Nonesuch Records

[mkush001]

I have the same thought every time I buy an album on Nonesuch records and slide off the outer cardboard sleeve. With regards to artist roster, diversity, production values, and just plain quality, I believe Nonesuch records to be the greatest record label out there. Whether the artist is a legendary North American songwriter (Randy Newman, Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, Ry Cooder, etc.); a composer or performer of groundbreaking 20th century/modern classical music (Philip Glass, John Adams, Steve Reich, Astor Piazzolla, Louis Andriessen, Glenn Kotche (!), Kronos Quartet, Gidon Kremer, etc.); or a world music artist (Caetano Veloso, Buena Vista Social Club, Taraful Haiducilor, Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate, Youssou Ndour, Gustavo Santaolalla, the many many unbelievable world music records from the Nonesuch Explorer series, etc.), all Nonesuch artists have something undeniably special and unique about them. I cannot think of a single western (i.e. non "world music") group of musicians other than Wilco that possesses the kind of unique genius, artistic quality, and creative consistency necessary to wear the Nonesuch paper cd sleeve. I'm not sure what I wanted to say here, but I guess it comes down to the fact that I wanted to say that I am extremely proud that my favorite band shares the same record label as the artists listed above. And if anyone here didn't realize the importance of Nonesuch records, well now you have yet another reason to be proud to call yourself a Wilco fan.

 

Comments?

[southern hotel foxtrot]

So all albums distributed by nonesuch has the cardboard sleeve?....I did not know that....the only other nonesuch album I own besides Wilco albums is Brian Wilson's SMiLE. Thats pretty cool.

[broc]

"I cannot think of a single western (i.e. non "world music") group of musicians other than Wilco that possesses the kind of unique genius, artistic quality, and creative consistency necessary to wear the Nonesuch paper cd sleeve".....eh, Magnetic Fields??

[aricandover]

"I cannot think of a single western (i.e. non "world music") group of musicians other than Wilco that possesses the kind of unique genius, artistic quality, and creative consistency necessary to wear the Nonesuch paper cd sleeve".....eh, Magnetic Fields??

 

who?

[jff]

Bill Frisell has been putting out records on Nonesuch for approx. 20 years.

 

I liked the Laura Viers record I heard. I think she's on Nonesuch.

[bold992003]

The Black Keys are now on Nonesuch and they rock.

[mkush001]

I didn't say that Wilco was the only western group on Nonesuch, just that they were the only ones that truly deserved it. No offense to Black Keys and Magnetic Fields fans.

[W(TF)]

Comments?

 

Well....ummm. When Wilco signed with Nonesuch, they were already an internationally established act. Given the number of labels bidding for YHF at the time, I can't even see how Nonesuch was especially insightful, much less visionary. And if you look at their original mission--

 

Nonesuch Records was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman, the same man who had founded Elektra Records thirteen years earlier. The label was originally created, largely as a side project for Holzman, in order to further explore the same terrain that Elektra explored in the 1950s, before moving into more of a pop and contemporary folk arena. Holzman wanted to market the eclectic sorts of music that one would hear on college campuses.

 

...then it would seem they are no longer true to that ideal. Point is, there are probably a ton of musical acts that 'deserve' a label like Nonesuch was originally... and we haven't heard of any of them. Who's to blame?

[mkush001]

You're missing what I said completely, I never called them insightful or visionary for signing Wilco. Of course Wilco was already an established act. That's the point. My claim wasn't that Nonesuch rescued great musicians from obscurity, it was that they had the worlds greatest artists and that I am proud that Wilco is in there.

 

Nonesuch Records was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman, the same man who had founded Elektra Records thirteen years earlier. The label was originally created, largely as a side project for Holzman, in order to further explore the same terrain that Elektra explored in the 1950s, before moving into more of a pop and contemporary folk arena. Holzman wanted to market the eclectic sorts of music that one would hear on college campuses.

 

...then it would seem they are no longer true to that ideal. Point is, there are probably a ton of musical acts that 'deserve' a label like Nonesuch was originally

 

Firstly, maybe your idea of "eclectic sorts of music that one would hear on college campuses" is just eclectic indie rock, but it's obvious looking at the Nonesuch roster that they truly meant the word eclectic and it's obvious that they are in fact true to that ideal. Secondly, the point was that there weren't a ton of musical acts that deserve Nonesuch, but Wilco was one of them.

 

Maybe this whole thread is just one big misunderstanding. Oh well.

[ction]

Comments?

 

I'm glad you like Wilco and Nonesuch a lot.

[mkush001]

ction gets the picture.

[you ever seen a ghost?]

didn't they put out Jonny Greenwood's score for There Will Be Blood as well?

 

-justin

[broc]

Misunderstood, I didn't take any offence.

 

I just think the Magnetic Fields are equally 'deserving' as Wilco to be on the label. I prefer Wilco myself but somehow I see them going in different directions, Magnetic Fields 'on and on' up and Wilco down, especially after the disappointing noodling of Cline on Sky Blue Sky.

 

Hopefully I'm completely wrong...we'll see with the next album.

[W(TF)]

You're missing what I said completely, I never called them insightful or visionary for signing Wilco. Of course Wilco was already an established act. That's the point. My claim wasn't that Nonesuch rescued great musicians from obscurity, it was that they had the worlds greatest artists and that I am proud that Wilco is in there.

 

Fair enough. But you did imply that Nonesuch was better/smarter/whatever than the others. When in fact, maybe they're just more well connected or have savvy upper management. Or faster, savvier bank managers.

 

 

Firstly, maybe your idea of "eclectic sorts of music that one would hear on college campuses" is just eclectic indie rock, but it's obvious looking at the Nonesuch roster that they truly meant the word eclectic and it's obvious that they are in fact true to that ideal. Secondly, the point was that there weren't a ton of musical acts that deserve Nonesuch, but Wilco was one of them.

 

In the bio I quoted, I took 'eclectic' to mean obscure -- niche stuff that was confined geographically so that you wouldn't get a chance to hear it broadly, but that deserved a chance to expand beyond a local scene. That's all, no more no less.

 

To what extent Nonesuch has 'made' their roster well-known, or vice versa, I really don't know. They are a WB subsidiary, so the resources are there. There are certainly many other labels worthy of admiration. Lost Highway, Rounder, Sundazed, Blue Note, Naxos, just to name a few.