Jeff M.

1 hour ago, jff said:

But I suspect many would prefer if everyone, including Tweedy's vocal, had to chance to sit in the front and back seats from time to time, allowing everyone in the band to make prominent musical statements.

Specifically on the vocals, I do wish Jeff would let other singers have a shot sometimes on the albums. Workingman's Dead is one of my favorite records, but who doesn't enjoy it more when Jerry's not singing every single track?  (American Beauty, four singers!). I think A.M. benefits from John's lone turn at the mic.

We've been to all except SS#1 in 2010, and this year's lineup held the least appeal. Even so, the rain dissuaded us from being on site for a couple of the acts I most wanted to see--Mike Watt and Will Oldham. Glad we caught Japanese Breakfast and Terry Allen. Friday night's Wilco set was nearly as wonderful as 2013's covers night or the Being There/YHF set, truly magical--especially the encores--and Saturday's equally strong. The dumplings were delish. My wife and I ascertained the best deal was the red curry set (a full order of dumplings with coconut rice and curry). Here's hoping they move it back to late June (possibly even next year).

It's hard to express how deeply I love this new album and can't wait to hear it at Solid Sound. I've been hoping Wilco would do a "country" album for a long time, but the direction of the past three made it seem that ship had sailed. (No dis there, I love SW, Schmilco and OTJ, and think they are as good as any Wilco have made.) Not sure what I thought a Wilco country album would be, probably "Being There" drenched in Sneaky Pete pedal steel and Bakersfield guitars turned up to 11. But it isn’t "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" or "The Gilded Palace of Sin," it's Wilco country. NOT what gets played on contemporary country radio. (Maybe a country station that played Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, and Neil Young's rendition of "Oh, Lonesome Me," if such ever existed.) And it’s as unpredictable and exceptional as everything they do. I hear echoes of David Crosby’s “If Only I Could Remember My Name” and Jerry Garcia’s first solo album. Lovely piano, lilting guitars, beautiful harmonizing background vocals. Touches of classic C&W arrangement blended with OTJ’s atmospherics. Jeff Tweedy’s lyrics can sound intimately personal or rousingly communal, direct or abstract, but always incisive, and his singing so full of emotion. The band rises to the subject matter, creating on songs like “Hints” and “A Lifetime to Find,” classics on par with the great artists who have inspired them. At 21 songs, the length obscures the album’s dynamic range—some nags will inevitably trot out the “would be better as a single album” complaint (heard that about the latest Big Thief record, which I love). But with each listen, the “Cruel Country” songs that didn’t jump out at first grow on me more, and I bet many will end up my favorites. I wasn’t sure Wilco could still surprise me, but of course, here they are, once again confounding expectations by diligently following their creative instincts. And, to quote Robert Christgau’s assessment of “Europe ’72,” I've still got my card and it ain't a joker.