Passenger Sid

Bravo, Wilco. So damn feel-good. So fun watching the skaters. Great job by video-maker & the talented skaters/dancers. 

Listened to Scarecrow a few times recently. Good-sounding record. Yeah, Kind of Fella I Am is nice. Between A Laugh And A Tear jumps out for me.

Good list by the OP...I've listened to many of those. The ones I haven't, I'd like to seek out.

I'd add "Watch My Moves" by Kurt Vile, my personal 2022 fave.

REALLY enjoyed the documentary. 

Sparked me to listen to Jay's "Kicking At The Perfumed Air". There's a magic, to me, in how Bennett creates music, and you can hear the same magic-ness Jay brought to Summerteeth & the YHF demos & the Mermaid sessions on his final record. It's ram-shackle, but quite beautiful.

I think Tweedy is generally fair, curious and open to exploring different arrangements his band comes up with for records. But if you're saying that Cruel Country sounds too much all-Jeff, I'd agree.

I'd sign up to hear what a Wilco record might sound like with someone like a Nigel Goodrich producing, but ain't gonna happen.

Early buzz of Wilco's next record makes me think the band will have a LOT more influence on the overall vibe & sound.

The Sadies "Colder Streams" out today.

Crackling. Tight...just 33 minutes. 

1 hour ago, lost highway said:

^ This is the mood of Star Wars to me. "The Joke Explained" and "Random Name Generator" are kind of absurd and joyful.

Fair. A lot of it is subjective.

"There are great songwriters who regularly deploy their sense of humor, like Bob Dylan and David Berman"

Paul Westerberg, Kurt Vile, Robyn Hitchcock, Dry Cleaning...

"Whimsical" would be a way better word than "comedy"...I don't think any of us would want Wilco attempting that. Passenger Side is a Top 10 all-time Wilco song for me. And some of Jeff's Golden Smog contributions are wonderful.

Besides all that, no matter the lyrics, an album that SOUNDS fun would we awesome. (I have Viking Dan on right now....I have no freaking idea what it means, but the jam smokes, and Jeff's voice has fantastic energy).

"I agree CC isn’t “a step forward” as much as it’s just, imo, really fucking good."

"...if you go back through you can hear the seeds of Star Wars in songs like I Might, and the approach of CC in One Sunday Morning and Black Moon."

These are, to me, good takes. I like Cruel Country a LOT. I think it works GREAT as an album, as did Ode To Joy, in my opinion. But both works are VERY serious sounding. And arty (Ode To Joy especially).

For me, Cruel Country really takes off and soars at Track 10, and is a beautiful ride until the end. But I do enjoy the first 9 tracks, and think they fit and set up the album well.

My dream for Wilco's next record would be their spin on Power-Pop (think Fountains Of Wayne, including a tinge of humor). Or, at least, an album that FEELS more like the singer & band are having a good time. 

My conclusion after many listens:

I love Cruel Country, human & beautiful.

Only a couple listens. Perhaps a tiny bit underwhelmed overall, but yet I really do like lot of it. Three selfish gripes:

1. Wish "Sunlight's End" woulda made the record.

2. I prefer Spencer & Jeff's looser, acoustic version of "Hearts Hard To Find" from the Tweedy Show...particularly how Spencer's percussion keeps the song bouncing along.

3. I've long hoped Jeff's great sense of humor could be sprinkled into a Wilco album just one time. 

Look forward to listening to "Cruel Country" more over the summer.

1 hour ago, kidsmoke said:

 

I was awestruck by Jeff's cover of this!

I can imagine so. 

I only get the freebie stuff. Anyone hear Jeff's new acoustic version of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now"?

Such a GREAT song. This fairly recent performance by Judy Collins is a stunner.

 A 19-song album of direct country songs (my assumption, based on the 2 new songs, along with the many Tweedy Show demos) feels fresh.

So many nice lyrics in the samplings I've heard. "Hearts Hard To Find" particularly stands out.

3 hours ago, DiamondClaw said:

...there was one that really impressed me a while back called "Sunlight's End." I really thought that would be a great Wilco track...

I agree. Really beautiful. Fingers crossed it is in fact on the record.

I'm intrigued by the loose concept of the album. Jeff discussing America & country music is interesting. Particularly love Jeff's quote: " I believe it’s important to challenge our affections for things that are flawed."

Regarding the 1st album single, really dig the country twang sound.

Big loss in the music world. 

The Sadies had just released a couple nice-sounding new songs.

Super thrilling band...so love the Good brothers guitars.

6 hours ago, brownie said:

I like the laid back vibe, and the songs are pretty strong.

Agree.  His last couple records, along with the Courtney Barnett collab, as well as his fairly-recent EP....just really good stuff.

And...

he now has a NEW song out, with a new album in April. His upcoming tour doesn't have my city on it, but I'd love to see him live.

Love the first quote by Jeff. Seeing the actual performance of a song you've heard hundreds of times since when your were a child is pretty freaking powerful. 

It's got an overall positive vibe, but the positive-ness doesn't feel fabricated in the least bit. When the band is playing together, they seem genuinely to be enjoying themselves. It's clear George would like more input, and we do hear Lennon talk about Allen Klein, which of course is the situation that eventually led to a fallout with the band & Paul, but that all happens after the Let It Be sessions.

I couldn't take my eyes off of it for the most part. In Part 1, we see Paul in the morning, while he, George & Ringo are waiting for John to come in, sitting in a chair, looking down at his guitar & intently strumming. After a minute or two, random jamming develops into the song Get Back. The camera catches George with a glance where you can see he knows Paul is onto something. Just one example.

Mesmerizing.

I'd argue it's Wilco's most timeless record. A true classic.

On the days that Summerteeth isn't my favorite Wilco record, Being There definitely is. 

Haven't upped my subscription yet, but I really like getting little notes & updates from Tweedy. Like how he thinks & he seems to have a really good heart.

Torn & Frayed: Gram Parsons-ish. Like how it feels.

Emotional Rescue: The bass line, drumming, Mick's falsetto....it grooves.

Backstreet Girl: Beautiful sound. Like Mick's vocal. 

9 hours ago, Analogman said:

The New Adventures in Hi-Fi 25th Anniversary Edition is coming out next month. I am really into buying such things anymore. Although - I have to say it would be nice to have their take of Wichita Lineman on cd. But I can't justify buying that just for one song. 

Wall Of Death is worth having, as is Love Is All Around, but I agree...hard to justify.

Michael Stipe has been in the studio recording. Who knows when we'll hear it, but always exciting to hear whatever he creates.

Stipe will also have the opening track on the Velvet Underground tribute album, out Friday, singing "Sunday Morning".

Ten years ago, R.E.M. released their final song, "We All Go Back To Where Belong". Pretty wonderful, in my opinion. As is the video for it, starring Kirsten Dunst.