jakobnicholas Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I got to thinking about AGIB's release....I checked and it was released June 22, 2004. I just now gave it a full spin and still think it's a very beautiful disc. Some of the songs (Hell is Chrome, Handshake Drugs, Theologians...) all may have improved live...but I still find something special about the overall recorded sound on the disc. Has it gotten better/worse for anyone? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ction Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I haven't listened to it for at least a year. So mark me down for a "no change". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
embiggen Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I haven't listened to it for at least a year. So mark me down for a "no change". please try again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 There is some extremely good material on that album. I'll come right out and say it - Wilco is the best band in America currently operating and the best band in America since the Replacements, Husker Du and Bad Brains. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IATTBYB Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 For some reason last night, right before I fell asleep, I realized that the AGIB version of Handshake Drugs is my favorite Wilco song, even though I have not listened to the complete disc for at least 2 weeks. Something about the bass line in that song just knocks my socks off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the letter k Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I had been listening to basically live/solo shows the past few months, and I finally just threw AGIB in and loved hearing it again. My favorite is hearing the songs on "random" with a bunch of other music (iPod shuffle), it sounds so much better IMO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
groovingdan Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Some of the songs (Hell is Chrome, Handshake Drugs, Theologians...) all may have improved live... Not to mention Spiders Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Kinsley Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 There is some extremely good material on that album. I'll come right out and say it - Wilco is the best band in America currently operating and the best band in America since the Replacements, Husker Du and Bad Brains. Hey now, that's a pretty controversial statement to be making around these parts! I haven't listened to it for a while, so maybe I'll throw it into the car today. I've never liked Wishful Thinking for some reason. It just doesn't sound finished - great lyrics but rather dull IMHO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I find that when I'm listening to all of my wilco material--albums, concerts, demos, etc.--on the ipod, etc. that I routinely skip when it comes to a track off this album, as I've typically found 2, 3, 12 live versions that have taken the place of the original for me... But you bring up an interesting point and so I shall play the album through again and see what happens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
a.miller Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Theologians is probably in my top 5 favorite Wilco songs..and the piano part in Hummingbird I find simply wonderful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
welch79 Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 (edited) I can't stop listening to AGIB. I reached the point that I told myself that if I didn't stop listening to it so much, I would get tired of it. That was six months ago. Incredible disc top to bottom; it's getting better with age. I must admit that I trimmed off the feedback from "Less Than You Think" and added "Kicking Television" and "Panthers" to the end of the disc. Edited July 14, 2006 by welch79 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 studio Hummingbird is unstoppable. the viola work is killer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WLG867 Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 studio Hummingbird is unstoppable. the viola work is killer. I really like the Wilco Book Unreleased version of hummingbird. Its got a really different feel to the whole song with some sync stuff in place of the normal insturments. The lyrics are slightly different, but most of the original lyrics were unchanged on the studio version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
embiggen Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I really like the Wilco Book Unreleased version of hummingbird. ME TOO!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ponch1028 Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I like AGIB a lot. I still listen mostly to the live concerts, but I appreciate the subtle nuances of the studio versions. They tend to be quieter and more delicate, where the live versions are more aggresive. That said, I'm currently listening to other stuff. I over listened to Wilco - I need some distance. Going to Jeff's solo show in Raleigh, so I want to wet my appetite for that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheMaker Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 My initially high opinion of it hasn't quite held up, but that's largely because many of its great-to-begin-with songs have only grown better in a live setting (especially Theologians, which has improved immeasurably; it's a dead fuck on the album). Hummingbird and Muzzle of Bees (arguably Jeff's best song) still can't be topped live, though, IMO. Oh, and Spiders is still the biggest turd/misstep in the band's entire history. Having to sit through it at every show only makes me hate it more. Overall, if I can ignore Spiders long enough to rank Wilco's albums, this one falls just below YHF and Being There for me. A bit bumpy, but generally spectacular. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I really like the Wilco Book Unreleased version of hummingbird. Its got a really different feel to the whole song with some sync stuff in place of the normal insturments. The lyrics are slightly different, but most of the original lyrics were unchanged on the studio version. when i hear this version i think i'm at a rave. which makes me want to throw up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brettac1 Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I wasn't a huge fan of it initially. However, I was compiling a sampler-type thing for a younger friend who had never heard of them to try and get him into Wilco in about December, and was blown away by how much I had gotten into many of the tracks - seemingly without knowing it - through "Kicking Television" and live shows. There's songs on there that are among the best Jeff Tweedy songs ever: Hummingbird, Handshake Drugs, Wishful Thinking (Is any song worth singing if it doesn't help?), and I think Company in my Back is very underrated in the canon. It's not "Being There" for me, but it's close. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
morelikethemoon Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 this is awesome, an entire thread where people actually are appreciating agib. im not saying it's their best... but to me all the wilco albums are very close in greatness. i am so sick of people ripping apart either agib and/or the new material... this is a band that we all love, thats why we come to this site. i know that we have the right as loyal fans to hold opinions on the band's material, but it just seems like people love to tear apart a lot of the band's recent music. so, here's to agib (and the new material for that matter). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
welch79 Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Oh, and Spiders is still the biggest turd/misstep in the band's entire history. Having to sit through it at every show only makes me hate it more.Spiders is sort of a love or hate song isn't it? I started off listening to AGIB skipping the behemoth that is track 3 only to find myself now listening to it more and more. Spiders has grown on me more than any other song on the disc. Meanwhile, I'm a Wheel started off being a highlight for me on AGIB, now I find myself skipping it more often than not. Overall though, this has been a very dynamic album for me; it doesn't hit me the same way very often. ALTWYS is my favorite track on the album, closely followed by Company...ah hell, they're all good. I agree with some other posters that it's hard to beat Being There, but AGIB definitely represents a different band in a different spot artistically. It will be interesting to see where Wilco will go from here. I've heard the new stuff, but can we judge their new album based on this (yet)? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I've heard the new stuff, but can we judge their new album based on this (yet)? We certainly CAN judge. Just not accurately. But who wants to be accurate these days? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 "Theologians," is by far the highlight for me. The first time I heard it during soundcheck at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh three years ago I just about cried it was so good. As far as the album proper, I rarely listen to it anymore and rank it only above "A.M." & "Mermaid Vol II." I do however really like early, live, drone-less versions of "Less Than You Think." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 this is awesome, an entire thread where people actually are appreciating agib. geez, it's a young thread....give it time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 geez, it's a young thread....give it time exactly. you a-hole. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
awatt Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Love AGIB. Essential to AWATT. Neil Young-like guitar on opening, ALTWYS rocks. Hell is Chrome became a favorite after seeing it live. Spiders...a masterpiece Muzzle and Hummingbird are lovely and some of JT's best lyrics Handshake, Wishful, and Company from the very first listen struck me as the best series of songs strung together since Abbey Road, and first two live transport to another freakin' plane I'm a Wheel took a while but have come to enjoy its rambunctiousness Theologians is particularly valued in my small world of study of religion Less Than You Think I have to skip because it makes my head spin The Late Greats is one of the best ending songs for any album Listen to it everyday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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