my friend say boo hiss to nels cline

[Panther]

If any of you take the time to listen to a variety of the styles Nels(God)Cline is capable of, I think you'd be hard pressed not to be optimistic. The soundscaping that this guy can produce with his guitar and toys surpasses the sampling of YHF. I get giddy just thinking about what this lineup can produce, seriously think about it.

 

Just some advice (not that you want to hear it) chill with the wilco entitlement (oh YHF was so perfect for me) ya me to but hasn

[Chendizzle]

Put me in the camp that was initially wooed and is now doubtful about Nels's contribution to Wilco. I like some of the stuff he added live, but for me Jeff is more evocative and emotional with his guitar playing. I doubt Nels could ever pull off something like "At Least That's What You Said."

 

The soundscaping that this guy can produce with his guitar and toys surpasses the sampling of YHF. I get giddy just thinking about what this lineup can produce, seriously think about it.

 

Then they produced SBS, my least favorite album besides AM. Nels's playing on that album is too weather channely and sounds like everything else he does. At the risk of calling him one-dimensional, he seems to have a pretty distinctive guitar tone that can add to songs like Muzzle of Bees or Ashes but over the course of the album/live show it grates on me. Granted he's also good with the noise things for the drone-y parts of songs, I'd just prefer to hear Jeff rocking the guitar.

 

Whatever though. Just saying in my dream world Jeff would be Wilco's lead guitarist. But I can live with Nels.

[Panther]

I wish they played that kind of stuff on the weather channel! Its weird Impossible Germany for me has gotten better over time it physically drains me by the end.

Its so intense that I have to sit down after rocking out. Dose this happen to anyone else?

 

Keep in mind, that the amps are turned down really low so all the noise he makes on SBS is purely technical (speed!)Jeff probably isn

[mfwahl]

Put me in the camp that was initially wooed and is now doubtful about Nels's contribution to Wilco. I like some of the stuff he added live, but for me Jeff is more evocative and emotional with his guitar playing. I doubt Nels could ever pull off something like "At Least That's What You Said."

 

 

 

Then they produced SBS, my least favorite album besides AM. Nels's playing on that album is too weather channely and sounds like everything else he does. At the risk of calling him one-dimensional, he seems to have a pretty distinctive guitar tone that can add to songs like Muzzle of Bees or Ashes but over the course of the album/live show it grates on me. Granted he's also good with the noise things for the drone-y parts of songs, I'd just prefer to hear Jeff rocking the guitar.

 

Whatever though. Just saying in my dream world Jeff would be Wilco's lead guitarist. But I can live with Nels.

I agree with this. Nels adds a lot to a lot of songs like Shot in the Arm and Ashes of American Flags plus many others. I love his playing, but I know what you mean. I loved the PBS Soundstage with Jeff playing lead. Handshake Drugs particularly amazing

[mpolak21]

the 4 piece was great, but for me, the 5 piece (Jeff, Glenn, LeRoy, John and Mike) was the best line-up.

 

 

I feel the same way. I love Nels Cline and he's one of the most intriguing musicians I've ever seen in a live setting. He's amazing on Kicking Television, and there are some songs on Sky Blue Sky where I think he's perfect. That said I think that lineup complemented each other amazingly well. Tweedy's guitar playing is so emotive, expressive and unpredictable and Leroy could play pretty much everything and always added excellent parts to every song, John is a wonderful bass player, Mike's additions were always quite interesting, and Glenn Kotche is one of the greatest drummers in rock history. I think the six piece is probably my second favorite lineup, but I can't help but wonder what direction the band would have gone in if Jim O'Rourke had been talked into joining them during A Ghost is Born and Bach could have been convinced to stay. One thing's for certain, I am pretty sure this hypothetical album wouldn't have been called mellow.

 

--Mike

[zark]

I think JT has to be shitting his pants...First he stumbles upon GK, who has been the biggest influence on his writing (remember, JT was a bass player and realizes the importance of a quality drummer) and then Nels enter the mix to play the solos Jeff wishes he could play...Tweedy is not a soloist. He can do it for sure but it is not his forte. NC + JT=JB with out all the BS. OK?

[TheMaker]

You know, I'm going to have to rescind my infamous declaration, officially, based on the number of foo's who can't seem to appreciate m'buche:

 

Nels Cline is essential.

 

Also, seriously, there are fucking people who honestly believe that the low ebb that is the Leroy era was Wilco's peak? Uhhhhhhhhh.

 

You're obviously entitled to your opinion, but WHAT THE FUCKING SHIT, people. Jesus Christ!

[Chuck Turner]

Critical discourse is just fine. But to me the title of this thread is mean spirited. Maybe something like Wilco guitarists then and now, or just some way of raising the musical issues you have with Wilco or Nels without being so hurtful in the thread title.

 

when this thread first got to me I started a thread "Boo Hiss to Boo Hissing" to which some VCer's took offense at . . .

 

when this thread starting reappearing now and again, I went back and figured out how to CLOSE my own thread . . .

 

I would suggest that if the spirit moves you, or gratitude for Wilco residency shows, this threads author or a moderator or administrator could close this thread.

I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

 

To see this come back again, have someone borrowing the title for a PINNED sticky on another area of VC . . .

 

I'm sure it'll probably 'keep coming back' (pun intended) as a running joke . . . I'm over it, but I'm not laughing.

 

Nels Cline is a friend of mine. I don't know him super well. I mostly knew him 92' 93' 94' 95'. The Nels Cline Trio of 93 was my favorite band of that year. I was fortunate to play to play in a band with him around that time, only 6 or 7 gigs over a couple years but enough to know him as a musician.

 

(I got clean and sober in 95 and stayed close to home for a bit, so I don't run into NC much anymore cept to say hello at an LA club gig.)

 

One more thing to consider when pinning for the Wilco of days gone by. . . There are many relationships in life. When someone gets clean. Sometimes their old friends miss the part of them that used to "party" . . . I think that there may be some of that going on with the relationship of JT and some of the fan base. Obviously in kicking the pain killer addiction there are changes, these are necessary to stay alive. . . Wilco has completely embraced there past now (with the residency). In recovery, it's said that our past is our greatest asset. Because with it we can help someone get through a similar difficult situation.

 

I for one am grateful for the changes in the music, this allowed to connect at a deeper level. And with that connection explore the back catolog in a new light . . .

 

just my $ .02

[Three dollars and 63 cents]

It's my birthday, and I decree there will be no booing or hissing of Nels today. Those of you who feel the need to can get back to it tomorrow.

[fatheadfred]

The world needs people to say boo hiss to Nels to balance out the people like me who adore him. Otherwise his ego would get too big, and it would wreck the band.

 

The dude seems pretty grounded knowing that he can fuck it up. Ergo, he doesn't have a complex. Super nice fella.

 

And, tell yer friend he sux.

 

It is nice to see a band continue for 10+ years. How many people do you work with that long? Not many, people change, people move on. Why would we expect a band not to do the same? If they didn't they would get stagnant. I am guessing someone will provide a band that defies this, but it is very rare.

 

If the band readz this bulldoo, they prolly laugh. They are probably aware of the professionalism required to fill a role. Jay Bennett's name comes to mind when I think of someone who didn't understand this concept. But, perhaps, this opinion is formed from watched the documentary.

 

Oh, yeah, Nels rulz (again). Please enjoy this setup before they morph again. Ten years from now peeps'll be bitchin and longing for Nels once he is gone and Miley Cyrus is in the band they'll bitch about her style.

[DAngerer09]

After seeing Wilco live with Nels a handful of times, I can't imagine shows being better off without him. Just listen to Kicking Television and how much he adds to songs like Handshake Drugs, Company in My Back, Ashes of American Flags.

 

I can understand some people wanting older lineups for some of the stuff from the mid to late 90s, but man....I feel like the live shows would lack a lot without his treatment of Wilco songs of the 2000s. I remember watching the live performances on the IATTBYH DVD with the 4 piece lineup and it just felt kinda lifeless compared to their live sound now. Not that it was bad, I just think it was not as good as it is now.