shows in the Southeast in Feb or March.

Fingers crossed -- thanks!

For you people that know how this tour stuff normally works, is it safe to assume/hope that more US dates will be added in the spring?

FLORIDA PLEASE!!

North Florida... pretty please with a cherry on top!

"One Wing" in Publix today. Don't particularly care for the song, but it's still a thrill to hear Wilco in the grocery store. I had a Wilco t-shirt on, too, so it felt even more serendipitous. Can't WAIT for next month's shows and The Whole Love...it's like Christmas is coming, only better - I know I'm going to like my presents!

1. BT/ST

2. Ghost

3. YHF

4. AM

4. SBS

5. W(TA)

Impossible for me to break the tie between the first choices. As others have said here, depends on the mood, the moon, the year, the day, the minute. At shows, I love hearing songs off Being There, but for studio albums, I really think for me it's Summerteeth.

 

Also, Wilco played Radio Cure which for me was a magical moment but two dudes next to me decided that this was a great time to have a conversation with each other. I nearly lost it. I didn't drive all the way to Solid Sound and then stand in the pouring rain to have this beautiful moment ruined! The conversation can wait until after the show. What the hell is wrong with people?

Yeah, night 1 was rough. With the rain muffling the sound, I could hear the drunk guys around me (why always guys singing over the singer?) more clearly than I could hear Jeff. Thankfully, night 2 was all I could ever hope for in a Wilco show.

Sky Blue Sky is my favorite. It's all about how it makes you feel, and this one makes me feel happy and comforted.

From the first track, the music feels like a caress. It is a beautiful record, and while in the end I prefer my Wilco with greater intensity (BT, Ghost), just hearing the opening guitar on "Either Way" is a soothing balm.

Ewww... I just used the words 'caress' and 'balm.' Sounds like I'm writing copy for bath gel!

Answer this: I Thought I Held You? Or Leave Me Like You Found Me?

I Thought I Held You.

(Hit EASY button here)

I love my John Stirratt.

I love the way Jeff says/sings the word "almost" in that clip. It's perfect.

I love it too! The contrast of the guitar implosion with Jeff singing "Almost" so prettily...

 

it is interesting that in this thread the few people making these statements have few post counts which could be misconstrued into other generalizations (and has been on this board). {In fact, I only bring it up here to make my point.}

 

The point that I was trying to make was a lot of people tend to want "the doors shut" once they've gotten into the room, even if that room has been open for about 16 years and they got in after that.

My low post count could be construed as being a recent Wilco convert; in fact, I've only had Internet at home for a couple years but have been a fan for 12 years. I'm not interested in "closing doors" to new fans... I frequently try to make new Wilco fans of my friends and have had relatively bad luck. That whole thing about the masses vs. the few in the know is a bad generalization anyway. Indisputably, Wilco has enjoyed great success and is not at all obscure or under the radar. But the experience of being a member of a community of like-minded souls who all thrill to the sounds of this band... it's pretty cool. An explosion of popularity would certainly change that and make it feel less personal. For me, that's part of the draw, the intimacy of a show in an old theatre or under the stars at Mass MOCA. Yeah, I know, it's not about me, but I don't want any of that to change!

but if this album turns out to bring them to the general populace that would be great, they have earned the respect of the masses, not just the few in the know.

Aren't we (fans) masses enough? I sort of hate the idea of a Wilco juggernaut after all these years... I don't want "the masses" to come to Solid Sound! Small is beautiful.