hacienda

Here's a bit of non-W(TA) related Wilco news. Russ Feingold, one of the senators from the boys' newly adopted state up north, has started a series of youtube-style music recommendation clips called "Fein" Tunes. Last month he recommended Bon Iver. This month it's Wilco. In the video he talks about his staffers constantly playing the albums and explains his particular fondness for the Mermaid Avenue records. It's not much, but it might be a nice distraction from the new album news/reviews: http://www.russfeingold.org/get-involved/fein-tunes.html

Thank you "Rank the Wilco albums" thread. Just, thank you. Also, for the record: AM BT ST YHF AGIB SBS

I don't know if the medium is dying/dead, but I was at the Borders on North and Halsted in Chicago on Friday, and it was like walking into the wreckage of the music industry. They're clearing their cd and dvd stock at 50% off. I picked up a copy of The Fiery Furnaces' "Remember" and there were lots of good deals to be had. If you're in town, and still buying your music on plastic discs, I'd recommend checking out the sale.

So, who saw the Bonnie Prince last night? It was my first time seeing him, and I thought it was pretty incredible. He had a full band (Cheyenne Mize on fiddle, Emmett Kelly on guitar, Josh Abrams on stand-up bass, and Jim White on drums). The rhythm section was particularly impressive--they looked like jazz players, but they brought a lot of rock energy and intensity. It was more of a "rock show" than I expected, moving quickly from sweet ballads to menacing rockers and drawing heavily on his back catalog during the 2-hour set. There wasn't much banter (mostly notably something about his belt)

I'm enjoying this album a lot, but I've been thinking about the vinyl release, which is the way I usually go these days. How's it going to work? 2LP, with "Marais La Nuit" on the 3rd and 4th sides? That seems a bit crazy. Sorry if this has been covered up-thread... Edit: Right. Still, I can't imagine how that's going to work.

John Leland does a good job of this in Hip: The History, a book that came out a few years ago.

This is my favorite thread. I'm going to take a stab: AM BT ST YHF AGIB SBS

I'm not sure if this is what you're after, but you should definitely have a look at metacritic: http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2002.shtml

Thanks for the run down on nearby bars. It doesn't sound encouraging, but there probably won't be too much time anyhow and I'm sure my group will opt for one of the not-good places. As for the album, I haven't ever given any Ween albums much attention, but there is some good stuff on the new one--I like first and last thirds, especially Blue Balloon, Learnin to Love, Sweetheart in the Summer, and Your Party. The middle stretch (My Own Bare Hands to Shamemaker) doesn't do much for me. Honestly, I don't really know what to do with Ween--I much prefer the new Radiohead--but I'm looking forward

So, I'm seeing the Ween show this weekend (my brother is a major Ween-head, and he's dragging me to my first Ween show), and I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations for bars near the Aragon for pre-show drinks. I don't really know Uptown--the Aragon is a venue I like to avoid--but there must be something around there, perhaps on the divey end of the spectrum? Also, I haven't seen much talk about it around here, but I'm enjoying the new album. What do you Ween fans think of it? -hacienda

Holy crap. Brianne posted while I was typing and she included the picture I was looking for. Here it is. My friend is the one in the middle. Thank you!

I'll bite--and I have a request for pictures (at the end). I skipped the Block Party on Friday (saw Akron/Family at the AV-aerie instead), but had a great time there on Saturday. It was my first Block Party and I'd agree with Lou that it generally had Pitchfork atmosphere, but the crowd seemed a bit older (average age in the 30s instead of 20s); at least that's the way it looked from my camp by the kids area near the back fence--I wasn't inspecting wrists all day. Of course, all of the 312 beer and advertising helped give it the Pitchfork feel too. I got there just before O'Death and thoug

That's an interesting take. I read "to a degree" more in terms of speeding or drug use than murder. The US only enforces speeding and drug laws to a degree--hopefully, in the case of murder, the laws are more universally enforced. In any case, I know a lot of "legalize it" pot smokers who buy, sell, and smoke in defiance of the law--enforcement doesn't seem to be a national priority and I wouldn't argue that it should be. I suppose it depends on how seriously one regards illegal immigration or whether or not it is a "victimless" crime.

Akron/Family - Love is Simple

Interesting, but I'm aware of the Tawana Brawley case and I still don't see the relevance. The point I was making was that the comparison was about a matter of perceptions (which change over time), rather than the men themselves. Always appreciate an appeal to the wiki-oracle though...

He seems to be comparing the way his father perceived MLK in the 1960s to the way people perceive Sharpton today. MLK was certainly not universally respected in his lifetime--often quite the opposite--and we don't know how Sharpton will look in 40 years. Seems like a fair comparison to me.

I'd vote for that.

Great suggestion. Also, The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat Not sure what the concept is, but I think I'd include it.

Yeah, it should be out in May--the pink pig has it and it's actually not so bad... now:

NP: then:

It would be pretty awesome if Sonic Youth brought their Daydream Nation show to Chicago...

Yeah, both of the Love Spit Love records have held up surprisingly well. I hadn't put them on in years, but I think they'll stick around. I have some nice memories of seeing them in Chicago so long ago... NP:

I headed down to my local indie--Atomic Records in Milwaukee--and picked up The Crane Wife on vinyl. I've had the mp3s for months, but I've been waiting to drop the needle on some delicious new Decemberists... Anyhow, I put it on. Sides one and two are awesome. Actually, side one alone is worth the price of the album. The gods must have been thinking the same thing, because when I put on side three... it was side one again. Yep, I have two idential copies of the first record of the 2XLP set. But, no second record. I imagine Atomic will take care of me, but has anybody else run into th