d. boony

I don't love every song but there are so, so many beautiful moments on this record. Glenn's use of brush instead of sticks in many places is just magical. Lyrically, I think it's Tweedy's strongest effort yet. And while some of it seems to wax nostalgic, I'm alright with that - I'm old enough to wax nostalgic myself. I always like to look to the start and finish of an album - Outside of Wilco, not much is stronger than Normal American Kid / Just say goodbye. This album is an ear worm. Every time I listen I want to give it a closer investigation. It's not for cheap headphones and 128KB do

I enjoy lists such as this - and they of course leave me quibbling. In this case, I'm hard pressed to understand the two UT albums. Don't get me wrong, I love them both. But they are my third and fourth favorite UT albums.

Yeah, it's a pretty impossible task. If I re-did the same list next week it would probably be completely different. I'm also not sure how my list has nothing from Summerteeth, one of my favorites.

In no particular order except time... Kinda: Gun That Year New Madrid Sunken Treasure Muzzle of Bees Hell is Chrome Ashes Pot Kettle Black Poor Places You are My Face One Wing Art of Almost Random Name Generator Satellite Lost Love

It's my favorite album since Ghost Is Born, which is my favorite overall. I've enjoyed a lot of the songs on the previous three albums but I almost never listen to them start-to-finish. I've listened to Star Wars in that manner dozens of times. I love the crunchy sound and I love the concise nature of such a short record. With the exception of You Satellite, it's just a fun record to listen to. You Satellite grounds the whole thing brilliantly. Random Name Generator is the first song my son ever learned to request by name. Kid's going places, I tell ya.

At the time I was far more interested in hearing Jay's first release, having enjoyed his UT contributions a bit more. So when AM was released I waited to get it until... I could order it as one of my 10 for the price of 1 from Columbia Records CD club. AM doesn't seem 21 years old to me. Those songs seem especially timeless as they are played today. But the Columbia Records club? That seems like multiple lifetimes ago. I still have those CD's in a box in my basement somewhere. If I remember correctly I also got a copy of Big Audio Dynamite's first album in that 10-for-1 stash as well.

It just blows my mind that UT opened for the Mats. That would have been a 1990's dream for me - and I moved to the east coast about one year after it would have happened. Man, what a combo.

Great show. We were a dozen or so rows from the front and stood the whole time. A guy a few rows in front of us seemed to be the impetus for everyone to stand - he didn't sit the whole show and everyone behind had to stand to get a view, which kept most folks up. As someone who very much prefers to stand, I was happy about that guy. Everyone in front of him seemed to be sitting. The Flynn is a nice venue but I really dislike seeing rock shows there. The building just seems to exude calm and take energy out of the crowd. Nearby Memorial Auditorium is an awful physical space but more suita

I think Focal Banger is the best beer around at the moment. I haven't had Arthur. I'll have to get a growler on my next pilgrimage (or more hopeful, in a local Waterbury-area drinking hole). Still, that Trillium... A friend from Mass visits frequently and we have some serious beer exchanges!

My mouth waters just seeing the Trillium bottle. Damn they brew great stuff. Hill Farmstead Dorothy - if you like Belgian's, this is a fantastic one. And it's "Belgian-ness" is pretty mellow. Had a couple growlers of it over the holidays and can't wait to get more. The newish Alchemist IPA, Focal Banger, is incredible as well.

I've heard the digital version. It's legions better than Too Far To Care re-master. I can't say much new comes to light but the sound certainly feels updated. And the bonus material is really fantastic, especially the live show. Full disclosure: Trace is one of my three favorite albums of all time and I might not be objective about the reissue.

Maybe I'm being too easy on Jay, but I don't read that quote to mean he was dissing or dismissing Jeff. I read it as a recognition of something that happened years ago- without dragging the names back out of the closet. But at any rate, I've always felt that fans care about this far, far more than old UT band members. A band split up, both sides had great careers and made great music. What's not to like?

Forgive me if this has already been mentioned, but our local public radio station uses Wilco as bumper music quite frequently. The opening pounding of Kidsmoke was used today.

Really? Do tell! I'm not familiar with this story.

I don't disagree with the sound concerns. I've only been "up close" a couple times, however, and I really enjoy watching the stage interactions, instruments etc... Just a different experience.

I got two Row C (that's third!) center section for Burlington. I was, of course, thrilled. My wife's first comment was "Do you think that's too close?" #marriagecounselingplease.

I am so excited they are playing the Flynn in Burlington again! Great venue... within walking distance.

No carpet?

Local Favorite Grace Potter and the Nocturnals covering Muzzle of Bees For the first year of her life, my daughter fell asleep nightly to Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star's Lullaby Version of Wilco

This is the first time I've missed a Montreal show in years. So disappointing - looks like a great(-est hits) set list. Metropolis is a great venue with great sound. I love seeing them play there.

True story: I think mine would be the exacty opposite! But that might be based, somewhat, on old emotional attachment to No Depression.

I agree. Trace was really a seminal album and I don't think Jay's work after that holds up quite as well. Having said that, I still think Wide Swing Tremolo and Okemah are better than 99% of my collection. I appreciate what he's tried to do with Honky Tonk, it's just not my style. Wilco, on the other hand, got far far better after AM.

I can't imagine ranking them all. But if I had to pick a list of which would be in the top few, including the various UT offshoots: No Depression March 16-20 Trace Ghost Is Born Being There Okemah and the Melody of Riot. I'm pretty much equally infatuated with Wilco and Farrar/Son Volt - though I don't love where Farrar has gone since Okemah.

Interesting placement for Impossible Germany. Not sure if I've seen it as an encore piece like that.

You stole my record collection.