linclink

https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/nels-clines-musical-life-in-five-riffs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYGDAvk3nmc

Nels Cline’s Musical Life in Five Riffs Jim Beaugez

Nels Cline follows two distinct tracks in his guitar playing, alternating the avant-jazz arc he explores solo along with the psychedelic-punk-freakout textures he brings to Wilco. Here are the five riffs that changed his life, and inspired his own fearless fretting.

“Turn! Turn! Turn!” - Byrds

“I had to listen carefully to see what was going on here,” says Cline. “I learned later in life that I have this great love—as does much of western culture—with the major ninth. I think that sound, which has to do with the idiomatic aspects of open strings on a guitar, is what created the term ‘jingle jangle’—not just the timbre of a 12-string, but the sound of ringing, open strings. That sound is irresistible.”

“Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” - Yardbirds

“This is one of the most marvelous and exciting and colorful recorded performances of a song. If you think about audio engineering at that time—which was a 4-track deck, I’m sure—I don’t even know how they did it. There are so many crazy things going on with the guitar. It’s sort of like satellite Sputnik psychedelia. It still gives me a rush.”

“Manic Depression” - Jimi Hendrix Experience

“This is the song that convinced me I was going to play guitar. When you hear the intro riff, and all the other stuff he does in the solo, he goes completely mad. I was sold. There was no way I was not going to do music for life after that. It was like being jolted with electricity—like flying—and it still feels like that every time I hear it.”

“Marquee Moon” - Television

“‘Marquee Moon’ is a veritable feast of memorable and influential guitar riffs. Tom Verlaine’s long guitar solo ends in one of the most memorable examples of a mixolydian scale in its most rudimentary form, and it sounds like absolute poetry. Then, there’s this beautiful, John Cipollina-influenced thing he plays with his finger, but I do it with the bar. That’s where I get my penchant for the ‘wiggle’—which I use all over songs like Wilco’s ‘Impossible Germany.’”

“West Germany” - Minutemen

“The Minutemen had an incredibly diverse, poetic vision. I played on a double bill at McCabe’s Guitar Shop with them in the ’80s with Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra. I found D. Boon’s note choices and phrasing to be almost spooky. His presence, charisma, power, and commitment was galvanizing.”

Is it too soon for them to do another covers show on Friday? That was the most awesome show ever.

I was an especially big fan and am poised to follow-up my, double your pleasure & double your fun, vote of "And Your Bird Can Sing" with a perfect show closer- "It's All Too Much" this next time around...

...and I wonder what the new songs will be for certain other bands/artists likely to appear in the set list again (Big Star, Television, Neil Young, Kinks, Stones, Dylan, etc.)... and what newbies might grace the list...

Hope the covers show is the first thing they ever repeat!!

Jeff opened one of YLT's Hanukkah shows at Maxwell's (12/03/2010). Pretty sure YLT opened for Wilco the year before for their Coney Island show, but my memory isn't very good (and I wasn't there). 

And he just did the same thing again for this year's Night #6-

http://viachicago.org/topic/52738-yo-la-tengo-with-tweedy/

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-night-6-tweedy-eugene-mirman-more-pics-video-setlist/

https://www.jambase.com/article/jeff-tweedy-spencer-tweedy-join-yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-show-new-york

"Masseduction" by St. Vincent!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For you dancing & dining pleasure...here's the full album, my faveo of 2017, from her official youtube channel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGUi2JKoqAo&list=PL8WyDKvjmWQSfYYBsVK7IlX1Lw6kTNjxx

I'm voting for "Being There" myself, for the obvious double album reason & it's brilliant to boot... but... it looks like it's gonna be "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" & that's great too.

What catches your eye from this track listing?

 

       1. Via Chicago

  2. Laminated Cat

  3. Lost Love

  4. Muzzle Of Bees

  5. Ashes Of American Flags

  6. Dawned On Me

  7. In A Future Age

  8. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

  9. Hummingbird

  10. I'm Always In Love

  11. Sky Blue Sky

 

For different reasons, I am glad to see several songs on there. I love Lost Love, though I cannot imagine it being much different from the original version. Ashes (which I love) and Break (which I do not) should sound radically different from the originals, though I have heard the latter several times live solo so I have an idea how that will come across. I am really looking forward to I'm Always in Love. Great, great song, though I think I love it because it rocks. Will it still move me in a solo acoustic arrangement?

I'm very excited for this album since I'm a huge fan of his solo acoustic work. I've gotten to go to 2 years of the all request benefit gigs, 4 shows total & I'm planning on going again next year (love to go yearly someday, but for now, it's Solid Sound & Benefit shows on alternating years). This album is a great idea & I'm hoping that there will be more volumes of Jeff solo acoustic arrangements in the future!

The acoustic version of "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" is very unique & I love it at least as much as the full band version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6LVEBCv3h0)...so maybe it'll open up that one for you. "Laminated Cat (Not For The Season)" is a real stand out thriller for me in it's acoustic setting (love it so much I learned it)!!! If you don't want to wait, here's a great version of "I'm Always In Love" (think there's an acoustic version on the Box Set "Alpha Mike Foxtrot" too)... it's also one of my absolute fave acoustic arrangement songs (another I loved so much I learned it) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj4ckelEHXk

The keyboard audio (both Mikael and Pat) on this was mixed better than any Wilco show I recall, and I always think Wilco has the best house sound. But the keys here are so clear and much more upfront than usual, at least to my ears.

I was just listening to & seeing a close up of hands on keyboards, "Pot Kettle Black" from the replay & you are spot on in every way!

Not only are they often a 3 guitar band (my fave feature, let's be honest...), they are also, often, a two keyboard band (as brilliant as well, it's it's own way...)...

I'm watching from the beginning from that same original link. I never disconnected it, I just dragged the slider back to the beginning and it's playing from the start.

I did the same thing & have it paused in case the Archive of the show goes away at some point...but...

For all those getting here, late to the party...

But don't worry you DID NOT miss it!!!

Just click on the link below, and, as of right now, IT'S ARCHIVED there as a nearly 2 hour show!!

(And for the record, apparently Jeff was wearing braided pig tails... very, very Willie Nelson & soooo cool... just when you though you couldn't love the dude anymore than you do already )

https://www.abconcerts.be/en/abtv/wilco-live-at-ab-ancienne-belgique/89336/

They also did Shrug & Destroy at the Fillmore

So "Quarters" joins "Sunloathe" as the yet to played track...

Soooooooooo... If I'm looking at the recent shows correctly... they've done everything off the new album, except- "Just Say Goodbye", "Quarters" & "Shrug & Destroy" (interesting as he did it solo acoustic at Pickathon)- so 9 out of 12? Is that right?

I'd love to pick up some Roadcase shows of the recent material, but... Is there anyone who's sampled the recent wares & has any feedback on which are the best sound-wise/performance-wise? There's two Seattle & 3 from L.A. & "bundle" offers for both. I know they are generally consistently just pretty amazing live, night to night...and that Roadcase shows are generally just really good overall, but... I thought I'd just toss it out there & see what the response was on this. Thanks!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YUjXMw4114

Love it, Jeff has been so prolific the last two years, what would a double album in the tradition of the greatest double album ever sound like?  Four sides LP-wise of great music, here is my attempt to make the White Album out of this awesome era of Tweedy/Wilco, B-sides, soundtracks, etc.

 

Side 1

EKG

More…

RNG

The Joke Explained

Common Sense

Nope

You Satellite

Where Do I Begin

 

Initial blasts of guitar noise, Star-Wars style glam, pomp, and shredding, followed by acoustic craziness, guitars drifting and floating and orbiting along, and ending with a recap of the Wilco landscape, full of haunting lyrics and beautiful melody followed by the sound of a train falling off a mountain

 

Side 2

Fake Fur Coat

World Away

Pigeons

Everyone Hides

Low Key

Pickled Ginger

Wait for Love

Happiness

 

Beauty in the bubble gum filtered through the myth of the dry weeds of Guthrie, Zeppelin stomp-Zappa guitar freak-out, beautiful finger-picked common birds, minor/major ear worms, throwing it down in the road, and ending with tales of love and loss

 

Side 3

Normal American Kids

If I Ever Was a Child

Cry All Day

Cold Slope / King of You

Taste the Ceiling

Do the Minimum

Where My Love

 

Can’t mess with Schmilco-sequence perfection for the first three, rolling into some Lennon-style rock and soul, the sweatiest, loudest rock n roll Tweedy ever put on wax, closing with a hymn about what inspires it all

 

Side 4

Locator

Summer Noon

We Aren’t the World (Safety Girl)

Quarters

Diamond Light Pt.1 and 2

Just Say Goodbye

 

Sounds of doom forthcoming, a two-fer that ensures you will listen to this side again, a “grower” that I predict will go down as the most underrated track on many future lists, experimental Tweedy, closing with the classic album ender that Jeff is so darn good at

 

Bonus EP – 6 tracks

Someone to Lose

Magnetized

Nobody Dies Anymore

Why Why Why

Slow Love

Shrug and Destroy

 

Too good to throw away, just didn’t seem to have a way to squeeze them on to the White Album flow I was going for.  Man, are there any other bands going right now out there that can compete with this 2-3 year output?

Nice work! Love it!!... I'll put up my triple here eventually too...

With 30 songs on your double, you'd have a 5 songs a side/10 songs an album, triple album!! Not to mention your bonus EP... Including those you'd have 36 songs to work with... you could go "Sandanista" here & have 12 songs an album/6 songs a side, for your triple.

Mine will be 10/11 of "Star Wars" + 12 from "Schmilco" + 14-17 from the Tweedy releases= working with 36 to 39 songs myself... hijacking the thread for the expansive, rather than reductive, route!!

OK, for me, this is like the old "Make a single album out of "The Beatles (White Album)" threads! In response, I've actually started up- "Make a Triple Album out of "The Beatles (White Album)" by adding extra non-album tracks from the era" threads in response...

So, please allow me here to chime in with these contrarian ideas, raising the flag of the loyal opposition

1) The "Schmar Wars/Stilco Sessions" (hope that phrase sticks )  a second chapter to Wilco's "Great Lost(Found) Double Albums That Never(Ever) Were)". The first involved all the extra material out there from the "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" sessions. All put together there is an incredibly compelling full length album's worth of companion material that works incredibly well in creating a double album.

"Star Wars" and "Schmilco" (or the  "Schmar Wars/Stilco Sessions") produce a unique Yin/Yang (or Yang/Yin if you prefer & we locate things with their chronological appearance) double album of epic proportions & I sincerely couldn't imagine cutting anything from it/them.

2) How 'bout this instead... What about making a triple album from this era instead? Since I couldn't imagine losing any tracks from either of these albums.

I tend to think of this era as one that produced 5 albums (and those 3, count 'em 3, non-album cuts that came out around the time of the Tweedy double- one B-side & two soundtrack songs)... The Tweedy double album, these two Wilco albums & the other Tweedy album that is supposedly "in the can" (believe Jeff said in an interview that it was mixed, sequenced & ready to go, if I am remembering right...). During this era of Suzie's healing journey, Jeff immersed himself in songwriting as part of his process in an incredibly productive & fertile burst of creativity. It all feels "of a piece/era" to me personally.

I love that the Tweedy debut was a sprawling double. I love sprawling doubles! And while I'm glad it was, I can identify my half-dozen second tier tracks on that one. That means there's, 14 songs from that album proper (and, at the very least "Everyone Hides", my fave of the 3 extras... and maybe "Why Why Why" & "Do The Minimum", haven't totally decided) to work with.

So, "Star Wars" has 10 songs proper & an instrumental intro number & "Schmilco" has 12 songs. Then it's how many ever you'd use form the Tweedy double sessions to construct that 3rd album, of roughly equal length...and, depending on how many you use, which ones you might add to either of the two Wilco albums to pad things out & keep things roughly even in regards to number of songs on each/running time etc. ... though going 10/11, then 12, then 14/15 isn't bad either.

So I'll post mine later, but just wanted to creatively be a conscientious objector, with an extra creative, pro-active edge/end to my subjective objection & conscientiousness

What's your triple album from this era look like?

Is it just me or is this a Tweedy album? I love Sukierae, and I really like this album after a half a dozen listens but this sounds like the second disc to Sukierae much more than a follow up to Star Wars.

Here's what I wrote here initially: "I think while "Star Wars" was the easiest to quickly love & batting average wise it looks the strongest now... and "Tweedy" was the most sprawling, being a double, but by that virtue, it offers the most number of great songs just by it's sheer breadth... "Schmilco" sits somewhere in between these.. not as accessible as & instantly stunning as "Star Wars", but not as overwhelming as "Sukierae" was to take all in. I think it has more in common vibe wise with "Sukierae".

I also tend to now just view this era as the incredibly prolific time when Jeff poured himself into the process of writing & recording at an amazing pace (there is a 5th album, a single Tweedy disc, that's supposedly already in the can & ready to go next up...) in the face of the personal challenges involving Suzi's healing journey."

I also mentioned making a comp CD-R with 9 songs from the Tweedy double & 8 from each of the two recent Wilco albums & it really is one incredible period piece road trip CD. I keep waiting for something to drop off...but Yo La Tengo is another band/artist who has kept crazy highest standards with nary a falter for decades... rare is such a case. Even rarer is an artist/band burning this brightly & being this prolific in a later stage of their career. I am loving this album, looking forward to the live dates coming up at some point & just truly incredibly grateful for the gift of this music!!!

"Just Say Goodbye"

Such a beaut.  This song sounds like autumn to me.

Funny you say that because the whole record reminds me of autumn. Nice review by the way. 

What I initially wrote here: "...I've found not only plenty to love easily, but also a fascinating listening, geared well to the approach of Fall (for me at least) in that it's also deeply layered, on so many levels. I look forward to having it bloom as Autumn does it's own particular blossoming & I am incredibly excited to hear how they'll be retooling the whole show to harmonize with the vibe of this album (the physical set/backdrop for the show itself is completely stunning!!)... that should make it's impact after seeing them all the more interesting & rewarding."

I truly wish there were some east coast Autumn shows- such an incredibly beautiful time to be on the east coast, I'm actually really surprised that they're aren't any!!

I'll finish by saying I'm just loving the album more & more & this: "I also tend to now just view this era as the incredibly prolific time when Jeff poured himself into the process of writing & recording at an amazing pace (there is a 5th album, a single Tweedy disc, that's supposedly already in the can & ready to go next up...) in the face of the personal challenges involving Suzi's healing journey.

I love combining "Star Wars" & "Schmilco" as a real Yang/Yin double album!! I think if they'd tried to sequence it out, it would have felt more similar to the Tweedy double & releasing two double that close together is doubling up all the issues around such demanding listening. So I understand why they/he made the choice they did, but it's truly fascinating to hear just as a double album worth of those particular Wilco sessions & an, other side of the mirror, perfect companion to the Tweedy double album debut."

Makes me wonder if it's a late addition because they're playing one of the late night shows around that time, most likely Colbert?

Good guess... they usually tape earlier in the day, no? Colbert would be my favorite place for them to show up in those regards!

I know it's incredibly doubtful that we would see any full NYC area shows (Capitol Theater? please!) added this late/with this little lead time... but, one can hope & dream, as this info gives ammo/plants a seed for exactly that kind of thing.

OK I've run it through a few times & hit tracks here & there throughout my day & night today & I've found not only plenty to love easily, but also a fascinating listening, geared well to the approach of Fall (for me at least) in that it's also deeply layered, on so many levels. I look forward to having it bloom as Autumn does it's own particular blossoming & I am incredibly excited to hear how they'll be retooling the whole show to harmonize with the vibe of this album (the physical set/backdrop for the show itself is completely stunning!!)... that should make it's impact after seeing them all the more interesting & rewarding.

While "Star Wars" was incredibly accessible & an absolute pop-rock joy filled classic... this is a more challenging ride with lots of odd twists & turns. For my long road trip this weekend I decided to toss together a comp of "Sukierae"/"Star Wars"/"Schmilco"... that meant choosing the most instantly impressive songs from the album...ended up with 9 from the Tweedy & 8 from each of the Wilco albums.

I ended up cutting out 4 "Schmico" tracks, none of which I dislike by any means- the off kilter "Common Sense", the lovely "Happiness", the lilting "We Aren't The World (Safety Girl)" & the loping "Nope"...

Those other 8 songs stand up incredibly well up against the chosen tracks from "Star Wars" (love the whole album but cut "Satellite" & "The Joke Explained") & "Sukierae" (used about half the album- "Flowering", "Honey Combed", "Summer Noon", "High As Hello", "Fake Fur Coat", "Low Key", "World Away", "Wait For Love" & "Pigeons"... and there were a few I was sad to cut, but sometimes song length figured in & I wanted a fairly equal balance, which I got... especially hurt to cut "I'll Never Know", "Nobody Dies Anymore", "I'll Sing It" & the even lengthier "Slow Love" & "Diamond Light"... the other half dozen of the half that got left behind, all have their merits but just out & out weren't making the cut here...).

I could end up totally falling in love with any of those 4 songs, but running the 8 in row that I did & then previewing them for a needle drop of sorts on each track, ended up revealing just how incredibly strong all these recent works are to my ears... as well as how much of this wild ride that is "Schmilco" is also going to be easily assimilated into the longer term set lists

I think while "Star Wars" was the easiest to quickly love & batting average wise it looks the strongest now... and "Tweedy" was the most sprawling, being a double, but by that virtue, it offers the most number of great songs just by it's sheer breadth... "Schmilco" sits somewhere in between these.. not as accessible as & instantly stunning as "Star Wars", but not as overwhelming as "Sukierae" was to take all in. I think it has more in common vibe wise with "Sukierae".

I also tend to now just view this era as the incredibly prolific time when Jeff poured himself into the process of writing & recording at an amazing pace (there is a 5th album, a single Tweedy disc, that's supposedly already in the can & ready to go next up...) in the face of the personal challenges involving Suzi's healing journey.

I love combining "Star Wars" & "Schmilco" as a real Yang/Yin double album!! I think if they'd tried to sequence it out, it would have felt more similar to the Tweedy double & releasing two double that close together is doubling up all the issues around such demanding listening. So I understand why they/he made the choice they did, but it's truly fascinating to hear just as a double album worth of those particular Wilco sessions & an, other side of the mirror, perfect companion to the Tweedy double album debut.

With a 6 hour drive to New Jersey on Saturday & a 6 hour drive back next Wednesday, I should have a pretty good feel for things by the time it actually gets released on the 9th

How is this recording? I am/was interested but read that you'd basically be listening to a bunch of screaming teenage girls?

There's the screaming Beatlemania effect in full force to be sure, but this was recorded by Capitol Records & I think the band sounds amazing & the sound, back when it was released in 1977, was pretty darn good. I'm more curious to hear the new 4 tracks, but also interested to see what, with all the current technological advances of the last, gasp, 40 years, might have been done to make it sound even that much better.

Here's two tracks they've made available prerelease ("Twist & Shout" and "A Hard Day's Night")

1) http://thebeatles.lnk.to/TwistAndShout_LATHB

2) http://thebeatles.lnk.to/AHardDaysNight_LATHB

and, here's some version of the old vinyl

1) Side 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEeLAk7Tk1Y

2) Side 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o--2sQjG0eI

It was on 9/9/09 that both the mono & stereo Beatles Box Sets got released 7 years ago. Enjoy & onward to return of the son of 9/9!!

Wow Mr Link. Here is my take in less words.

 

I heard it leaked from a friend , that doesn't post here. Although I may have alerted the board first, I have no idea where it originated from. Either does he.

 

The Internet works almost instantaneous these days. So once it's out there , there isn't much you can do.

 

I made the board aware immedialty for a few reasons.

1. Out of all the corners of the Internet, this is probably the largest gathering of hardcore Wilco fans. Fans that not only have seen them live and follow all their concert set lists, but Fans that have no qualms pre ordering their records without a second thought. Some even buying multiple copies. If anyone deserves to hear this album ASAP it's Via Chicago.

2. Most of the folks that can go to these local wilco listening parties, will do so, even if they already heard the album, and have a copy pre ordered with Kung Fu. The experience and all the contest drawings will be worth it alone.

3. Not everyone has a cool record store near them, or had the ability to attend the event anyway, due to work or family related reasons. It's a very few select people that get to experience these parties in the first place. If I "upset" these people, I apologize, but please understand there are a lot more people that can't go then can.

 

So in summary, I do feel guilty about "alerting" everyone on here about the leak. I do not want this band that has given so much to me since I first heard Them almost 2 decades ago with my wife to be, any financial hardship. However I truly believe that this is the place that deserves to hear new Wilco music the minute it's available.

 

So I apologize, and I hope the band and the mods on This board understands.

My intention wasn't to aim anything at you personally, far from it... in fact, if you read carefully in regards to your role, my feelings are quite the opposite. And I wouldn't feel guilty at all if I were you, you weren't trying to burst anyone's bubble. As you noted when you arrived here, it was already out there & it was most likely to happen anyhow (almost impossible to stop it anymore)... here's what I wrote again in those regards- "Finally there was all the excitement & drama here last night as good intentioned & generous Spirits, who clearly just didn't wanna wait, shared the bounty of the actual global public internet file leak last night. I was among those who were so Blessed."

That makes you a "well intentioned & generous Spirit" my friend & the primary one that led me to getting it last night. Obviously it's out there & I'd have gotten eventually, but let me just formally say thanks. Today's EU Frocksteady download eclipses the whole issue now anyhow.

You also show concern & a conscience via your responses in regards to the band's wishes here on ViaChicago. That's very laudable, so add integrity, empathy & compassion to you growing list of good attribues...

In regards to your listed & numbered points...

1. I couldn't agree more. I sent the file to a couple of folks here who'd requested it from it from me, right after I got it (before they asked us not to continue that). And, as I said, I was loading up my cannon to send out a group email to about a dozen or so like minded folks who I know would choose to hear it sooner than later, whether they were going to any of the listening parties or not. Personally I am one of the ones who will always choose to hear something from someone whose work I love soonerer than laterer.

2. Absolutely.

3. I am now one of the people that isn't any closer than a 3 hour round tripper & probably won't be able to make it myself.

And I don't think you've caused them any financial hardship. I think the issue was about keeping it a surprise & like I said, I think you came here to let like minded folks here make their own choice about the, almost certainly inevitable, availability in a Spirit of great generosity.

Nothing was aimed at anyone in my writing... just some ideas & hopefully fun perspectives about how to best keep things as close to the possible plans & intentions of the band & their hopes for how this release was meant to be unveiled in the light of all that was happening now. I don't think anyone has any ill feeling towards you that I'm aware & certainly not me. And, like I said, personally I don't think you have anything to feel guilty about or apologize for either.

Per a direct request from the band and as a personal favor to me and our staff, I ask that all our members refrain from any sharing of Schmilco, and that members report anyone who is actively doing so.

 

We don't want to spoil any of the band's carefully planned listening parties!

 

Thank you.

I just got it officially, via Frocksteady, the EU Wilco store. They sent me the download link, and told me the LP is on its way to me.

I haven't listened yet, but the record is out there now, legally, for some. 

I absolutely want to honor the band's wishes & make sure that those listening parties are a joyous, surprising, grand premiere event. There was the Yang of the instantaneous drop & free download of "Star Wars" & now balance is being brought back to the force with the veiled, who's knows what it is, secrecy & unveiling at coordinated events. 

This clearly means something to folks (Wilco) who have brought lots of meaningful things into our lives. Making those parties a wonderful celebration of sharing for the community (the same kind that travels to Solid Sound & multiple show runs & gathers here) was something I was really looking forward to, with lots of friends & loved ones in nearby Rochester, NY at the amazing juggernaut of sonic goodness & cultural sharing that is the Record Archive.

Sadly I'm out of town now (happily in New Jersey for various  wondrous reasons) & I had originally hoped to be able to set aside time to get to someplace. I'd even mapped them all out. The nearest event is 90 minutes away & that would involve traveling to Philly or Brooklyn.There exists a slim outside chance that I might end up going & hitting a few guitar shops & such suchery (Brooklyn could involve a few old friends), but... as my plans have solidified & evolved, it's very clear that my working vacation is now going to involve some pretty demanding things (with less down time) & the more probable scenario is that I won't be able to make anything, anywhere on Sept. 6th.

Initially there was the enticing possibilities of what videos of new songs might pop up from the few live shows that were happening before the 6th, coupled with the acoustic versions of songs Jeff had played at thePickathon broadcast set. Then when it leaked to the 10 folks via the glitch at Kung Fu, that was one thing. Finally there was all the excitement & drama here last night as good intentioned & generous Spirits, who clearly just didn't wanna wait, shared the bounty of the actual global public internet file leak last night. I was among those who were so Blessed. Then word came down from the band about it, & folks have made their choices about that, I'm guessing with most showing respect & some, inevitably, not so much.

But now, with it being released for download officially in Europe, we have to recognize that there is a operational error here that dwarfs the leak to 10 folks via Kung Fu. Pandora's proverbial box is now open, in a major way & it was the Wonka factory team themselves, & specifically whatever Oompa-Loompas that are in charge of the EU operation, who have let cases & cases of the everlasting gobstopper that is "Schmilco" hit the streets the Friday before the big event next Tuesday.

Everyone is going to make their own choices here (as it is with all of life). My situation was such that I was going to miss the Psychedelic paddle boat ride through the tunnel on the 6th & have to wait for the Wonkavator on the 9th anyhow so I was really thrilled to get the early present for my 6 hour drive to New Jersey this Saturday. I could hear it, repeatedly, and, then try out my CD-R (it all fits) of the greatest found double album that (n)ever was- "Star Wars"/"Schmilco" to boot. That's my listening party, a party of one, but a celebration still.

With the gobstopper now out on the streets via Frocksteady, I'm going to make a plea here about something. What seems to matter to the inner circle here (Wilco) is that the surprise & sharing doesn't get deflated by the leaks. To continue the Wonka metaphors, another facet of what they are offering to us is part secret everlasting gobstopper & also part fizzy lifting drink. The leaks here function as burping, the more belching, the less lifting. So too many leaks & the arc of the buoyancy of the fizzy lifting part of "Schmilco" takes a sad downward turn & descends back from the dizzy cloud land towards a potentially harsh landing on terra firma.

The gang at Wilco-Wonka productions have worked hard to make something wondrous, & they want to present it in a certain fashion that brings them joy. If they have brought you joy, respect that they are shining a light on a facet of this that actually really means something to them. These events & all the fun little anticipation building sharing going on now is something they enjoy about the joy we are all in the midst of sharing .(The Hodgman,Offerman & Hamm videos, all the stores/center involved etc., etc.- BTW I now think Hodgman, Offerman & Hamm should do some kind of a project together, just to use that CSN sorta name for themselves). And now that security has really seriously been breached, maybe it's time for us to all channel our inner-Charlies & rise to the occasion. We can only do what we can do under the unfortunate circumstances. But with that their world just got a little wearier, so let's shine some good deeds...What I'd suggest is to see how many like Spirited folks anyone can gather to get together at these get togethers to make them seriously fun affairs. And then share with those who've shared with us. Go to the facebook page & tell them what happened at your event. Tell you story of discovery & surprise to them.

When your parents did the do at Xmas, it was the process of the joy of giving & sharing that drove those wheels of the best part of a holiday that's a real mixed bag in this culture (see Sufjan Stevens wonderful writings on it). If you are now in that role yourself, how would you feel being robbed of that? So, what's happened has happened, but, coordinating so that the majority of folks can share in the momentum of the energy that's building towards the 6th here just involves respect. I was on the verge of sharing the files last night with about a dozen really close friends who are all huge fans, many of whom I've traveled to Solid Sound with. When I read the note here, I stopped & put my gobstopper back on the desk. I'd shared with a few folks & lucky they were.

And I'll be honest, there are others I know who can't make it on the 6th & I personally will consider sharing with them, but only after I explain the whole situation that's going on. If I share this anymore at all, it will be with only the closest of the close & only with those who can't make it on the 6th(I can't count those on one hand & I'm actually quite deeply in love with one of those fingers, so there...true love, as always, trumps everything else) . I'm OK with them choosing between now & the 9th (like I did). I really wish I could be there on the 6th myself, but now it really doesn't look possible. Since I can't be there, this is what I can do... to try to show respect & reverence towards the Magic that's been made. Respect & reverence for Magic make for lives filled with more Love & Light...Imagine a little more of that & your part in that, if you will...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2pt2-F2j2g

 

Coincidence?

 

I think not.

Equal parts synchronicity & destiny

And the new version of "The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl" with 4 extra tracks (17 total)!! Wilco & The Beatles on the same day!!

I just checked and if you log it to the same place where you downloaded the first two, you'll see Someone to Lose is now available for you to DL as well!

Happily, two kind good deed doers sent me files, both here & at my email address, & then I saw another person post that it was available to us pre-ordering folks... but thanks!!

If you pre-order the album, you'll get 2/3 immediately...

Already done... but thanks!! Edited my previous post to clarify that fact...

Was hoping (figuring actually) that they'd be going that... kind of surprised they haven't...

Just need the newest one for the road trip, if possible...