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Sky Blue Sky - The Grower Thread


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Everyone is different when it comes to music, of course, but personally I find that a lot of the music that I like right away gets boring fast. The albums I don't like at first, and that I have to grow with, end up being my favourite. I think this is because songs I like right away sound like other music I've heard, and are comfortable, don't hurt my ears. Music which is new to me takes time for my ears to adapt, but once it does it stays with me forever. I haven't liked any of the Wilco albums yet on first listen, they all took time to nurse and digest, but all become something special over time. YHF was the first Wilco album I heard, and I didn't like it, but it eventually creeped up on me and became my favourite album, its subtleties really seeped into my pores. Same with AGIB, although not as much, and then the rest of the Wilco albums. For some reason with SBS, though, I loved right away on first listen. I didn't like the live tracks of the album I had heard, and was really worried about this album, but it is everything I wanted from a Wilco album and the genius is more than I ever could have expected. It's exhilarating and I've never felt this after a first listen. Maybe after what I said earlier I should be worried that I'll get bored quickly, but I don't think so... because it's grown every time I've listened to it so far which is pretty much continuously whenever I can find the time. Anyways I could go on for a long time about this album but should probably shut up now since this is my first post on this list and all... don't want to ramble on more than I already did.

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You know, history generally seems to repeat itself with each new Wilco release. With every new album, there's a shift in the fan base. There's always a group of fans that is unhappy with whatever new direction the band takes and wishes that the new album would sound more like whatever phase of Wilco they liked best. In the past, those that defected from the Wilco camp were generally replaced with new fans drawn in by the new sound (this cycle was most apparent with "Summerteeth" and "YHF" but still seemed in effect for "AGIB"). I guess the true test for this album will be whether we see those new fans coming on board. I have noticed a lot of new posters around; however, a lot of them have come out of the woodwork to express their reservations with the new record or just to request a PM. Also, it seems to me that there are a lot of folks who have been constant in their enjoyment of Wilco throughout the previous changes who are now not embracing the new stuff. While I really do love "Sky Blue Sky" (more and more with each listen), I seem to be in the minority, and I'm starting to suspect that this may be the first album for Wilco that loses more supporters than it gains. Then again, we may experience an influx of excited new Via Chicago members come May. I'm curious to see how this unfolds.

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While I really do love "Sky Blue Sky" (more and more with each listen), I seem to be in the minority, and I'm starting to suspect that this may be the first album for Wilco that loses more supporters than it gains. Then again, we may experience an influx of excited new Via Chicago members come May. I'm curious to see how this unfolds.

Meh. I'm not too worried about it. Although I suppose maybe the band cares more about such things than I do. :lol I suppose it will be kind of interesting to see what happens with the fan base. You're right that certain segments of the fanbase have come and gone as styles have shifted. If anything, you might see more of that happening with the crowd that hopped on around YHF and AGIB, who gravitated towards their "experimentalism". Certainly this album will leave them perplexed if that is what they expect out of Wilco. I dunno.

 

This album isn't as willfully difficult or obscure as previous efforts, and I'll agree that the band's hipster quotient will likely take a hit because of it. On the other hand, the newfound openness might serve as an olive branch to people who have been kind of on the sidelines. I know several people who know of Wilco only from some of the big festival type things they've played at, and the reaction I've most commonly heard was "Yeah, they were pretty good, but they seemed kind of stiff."(Or dense, or whatever.) And maybe its that a lot of the YHF and AGIB material really isn't that well suited to that kind of setting. The more direct material could serve as an easier entry-point to people who are only peripherally-aware of Wilco so far, so I don't know that they'll be hurting for fans. But you never know. As you say, it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

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I don't see this at all.

 

Assuming you mean that you don't think those who like "SBS" are in the minority, perhaps you're right. I certainly hope so -- and the poll taken a few days ago certainly appears to back you up (out of 193 respondants, the most common rating was an 8, and most others fell on the positive side of the spectrum). Maybe the negative comments just stick out more as I looks through the boards. An angry post of "WTF -- Dad rock?" probably stands out more than a more mellow post praising the new stuff.

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You know, history generally seems to repeat itself with each new Wilco release. With every new album, there's a shift in the fan base. There's always a group of fans that is unhappy with whatever new direction the band takes and wishes that the new album would sound more like whatever phase of Wilco they liked best. In the past, those that defected from the Wilco camp were generally replaced with new fans drawn in by the new sound (this cycle was most apparent with "Summerteeth" and "YHF" but still seemed in effect for "AGIB"). I guess the true test for this album will be whether we see those new fans coming on board. I have noticed a lot of new posters around; however, a lot of them have come out of the woodwork to express their reservations with the new record or just to request a PM. Also, it seems to me that there are a lot of folks who have been constant in their enjoyment of Wilco throughout the previous changes who are now not embracing the new stuff. While I really do love "Sky Blue Sky" (more and more with each listen), I seem to be in the minority, and I'm starting to suspect that this may be the first album for Wilco that loses more supporters than it gains. Then again, we may experience an influx of excited new Via Chicago members come May. I'm curious to see how this unfolds.

 

im a newcomer, and yea, im not here because i like sbs, more because i dont like it. at all.

i wanted to see if people agreed with me, but not many do. and i was hoping, at least, to find some YHF fanatics like myself. havent found any :(

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im a newcomer, and yea, im not here because i like sbs, more because i dont like it. at all.

i wanted to see if people agreed with me, but not many do. and i was hoping, at least, to find some YHF fanatics like myself. havent found any :(

I am a YHF fanatic. But that doesn't preclude me from also enjoying SBS, which has been steadily growing on me.

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Guest Jules
im a newcomer, and yea, im not here because i like sbs, more because i dont like it. at all.

i wanted to see if people agreed with me, but not many do. and i was hoping, at least, to find some YHF fanatics like myself. havent found any :(

 

Seriously, what are you talking about?

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I'm starting to suspect that this may be the first album for Wilco that loses more supporters than it gains.

Just because I don't like the new album very much certainly doesn't mean Wilco has lost me as a fan!

 

and i was hoping, at least, to find some YHF fanatics like myself. havent found any :(

Is that a joke? I'm pretty sure almost everybody on here is freakin' crazy about YHF. :brow

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QUOTE(65days @ Mar 8 2007, 05:12 PM)

 

im a newcomer, and yea, im not here because i like sbs, more because i dont like it. at all.

i wanted to see if people agreed with me, but not many do. and i was hoping, at least, to find some YHF fanatics like myself. havent found any

 

and i have to admit sbs is growing on me. slowly.

 

like in four minutes?

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no not in four minutes. after listening to walken, now go away

Just because I don't like the new album very much certainly doesn't mean Wilco has lost me as a fan!

Is that a joke? I'm pretty sure almost everybody on here is freakin' crazy about YHF. :brow

 

most people i have talked to like ghost a lot more, which makes my head want to explode

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most people i have talked to like ghost a lot more, which makes my head want to explode

You mean not everyone shares your opinion? If that makes your head want to explode, consider getting a new head.

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You mean not everyone shares your opinion? If that makes your head want to explode, consider getting a new head.

 

why can't you just share his opinion? Why the need to go on about getting head?

 

why do you hate wilco?

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ah, maturity. so sweet :)

Nice. Good luck with that exploding head of yours, Skippy.

 

 

:lol First time in twenty years someone has questioned my "maturity." Maybe twenty-five.

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After many listens, the album has yet to grow on me; there's some amazing songs on there, but as a whole, I'm having a hard time getting into the album. However, I agree with people that this is the right album made for the right time, and I respect it none the less; I'm not going to use my subjective opinion and proclaim the band as "lame and bland" just because they aren't fulfilling my inner yearnings to here "A Ghost Is Born, Part II"

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After many listens, the album has yet to grow on me; there's some amazing songs on there, but as a whole, I'm having a hard time getting into the album. However, I agree with people that this is the right album made for the right time, and I respect it none the less; I'm not going to use my subjective opinion and proclaim the band as "lame and bland" just because they aren't fulfilling my inner yearnings to here "A Ghost Is Born, Part II"

After quite a few listens I am ready to proclaim my revised tracklist a success (for me, before people get their panties in a wad). If you find yourself kinda, sorta disappointed in the final version as well then my suggestion is to:

 

1) Ditch Either Way as the opener. You Are My Face is a much better opening track and gets things off in a positive rather than limpwristed way. Defenders of the status quo need not apply, though you might be surprised if you tried this as well. I suppose you could find a place for it somewhere else but I don't find myself missing it all that much.

 

2) Edit down Shake It Off to not be so draggy to start and annoying. You could alternately PM me for a link to the version I did, or if you like the way it turned out ( :monkey!) then leave it alone. For me nothing kills a record's flow like a clunker right in the middle, and because of how it's written you can do this with it ending up sounding like that's how they meant to do it. I still don't love it, but like it a lot more as a 3:22 song than a 5:30 one.

 

3) Ditch On & On & On as the closer. I know people like this, it baffles me, but what are you gonna do. This means the slightly stellar What Light is the ending track and finishes off the record on a pretty great note.

 

The end result is that it's over in 41 minutes instead of 50+ and I find myself wanting to hear more when it's over, or to hear it again, which pretty much says it all. I'm actually looking forward to the actual release now and I probably would have just gotten it on itunes as a show of support for a band I've been a fan of for a long time before.

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Just as a matter of interest..

what would be considered a bad Wilco album? Or what would have disappointed people here?

 

Wilco have been consistenlty brilliant for as long as I can remember, and in the time that I have been a fan this is the first time that I have felt disappointed..I'm surprised that there are only a handful of people out there who feel the same

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Just as a matter of interest..

what would be considered a bad Wilco album? Or what would have disappointed people here?

 

Wilco have been consistenlty brilliant for as long as I can remember, and in the time that I have been a fan this is the first time that I have felt disappointed..I'm surprised that there are only a handful of people out there who feel the same

 

im like you. i think summerteeth and yhf are absolute masterpieces. ghost didnt have that magic, for me atleast, and im relatively dissapointed with SBS.

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The problem is, you're always going to have people who like the Wilco album, because yes, there are those people who would buy an album that consisted of recordings of Jeff farting in an empty grain elevator while John and Glenn keep the rhythm on a rubber band and an old washing machine body. But there are also people who will recognize this album for what it is: an honest effort that's maybe not going to be everybody's cup of tea. For everyone who's disappointed (as I am, to an extent) that this is not a very "exciting" album, there will be someone who is totally in love with the pace and arrangement. Just because it's not what you were expecting doesn't mean it's not a good album. You may not ever like it, and that's okay. But it doesn't mean that people that do are deceiving themselves. They just enjoy something you don't.

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The problem is, you're always going to have people who like the Wilco album, because yes, there are those people who would buy an album that consisted of recordings of Jeff farting in an empty grain elevator while John and Glenn keep the rhythm on a rubber band and an old washing machine body. But there are also people who will recognize this album for what it is: an honest effort that's maybe not going to be everybody's cup of tea. For everyone who's disappointed (as I am, to an extent) that this is not a very "exciting" album, there will be someone who is totally in love with the pace and arrangement. Just because it's not what you were expecting doesn't mean it's not a good album. You may not ever like it, and that's okay. But it doesn't mean that people that do are deceiving themselves. They just enjoy something you don't.

 

i know, i wasnt imposing my opinion onto anyone, just voicing how i feel, which is dissapointed by the album.

 

and i agree with you about how some people will like an album, just because its wilco, or will buy it at least.

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The problem is, you're always going to have people who like the Wilco album, because yes, there are those people who would buy an album that consisted of recordings of Jeff farting in an empty grain elevator while John and Glenn keep the rhythm on a rubber band and an old washing machine body. But there are also people who will recognize this album for what it is: an honest effort that's maybe not going to be everybody's cup of tea. For everyone who's disappointed (as I am, to an extent) that this is not a very "exciting" album, there will be someone who is totally in love with the pace and arrangement. Just because it's not what you were expecting doesn't mean it's not a good album. You may not ever like it, and that's okay. But it doesn't mean that people that do are deceiving themselves. They just enjoy something you don't.

:thumbup

 

recordings of Jeff farting in an empty grain elevator while John and Glenn keep the rhythm on a rubber band and an old washing machine body.

I'd also like to note that I think they could pull this off.

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