Sky Blue Sky - The Grower Thread

[Artifex]

I totally agre. To my mind if you hold up 'muzzle of bees' and "side w/ seeds" the point is crystalized...

 

"half of it's you half of it's me" has turned into "I'll side with you if you side with me". What was abstract is now physical. The contentedness that AGIB longed for has finally been realized in this record. Dissonance has given way to sweetness.

 

[viatroy]

when I got in my car this afternoon, I spent at least several seconds trying to identify the Beatles song that was playing. SBS.

[BolivarBaLues]

This album for me was far from a "grower;" I immediately fell in love with it. AGIB, now that was a grower for me, but after about 6-7 listens, I think this will turn out to be perhaps the finest record they've made to date, albeit one that will probably not receive its proper appreciation for some years to come. The whole group, in fact, I feel will be one that is more appreciated years after they're gone than they are during their existence; The Band comes to mind.

 

I've not read through all these posts, but somewhere earlier in the thread some folks were talking about this album perhaps not appealing to younger kids as much as say YHF. I couldn't agree more; in fact, one of my first impressions was that this record's going to lose some fans, like virtually every record before has. There's always those that like the sound of a particular album and want the next record to sound like the one before it, and ulitmately end up dissapointed because that's not how Wilco works. I've been a fan since A.M. and I've loved every record, though there have been periods of adjustment and even brief dissapointment (Summerteeth comes to mind) because my expectations weren't met. It was Summerteeth, in fact, that taught me never to expect the same record twice and to just keep my mind and ears open and enjoy the ride.

 

But back to the age thing. I'm about the same age as Tweedy, and I think for me that's been key in my enjoyment of Wilco over the years. It's seemed that my taste has grown in step with the band, and his music has always been befitting for a person of my age. He's someone who expresses his own personal growth through his music, which is the way it should be, I think. Look at some commercial rock group like Aerosmith, trying to forever preserve 1975, both in sound and image. And for men in their mid to late 50s, I'm embarrased for them when they take the stage shirtless, wearing leather pants and blasting "Train Kept A Rollin'" for the ten thousandth time. I have a hard time listening to the music I listened to when I was 19, even for nostalgiac purposes, and I couldn't even imagine trying to keep cranking that sort of stuff out professionally. SBS is very much a grown-up record, which is great, I think. Look, I don't even hardly listen to rock music any more. I've always tried to keep growing musically and let my heart lead my ears, so with me that place right now is in jazz, which I listen to 99.9 percent of the time. But as far as current rock groups, there is always one exception: Wilco. Don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to say that jazz is "better" or "more mature" than rock or anything, nor am I trying to attach any sort of superlative to it in comparison with rock. I'm just saying that is where I am, musically, at the time, in order to underscore how I view Wilco, which is head and shoulders above the rest.

 

This record represents the band at this particular point in their career, and musically the current lineup is the most talented they've ever had (sorry J.B. fans, but there's really no comparison talent-wise between he and N.C.). They've created a record that reflects their current state, collectively more so than ever before. I've read some comments on the web that say this is practically a "Jeff Tweedy solo record." I could not disagree more; in fact, I have to wonder what those people are hearing. They have changed their approach to songwriting on this record in order to accomodate the band's collective input, as opposed to in the past where Tweedy presented a nearly-completed song to the band for them to learn. This has to be the band's most collaborative effort to date, and it shows. And as far as needing another "rocker," I have to disagree. I think the mix is just right; this is meant to be a melancholy affair (Todd Rundgren anyone?), and there is just enough dynamic contrast within a few songs to satisfy any need I have for "rock." This is never going to appeal to those who need gimmicks to be entertained, or those who aren't willing to put forth an effort in actively listening to the music. It's a dense, multi-layered affair that I feel will reveal more and more each time to those that are willing to put forth the effort. Moby Dick never made sense the first time, or even the fourth, fifth or tenth time through, and if you're trying to figure it out by reading the Cliff Notes, you can forget it. I'm not saying that it's as challenging as a Mellville allegory, but my point is that this album is something that the listener will have to actively engage in order to receive the maximum enjoyment. Tweedy is very much a believer in the classic communications model, in where there final step involves the listener decoding the message; he's said it time and time again in interviews, and this album is no exception. It's out there for the taking, so do yourselves a favor and give it the attention it deserves; it will be a very rewarding experience. For those who say it's "boring," "adult contemporary," "Muzak," or whatever, that's fine; it's certainly your opinion. But my bet is that somewhere down the road, it may be months, or it could be years, that same person will grow to love this record.

[quarter23cd]

Dear BolivarBaLues:

 

Please return my brain and stop borrowing it to write posts. Reading that was eerie because it sounded a lot like at least one or two of the voices in my head. Nicely done.

[lost highway]

For those who say it's "boring," "adult contemporary," "Muzak," or whatever, that's fine; it's certainly your opinion. But my bet is that somewhere down the road, it may be months, or it could be years, that same person will grow to love this record.

 

Yes. And I am once again tempted to loosely quote David Fricke's take on album absorption. "Some people are gonna get it. If you don't thats just kind of too bad." Theres alot of albums I don't get. I get this album more every time I put it on, and it gets me. That gets really, really nice.

[Gobias Industries]

I'm glad I'm not the only person who immediately loved SBS.

 

And I'm not even 18, hmmmmmmmmmmm...

[Guest Jules]

I'm glad I'm not the only person who immediately loved SBS.

Same here...AGIB took some time to click for me. This one was pretty immediate.

[Sir Stewart]

Same here...AGIB took some time to click for me. This one was pretty immediate.

This is the most I've enjoyed a Wilco album in its incubation period since Summerteeth.

Summerteeth is currently the Wilco album I listen to least.

[Guest Speed Racer]

After months of naysaying, I will say that I really do like all of these songs. Except On & On & On. I would rather watch Sparticus three times over with The Drone in the background. But you can't have everything.

 

(My bargain with myself for listening to the leak is only listening to it on shuffle. I have not heard the album 'in order' yet.)

 

'Hate it Here' is the best way 'You're Really Gone' could have turned out. Geez. Floors me everytime at its soulfulness.

[quarter23cd]

After yesterday, I can attest that SBS is an excellent album to listen to while driving around in the car at sunset with the windows down on the first 70 degree day of the year. (I actually kept driving around for a while just so I could hear more of it)

 

Actually, I spent last night upacking boxes at my new house, so I also went back and gave AGIB and YHF their first full-spins in ages and after listening to all 3 back to back to back I have concluded that they are indeed the 3 most recent Wilco studio albums. I'm starting to see what some people have said about the connection between AGIB and SBS. I didn't think so before, but now I can definitely see the relaxed and confident tone of SBS as the aftermath of the tension that never really found release in AGIB. Very interesting, but most of the time I still prefer to think of each of the albums independently from one another.

 

The one that actually surprised me the most from my listens last night was YHF. I have to admit I'm a little sick of most of those songs and sometimes get tired of hearing about how great that album is, so lately it has been my least listened-to Wilco album. But every once in a while I come back to it--like last night--and I swear I just stood there in my kitchen for the entire duration of the album going "Whoa".

 

All 3 records sound fantastic to my ears, and each somehow manages to give me a greater appreciation for the others. If I could have stayed awake longer, I probably would have listened to the rest of the records, too, but the Wilco catalog is starting to get kind of big for that kind of marathon.

[Chendizzle]

I totally agre. To my mind if you hold up 'muzzle of bees' and "side w/ seeds" the point is crystalized...

 

"half of it's you half of it's me" has turned into "I'll side with you if you side with me". What was abstract is now physical. The contentedness that AGIB longed for has finally been realized in this record. Dissonance has given way to sweetness.

 

Except Muzzle of Bees is a much better song.

 

 

Well I think so anyway.

[quarter23cd]

Except Muzzle of Bees is a much better song.

False.

[bleedorange]

The one that actually surprised me the most from my listens last night was YHF. I have to admit I'm a little sick of most of those songs and sometimes get tired of hearing about how great that album is, so lately it has been my least listened-to Wilco album. But every once in a while I come back to it--like last night--and I swear I just stood there in my kitchen for the entire duration of the album going "Whoa".

 

I've been on my own mini-marathon and completely agree with you on YHF. Although I never tire of hearing how great it is, I do take it for granted sometimes. Listening to it beginning to end this afternoon gave me the same sense of awe you felt.

[Gobias Industries]

Except Muzzle of Bees is a much better song.

 

Call in the Inquisition! This is blasphemy!

 

 

Side With The Seeds >>>>>>> Muzzle of Bees.

[a.miller]

False.

False.

[Gobias Industries]

Are you Falsing his False?

 

Because I would False your Falsing of his False.

[bleedorange]

I would have to agree with the falsing of the falsing of the false.

 

I think.

[quarter23cd]

I'm changing my original answer to:

 

D. Lima Beans

[unposed_question]

"Am i the only one who thinks impossible germany is probably the worst song on the album? A decent solo from nels, but the outro is the cheesiest hogwash I could imagine them releasing... the guitar tones and hooks remind me more of music played as background on the weather channel than of the inventive and energetic band I know and love."

 

 

I have to respectfully disagree. I would be willing to wager a beverage of your choice that Impossible Germany will be the defining song of this album. I realize it's already appeared on their tour, but I think it's the most thoughtful and melodic song on the album and the one that will have the most resonance in the future. Instead of cheesy hogwash and cable tv background music, I hear a song in the vein of "Jesus, etc." and "ALTWYS", two of their best songs of recent years.

[caliber66]

I have to respectfully disagree. I would be willing to wager a beverage of your choice that Impossible Germany will be the defining song of this album.

How the hell would you quantify that?

[unposed_question]

Let me think about that and get back to you.

[jethro]

After months of naysaying, I will say that I really do like all of these songs. Except On & On & On. I would rather watch Sparticus three times over with The Drone in the background. But you can't have everything.

F the lovers, I got your back on the On & On & On hate. Worst Wilco song in recent memory, though Shake It Off is running a close second. I look forward to the inevitable bonus tracks that will let me make Shake It Off go away permanently.

 

'Hate it Here' is the best way 'You're Really Gone' could have turned out. Geez. Floors me everytime at its soulfulness.

It doesn't sound much like that song fragment and it's easily my favorite moment on the record, but it being based on an older song (didn't make the connection until your post) is a little...

 

Impossible Germany got a bit neutered for the record, it's yet another in a now long line of songs that come across much better live. Someday Wilco will make a record that captures the energy of their best live shows. Maybe. Same goes for Walkin' and What Light too. Maybe it's just that the loft is haunted with the ghost of Sammy Davis Jr. or something. "Hey now baby, don't put too much 'wow' into that song, slow it right on down now, yeah, man, yeah!"

[SarahC]

Ok. first time listening to "Hate It Here" and wow, what a cool song!

[blindgonzo]

 

[coast to coast]

I'd really love to hear this line-up of the band do some kind of version of Radio King in the vein of this album. All three guitars hammering on the intro in shifting harmonies, turning it into a sweet soul ballad... dunno why I thought that.

 

Further thoughts after further listens. I reckon the real CD will spring a bit of vitality into some tracks, but I still think one are two are slumps in the album which is unusual for a Wilco album. Also I cannot help but feel that if they were going to put something with a light-hearted feel on it like Hate It Here or Walken, that The Thanks I Get would've fitted in well. I didn't like the version they did on Conan, far toooooo smooooooth and with lots of wanky hammond fills but I'd love to hear that songs stripped back like High Heat or Kicking Television.

 

Still I get what Uncle Wilco was saying - this is just SBS not something else we want it to be. Ther are things on the album where I get what they're doing but still don't buy into it, and there are bits I think they coudl've done better and I still think On and On and On is phenomenal.