Sky Blue Sky - The Grower Thread

[Guest Jules]

There was a 256kbs stream rip out there. This sounds exactly like it with all the crackling and stuff. I sure hope this isn't legit because it sounds bad...

I don't doubt you. That's what this one is too. All I know is this version sounds miles better than what I had before. Not to be over dramatic, but it's like I'm listening to it for the first time for me. I couldn't even listen to Impossible Germany before and I just played it 3 times.

 

I haven't heard any crackling, either, and I have a pretty good system. No headphones, though.

 

I'm sure the official CD will sound even better, but I'm pleased at the moment.

[humbum]

While not a Wilco fan from day one, the first Mermaid Ave. album found me wishing I had been. I would never claim any expertise in knowing the minds of the Wilco members, but here is my take on the new album. SBS seems to me as grown from Tweedy's extensive solo touring. Wilco albums have always been colaborative efforts when it comes to the final product, but this seems very much a labor for jeff to expres himself through the band in a new way. He keeps it simple, which does allow the other band members to express themselves through his music. This being the first studio album with nels, I think that it fits perfectly in the lineage behind kicking television and what is to come on, what now very pleasently looks to be, the long road Wilco has to ride with the current line up. Jeff was more productive over the last two plus years than ever before- AGIB and tour, Loose Fur, Golden Smog, Kicking Television, solo tours, dates with Wilco, and now SBS. Loving all the side projects and stoked to see Jeff spread his wings and show off his prolific place in the contemporary music scene its nice to think that the next two years will be decidely all about Wilco. SBS is Jeff at the end of a solo show singing without the PA, the audience intent and quite, beautiful. It won't take Wilco long to find the more upbeat passion that is a part of their soulful repertoire. Not claiming the powers of Kreskin, I predict a lengthy tour backed up by another album relatively quickly. The end is nowhere in sight, enjoy the mellow tunes, bask in the glory of a band that knows its time and place, and has produced an album that captures this perfectly.

 

humbum

[Basil II]

Hey......humbum.....nice first post!!!!! admire your enhusiasm.....

 

 

-robert.

[kidsmoke]

While not a Wilco fan from day one, the first Mermaid Ave. album found me wishing I had been. I would never claim any expertise in knowing the minds of the Wilco members, but here is my take on the new album. SBS seems to me as grown from Tweedy's extensive solo touring. Wilco albums have always been colaborative efforts when it comes to the final product, but this seems very much a labor for jeff to expres himself through the band in a new way. He keeps it simple, which does allow the other band members to express themselves through his music. This being the first studio album with nels, I think that it fits perfectly in the lineage behind kicking television and what is to come on, what now very pleasently looks to be, the long road Wilco has to ride with the current line up. Jeff was more productive over the last two plus years than ever before- AGIB and tour, Loose Fur, Golden Smog, Kicking Television, solo tours, dates with Wilco, and now SBS. Loving all the side projects and stoked to see Jeff spread his wings and show off his prolific place in the contemporary music scene its nice to think that the next two years will be decidely all about Wilco. SBS is Jeff at the end of a solo show singing without the PA, the audience intent and quite, beautiful. It won't take Wilco long to find the more upbeat passion that is a part of their soulful repertoire. Not claiming the powers of Kreskin, I predict a lengthy tour backed up by another album relatively quickly. The end is nowhere in sight, enjoy the mellow tunes, bask in the glory of a band that knows its time and place, and has produced an album that captures this perfectly.

 

humbum

 

Welcome to VC, humbum. Nice first post!

[humbum]

Its good to be here, thanks to all that maintain, and hope to be around.

 

[kidsmoke]

Its good to be here, thanks to all that maintain, and hope to be around.

 

 

Be warned; this place is a sort of addiction. But as addictions go, it's a pretty nice one.

[Aunt Jemima]

I'm so angry at all of you (out of frustration).

 

My school decided to block the downloading of .torrent files A WEEK before it hit oink.

 

 

Anyway, if you want to send your condolences over email, my address is auntiejemima@gmail.com.

 

Also did you know gmail gives you a ton of storage space too?

 

[awatt]

After listening to SBS constantly over last few weeks, what is surprising is that the rest of the Wilco catalogue is now growing on me--I never imagined liking the old stuff even more!

 

 

ps--not sure if this was discussed elsewhere, but does Ryan Adams have a song called Blue Sky Blue or something like that?

[Beltmann]

At this point I'd describe both "You Are My Face" and "Hate It Here" as essential Wilco, and the rest of the album seems to improve via association. I like most of the subdued tracks--especially "Please Be Patient With Me"--and "Side With the Seeds" is definitely growing on me, but I'm still not sold on a few, particularly "Leave Me (Like You Found Me)," "On and On and On," and "Impossible Germany." I seem to be in the minority about "Germany" but it makes me cringe--and it's mostly a reaction to Nels' work. I'd like it much more if his part sounded less like elevator crooning and more like what he contributed to M. Ward's "Headed For a Fall."

[mpolak21]

At this point I'd describe both "You Are My Face" and "Hate It Here" as essential Wilco, and the rest of the album seems to improve via association. I like most of the subdued tracks--especially "Please Be Patient With Me"--and "Side With the Seeds" is definitely growing on me, but I'm still not sold on a few, particularly "Leave Me (Like You Found Me)," "On and On and On," and "Impossible Germany." I seem to be in the minority about "Germany" but it makes me cringe--and it's mostly a reaction to Nels' work. I'd like it much more if his part sounded less like elevator crooning and more like what he contributed to M. Ward's "Headed For a Fall."

 

Yeah Nels's solo on that isn't anywhere near as intense as the live versions.

 

--Mike

[LouieB]

After several listens I am giving this a rest until it comes out officially.

 

Impossible Germany is the centerpiece of the album, and while Nel's solos are as exciting as the live ones, it is still damn good.

 

LouieB

[dark heat]

At this point I'd say "You Are My Face" and "Impossible Germany" are in the upper echelon of Wilco's catalgue. I see YAMF in my top 5 eventually.

[maxbak]

I have a listening copy!

 

Wilco fan since AM and before that UT. I play in a cover band and our drummer works at an independent record store and snagged me the store's preview copy so I have it six weeks early in all its glory. I don't suppose I have anything unique to say that's different from what has been said already and I really admire the musical depth demonstrated on this board.

 

In short, it's a beautiful, gentle record but it's not going to be my favorite Wilco album. My first impression listening through now a couple of times it is that it is an album by committee. I read the RS interview and that certainly confirmed it. It's clear to me the biggest non Tweedy influence on the album is Nels. His imprint is easily recognized, particularly in somgs like Side with the Seeds. But the committee concept where they arrived at the final product by way of compromise tempers a lot of his work.

 

Random thoughts.

 

There's no new ground in the album. I like the homage to past stuff. The soul numbers are growing on me.

 

The title track reminds me of Far, Far Away.

 

Please be Patient With Me causes the same emotional reaction as the Lonely 1 from Being There (my favorite Wilco album)

 

Hate it Here, Side with the Seeds will be great live.

 

It's an amazing thing to listen to this album when in the preceding week I had been listening to the 5/23/97 Colorado Fox Theater show over and over. I have loved all eras of Jeff Tweedy and the evolution of the band.

 

Lacking the experimental sides of Summerteeth, YHF and AGIB, the musician who gets to shine through more in these "traditional" more straightforward songs is John Stirratt. The bass lines are wonderful.

 

Anyone that wants to sniff at What Light as being a cheesy campfire song is missing the point. It's a fun song coming from the same guy who obviously was having a ball singing Roger Miller's "Reincarnation" 10 years ago.

[Reni]

Bread.

[awatt]

This may sound hyperbolic, but Walken is timeless. A rock classic. I loved it each time I heard it live, and now it's one for the ages in the studio.

 

I'm listening right now!

 

[cryptique]

"Walken" may be my least favorite track on SBS.

[kidsmoke]

"Walken" may be my least favorite track on SBS.

 

I love Walken, but I guess I'm just tired of it since it's been around quite awhile as a live song. Still sounds good, though.

[yermom]

My 2 1/2 year old daughter loves Walken. While driving one day I overheard her in the backseat start singing, "I'm walkin'! I'm walkin'! I'm walkin'!" I was soooo proud. She knows a few more lines now. She calls it "The Walking Song" and whenever it starts up she exclaims, "The Walking Song!" with a huge smile on her face. 'Tis awesome.

[kidsmoke]

My 2 1/2 year old daughter loves Walken. While driving one day I overheard her in the backseat start singing, "I'm walkin'! I'm walkin'! I'm walkin'!" I was soooo proud. She knows a few more lines now. She calls it "The Walking Song" and whenever it starts up she exclaims, "The Walking Song!" with a huge smile on her face. 'Tis awesome.

 

I absolutely love the energetic grasp of the glories of life that a two-year-old has. We would all do well to be able to remember what that sense of discovery feels like! Enjoy it, Lynn.

[welch79]

the only track i don't really like is leave me like you found me. the lyrics don't really hang on to the music and the timing seems off. reminds me of the tupelo song no sense in lovin in that regard.

 

i like please be patient, but don't know if it really fits.

 

i'm disappointed that the thanks i get isn't present. i thought that would be a great fit out of all the live ones they played (others i remember are let's fight, which i was glad to see disappear, and let's not get carried away, which i'd like to see on the album).

 

overall satisfied, the above nitpicks notwithstanding.

[Reni]

I have yet to find a track that I actually do like.

[welch79]

I have yet to find a track that I actually do like.

sucks to be you.

[NateNotta]

I agree with the above post, I don't really like anything on this album.

 

Most of it is ok and listenable, but I've concluded that whatever was there that made Wilco (Summerteeth/YHF) magical is gone.

 

I think it goes back to Bennett being gone... I believe he was half the recipe.

 

I will still see Jeff solo, he still seems to be amazing by himself, but I don't think I'll be seeing Wilco on tour. The new lineup sounds way too polished and soulless, and it shows on this album.

 

Specifically on the new album, some of the vocal melodies are probably not that far off from they would have been with the band a few years ago; but musically (instrumentally) the songs are not special. The guitar and piano are boring. Nowhere near the unexpected and completely unique melodies of summerteeth.

 

Go ahead and disagree, because I know many people will love whatever Wilco put out, and many people just starting listening with AGIB and think they're witnessing the peak... but that's how I feel.

[Tim Gunn]

I've listened to it about three times now. Loved it all on the first listen (it was like an early Easter Egg hunt!), but by listen #3, I pretty much find myself coming back to the first 4 tracks, Walken, and On and On and On. Maybe it's just me, but nothing feels like "old-school" Wilco. But that's OK with me.

 

I bought the CD/DVD thing. Got the t-shirt, too. Hope they come back to D.C. area at some point. I'd hate to have to drive down to Charlotte or up to Philly.

[MrRain422]

Finally caved and gave it a few listens. It wasn't the album I was hoping they would make, but it's not the one I feared they would make either. There are a couple songs I like, but I don't see any of them turning into songs I will love. And there were also quite a few that just didn't grab me at all. At this point, I would classify it as a disappointment, although not a major one.