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It's great because it's discordant, and messy. It often feels likes it's about fly off into utter chaos with no regard for structure at all.

 

I think the thing that really makes me stop and listen wherever I happen to find it playing is Tweedy. He may not have the chops many of the greats have but this is a great wanking piece of work, and I mean that in the best possible way.

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It's this beautiful, quiet song....and then this erruption of the best fucking overdriven guitar sound I have ever heard. And, as said above I get the goosebumps. I should mention also where Glenn does that huge roll is sooooo sweet. Great song. Very dynamic.

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Patterson Hood said it was the best opening album cut of the year.

 

 

When I first heard it, I got chills....the onslaught of guitars, then Glenn absolutely pounding the drum set...really amazing. Someone on this board said it sounded like 2 people arguing back and forth. The sound of the instruments painted a picture than any lyric could.

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sadly Nels' contribution to the solo phase is largely missed. It's listening to the two guitars together that really makes all the live versions just leap through the headphones for me.

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:worship

this is why:

 

i wish i could do something like that on my guitar...

Totally agree, though doing that on guitar just takes a fair bit of practice and a lot of raw energy. Get an electric, distortion, crank it and just start playing over a 2 or 3 chord pattern, after a while, it'll become second nature to solo like a sonic explosion. I love to play like this (or variations on the Neil Young/Sonic Youth/Yo La Tengo/Nels guitar chaotic beauty style).

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Totally agree, though doing that on guitar just takes a fair bit of practice and a lot of raw energy. Get an electric, distortion, crank it and just start playing over a 2 or 3 chord pattern, after a while, it'll become second nature to solo like a sonic explosion. I love to play like this (or variations on the Neil Young/Sonic Youth/Yo La Tengo/Nels guitar chaotic beauty style).

yeah, i can do little bits of it, just not the fast thing where he moves his wrist like nuts

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For me, the appeal of ALTWS is two-fold: the powerful lyrics that underly the quiet beginning (is he really saying that?) followed by the cataclysm of sound that becomes this utter catharsis of guitar playing. I feel like I am peering into Jeff Tweedy's soul and am completely drawn in, even though I feel guilty for it.

 

Rolling Stone.com used to have a video of them playing this song live at Coachella. It was amazing. To watch the interplay between Jeff and Nels, to see Glenn powering through on the drums, and then watching each member of the band working together, it's a spiritual thing to see it. I feel as if Jeff and Nels are engaged in some form of combat up there on stage, and Jeff's concentration is just incredible.

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For me, the appeal of ALTWS is two-fold: the powerful lyrics that underly the quiet beginning (is he really saying that?) followed by the cataclysm of sound that becomes this utter catharsis of guitar playing. I feel like I am peering into Jeff Tweedy's soul and am completely drawn in, even though I feel guilty for it.

 

Rolling Stone.com used to have a video of them playing this song live at Coachella. It was amazing. To watch the interplay between Jeff and Nels, to see Glenn powering through on the drums, and then watching each member of the band working together, it's a spiritual thing to see it. I feel as if Jeff and Nels are engaged in some form of combat up there on stage, and Jeff's concentration is just incredible.

 

amen brother!!

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Well the dude does have a little more time to practice it :P

 

Makes it no more visceral or amazing though, every time.

true.

 

yeah, i think it's probably my number 2 favorite wilco song ever. just because it's been there when i have been so upset i couldn't see straight... wilco's music does that.

 

i'm digging your godzilla, dsc.

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Did anyone see them open their show at Otto's in Dekalb a few years back with this? It was before Ghost even came out. My god, it was probably the greatest opening track of a concert I've ever seen. It opens so quiet....then BOOM!! It hits you like a sledgehammer...one of my all time favorite live songs for any band.

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true.

 

yeah, i think it's probably my number 2 favorite wilco song ever. just because it's been there when i have been so upset i couldn't see straight... wilco's music does that.

 

i'm digging your godzilla, dsc.

Glad you're digging it.

 

Yeah, this song is definitely one that's great for any frustrated/depressed/bad moments, so cathartic. Many a time have I cranked this up and accompanied the Tweedy freakout...wonderful.

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Did anyone see them open their show at Otto's in Dekalb a few years back with this? It was before Ghost even came out. My god, it was probably the greatest opening track of a concert I've ever seen. It opens so quiet....then BOOM!! It hits you like a sledgehammer...one of my all time favorite live songs for any band.

 

Yeah, love listening to that boot. Really extended solo on that version too, an extra 2 minutes or so. Great show overall - loose and fun.

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