virtualreason

I am doing my damnedest to get Fake Plastic Trees for the 12th.

I did that for the first night (via obsessive/internet poll illegal level of ballot box stuffing) to no avail. Fake Plastic Trees is hands down my favorite song of all time and I got to hear Jeff do it at a solo show back in 2009. Could you imagine Nels doing Jonny's lead on that song?! My head would explode. Best of luck!

This was the first Wilco show for me in far too long, having missed out on the Tweedy run. To me, Jeff came out looking a little off, and it didn't show for the vast majority of the show. It was apparent when he flubbed a few lyrics, including the whole second verse of Late Greats. Whatever, shit happens.

That was my first experience with Feed of Man in any capacity, and it really blew me away. The band had fun and I think the audience was quite receptive of a song they (likely) had never heard before. It certainly needs to make an appearance in more sets!

The highlight for me was the second encore. I think it's one of the coolest things I've experienced at a Wilco show. When the entire room was shout-singing the chorus of Casino Queen, it sent shivers down my spine.

I'm now fully primed for my two Winterlude nights. It's going to be fantastic.

fingers crossed for Dark Neon during the Winterlude!! (A girl can dream.)

Start stuffing the ballot box now! I'll help.

I walked right into that one...

I must say, after Jeff did his, I find myself saying "It could always be worse" a lot more.

Most forecasts are saying upper 30's on Friday and near 40° on Saturday, but the best part: it will be dry (outside of maybe a few snow showers early Friday morning). Low temperatures should be very close to 30°, so the hardcore queuers will not have to bundle up as much as during the Residency. Winds could be a problem on Friday though.

I'm mostly paying attention to the Friday and Saturday shows, as they are the ones I'll attend, but I'll keep tabs and give updates on the weather for next week's shows too. Are there any other meteorologists on the VC boards?

From what I could cobble together this afternoon:

Adult Jazz - Gist Is (might have to be my #1 of the year and "Spook" is my song of 2014, hands down)

St Vincent - s/t (this would be a crazy close #2)

New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers (and this is also way up there)

Tweedy - Sukierae

Ty Segall - Manipulator

Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy

Beck - Morning Phase

Taylor Swift - 1989 (no, seriously)

Elbow - The Take Off and Landing of Everything

Tune-Yards - Nikki Nack

Gabriel Kahane - The Ambassador

Parquet Courts - Sunbathing Animal

Sylvan Esso - s/t

The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream

Thanks for sending this, Sandoz. I was on the fence about getting the vaccine but you convinced me!

This... I'm always skittish around needles and avoid at all costs. And I don't think they'd let a 27 year old, healthy adult get the nasal mist.

I bet they will be more "flash in the pan". I say that owning both albums and loving them. It's going to be a brilliant flash, but I can't see them sticking around with this type of quality output for too much longer. Maybe another album or two.

Y'all have ruined a goddam fantastic Lotti post! Jeff looks like a middle-aged man from Illinois *gasp*

It reminds me of IATTBYH for whatever reason.....

My first thought too, especially in the first handful of seconds.

http://www.jonkmusic.com/daily/2013/12/28/best-songs-of-2013-100-71.html

That basically takes care of a lot of the good indie songs this year.

These all involve the same women, but their voices are too good to pass up. The first two are songs from the Lucius LP (I go back and forth between which song I like more). The third is from San Fermin. Again, the harmonies, ugh. Very reminiscent of the Dirty Projectors women.

Lucius - Wildewoman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej1xxCuWhXc

Lucius - Hey Doreen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hDrjjS8JnU

San Fermin - Sonsick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1czCNnPyHlw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg4c0RA2DJQ

Typhoon - Young Fathers

I won't stop gushing about this album. My friends seems to like this song the most, so I'll leave this here for you.

I'm regretting not adding ONE MORE DAY to vacation (that I do have to burn....) and winging down to KC for this. It promises to be a fun night, possibly.......a new song or two. Enjoy!

Welp, Reflektor just shot to the top of my album of the year list. I listened to it 4 complete times in 30 hours; I've never done that with an album before.

So glad Kevin got out the funk kick he's been on over the last few albums. I always think he's at his best when he's focused on straightforward folk/pop songs. Very good return to form.

Chvrches also have probably the best debut album of the year. Solid Scottish synth-pop where roughly 7 of the 12 songs sound like singles. Delicate but confident female vocals too 

I listened to the Lucius album earlier this week and was blown away. NPR has been so good at exposing me to new music. Also HIGHLY recommended (and learned about from that series) is Typhoon's "White Lighter". It's making a strong case to be my personal album of the year.

It's your typical "grower" of a National album. Really loving it.

I listened to bits and pieces of this yesterday, and it propelled me to listen to More Like the Moon studio version for the first time. How I've gone this long, I don't know. FWIW, the "Being There era song" is listed as "A Long Time Ago" on my boot copy.

I am so sick of hearing about Frank Ocean.

I'm curious: what's your case against him? For me, I'm not much of an R&B fan, but his album excites me.

its fantastic. probably my second favorite of hers

 

anything we want and every single night are two of my most played songs this year

I think it's by far her most solid album. Left Alone is a FORCE--easily one of my most played this year.

Honorable Mention: Sigur Ros - Valtari, Frank Ocean - ChannelOrange, Grizzly Bear - Shields

3. Walkmen - Heaven...... Solid throughout, I find myself still singing these songs in my head constantly.

2. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel (...)...... I wish she didn't need 4-6 years to churn out her albums, but they're utter classics when they drop.

1. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan..... This album is one song (Maybe That Was It) away from being a perfect album--those that are flawless in every way (think YHF, Sgt. Peppers, OK Computer). No, I don't think that I'm reaching with those references. The raw creativity, emotion, storytelling, vocals, EVERYTHING on this album works to perfection; all of it struck me from the first listen, and each subsequent spin adds another layer of appreciation.

Los Campesinos!

Good call here! I'll add Arcade Fire into the mix.

After one listen, I found the horns very intrusive. I would like to hear more of Annie's guitar (even though it was her idea to use ubiquitous horns). I'll try to let it grow on me, but it's really grating right now.

I just don't understand this new generation of Wilco fans.

I was introduced to the band by YHF in 2002 (does that make me "new generation"?), and that album will always have a special place in my heart. It and The Whole Love are perfect albums in my ears, but I would take TWL over YHF any day, and, to keep on topic, easily take it over SBS. But hey, these are always subjective, and the fact that TWL came out when I was having a very tumultuous stretch in my romantic life might play a huge role in it. Maybe when I have a husband and kids that will change. I'm sure I'll chime in on a thread at that point.

And in a delightful bit of imagery--to borrow a phrase from someone earlier in the thread: I want Nels wankery all over my face. His Wilco work is ear-gasmic.