IamJacksName

New Zealand, I meant, not Australia. Whoops. I've been listening to the stream the past couple of days. For some reason I didn't like it at first, but on the second listen everything just clicked. I'm quite a big fan of it now. My point earlier was that Nels really seemed like a centerpiece of some of the songs on SBS, and I don't really get that vibe here. He seems to just be adding some accents and flourishes here and there. This album really reminds me of AGiB for some reason, and like some of those songs, I can see Nels having a bigger role during live shows. Here's a link I found a

I'm pretty sure I remember reading a story a couple of months ago that said Wilco recorded most of the new album in Australia without Nels. They were there collaborating on another project and really felt the need to record some stuff they had worked up, apparently, and Nels was just going to be overdubbed. I'm just about to head out, so I'm a little pressed for time or I'd look it up myself, but I thought I'd throw this out there and see if anyone else remembers that. I'll look it up a little later when I have a chance.

I just picked up The Search a few weeks ago and have been listening to it quite a bit. Really good stuff. It falls flat on a couple of songs (Slow Hearse, anyone?) but overall I dig it a lot.

Please do, I'd love to know what you find out. On an unrelated note, did anyone realize there was a live Woody Guthrie album issued last year? It won a Grammy for Best Historical Release, I believe is what the site said. I had no idea. I've got to get that.

Sorry, I don't know much about the making of Mermaid Avenue. I'd be interested in that myself. I listened to the demos this weekend; it had a few interesting bits on there. A solo Tweedy version of At My Window Sad and Lonely was pretty different from the album, but I think the lyrics were the same. I should go get Man in the Sand. I've never seen it before.

And it wasn't just Woody, that's a huge part of the folk/blues tradition. Bob Dylan still does it; his last album had several similarities to the 19th Century poet Henry Timrod. Some of those melodies and lyrics go back so far their origins are completely gone; Guthrie's are just one example of that tradition.

All I'm hearing is an interview with Jeff. Is this right? What am I listening to?

Whoops. Just lost the feed. Certainly no encore now.

What a great way to end. That's it. I've certainly enjoyed it.

I'd really like for them to play longer, but if they close with Dreamer in My Dreams, I think I could die happy.

I swear I've heard an old-fashioned rotary telephone ring a couple of times during this broadcast. Weird.

Every time I see ITMWLY on a set list, I think "Oh man. Again?" Then I hear it and remember why it's ALWAYS a good thing to get to hear it. Especially with horns.

I don't know what "numbers station recording" means, but if it's synonymous with "awesome," then you're right.

Also - I'm really glad they started with the "It's almost gone . . . " verse. They used to play it that way but it was switched on the album, and I always liked it better as an opener. It's a great way to start a song, making you feel like you're right in the middle of something.

Less Than You Think. Nice. A drone and then another break maybe?