KNevitt Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Here or here. Wilco alum Bennett comes out of dark time, solo and at peaceBy Kevin C. JohnsonPOST-DISPATCH POP MUSIC CRITIC10/17/2006 Multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett's bad times in recent years extend way beyond his famous exit from rock band Wilco during its "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" period, which was uncomfortably documented in the 2002 film "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." Bennett and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy were filmed getting into it, culminating with the exit door permanently swinging open for Bennett. His departure led to a solo career that includes a few under-the-radar CDs for St. Louis-based label Undertow, among them 2004's "The Beloved Enemy" and "Bigger than Blue," and his new CD, "The Magnificent Defeat," on Rykodisc. "I needed to go and do what I'm doing now," says Bennett, who is based in Chicago. "It was a mutual decision, and I don't think I can come up with anything better than things had run their course. "He (Tweedy) needed to be the leader of a band, and I needed to be the leader of a band, and we realized that before it got superugly." More pressing were personal issues that arose for Bennett since Wilco: close relatives dying, a serious illness in his immediate family and a divorce. All of this led to his writing more than 70 songs for what would become the ambitious, off-kilter delight of "The Magnificent Defeat." He felt that he had to get the songs off his back and that throwing himself into his work so heavily was cathartic. While Bennett didn't set out to write songs about his recent experiences, he later realized that was what he had done. He also saw himself at times pulling back musically on the CD. "I was riding a fine line between my admitted habit of throwing too much (stuff) at it, too many overdubs and fancy little tricks," he says. "I wanted to make a record in which someone would say it's not just a bunch of bells and whistles. But I do love bells and whistles." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Wow, a 5:2 ratio of coverage. Gnarly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Basil II Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Thanks for posting this!!! The new record is quite good. -Robert. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 But I do love bells and whistles. 1st step towards recovery. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the letter k Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 The best part about that was they had a Q&A with him and like 4 of the 6 questions were Wilco related. I couldn't help but laugh. He HAS to get sick of that shit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 1st step towards recovery. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yankhotelfox Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 The new record is quite good. You think? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lazy Locomotive Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Jay Bennett Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Jay Bennett > you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam2 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 shut up. (Lazy Locomotive) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 shut up. (Lazy Locomotive) You're entitled to your own opinions, but you are fighting an uphill battle. Anytime anyone posts something about Jay Bennett someone's going to say something kind of prickish (and sometimes it's spot on) and you're in the minority thinking Bennett is better then Nels as a guitar player. It's not even close in my opinion dude, I like Tweedy's guitar playing better then Jay's. A better arguement to be made is that Jay more important for the band as multi-instrumentalist, producer, co-songwriter then Cline will ever be. Do I personally agree with that statement? No. But it's a better arguement to make. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Who (besides you) said anything about guitar? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
El Picador Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 The new record is quite good. How would you compare it to his other albums? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pickleboiler Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 The new record is quite good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
napoleon Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 The best part about that was they had a Q&A with him and like 4 of the 6 questions were Wilco related. I couldn't help but laugh. He HAS to get sick of that shit. haha, it happens in EVERY interview he does. all you hear is "wilco this, wilco that". i feel bad that thats all they ever ask him. poor jay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jhc Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 You think? I think the new album is good. I think Jay could have laid off some of the production on some tracks for sure. But there's some good material (just skip track 1, which sounds like someone making a parody of an overproduced track) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 haha, it happens in EVERY interview he does. all you hear is "wilco this, wilco that". i feel bad that thats all they ever ask him. poor jay. because of wilco his name is sealed in rock history. i'd call that lucky, though i do sympathize that getting kicked out of such a big-name band sucks big time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
napoleon Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 because of wilco his name is sealed in rock history. i'd call that lucky, though i do sympathize that getting kicked out of such a big-name band sucks big time. yeah i mean i completely understand them asking him about wilco because thats where he got his name from, and thats probably where his name will always be the biggest... but i feel bad that thats all he'll ever really be asked about. its like if keith got kicked out of the stones, you know no matter what he did for the rest of his life every question he would get asked would be about the stones. i can't believe i just compared jay to keith richards. i completely understand if you guys ban me from the boards, haha. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lance Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 At least Keef and Jay understand what melody is... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam2 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I am not even going to bother defending Jay here anymore. He is a great musician, and can play guitar as good or better than anyone out there. I think the people who continue to put him down let the fact that Jeff Tweedy had a falling out with him have an influence on their opinion of him. I have met Jay, and he is one of the nicest people you will meet. He is building a great solo career. And by the way, his new album is fantastic. It is miles better than any of the new Wilco songs I've been hearing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kalle Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 omg Jay just added me to myspace uh ohhhhohoohhhhhh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I am not even going to bother defending Jay here anymore. He is a great musician, and can play guitar as good or better than anyone out there. I think the people who continue to put him down let the fact that Jeff Tweedy had a falling out with him have an influence on their opinion of him. I have met Jay, and he is one of the nicest people you will meet. He is building a great solo career. And by the way, his new album is fantastic. It is miles better than any of the new Wilco songs I've been hearing. Doesn't change the fact that he sings like Cookie Monster. I love Jay's playing - keyboards or guitar, but I don't much care for his voice. And you have to admit that, having nothing to do with Jeff or Wilco, he did look a little, ah, 'kooky' in IATTBYH. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam2 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 His singing on his latest album is great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
El Picador Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 Doesn't change the fact that he sings like Cookie Monster. I love Jay's playing - keyboards or guitar, but I don't much care for his voice. And you have to admit that, having nothing to do with Jeff or Wilco, he did look a little, ah, 'kooky' in IATTBYH. "Remember all that blow in Amsterdam?" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 "Remember all that blow in Amsterdam?" "I must have missed that" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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