Panther Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Wilco as literature Music aside the Wilco discography is also very literate or at least since Summerteeth.So not counting the music take out your lyric sheets and share your thoughts. Personally as books of poetry this is how I rank them(And yes I know there is actually a Jeff Tweedy poetry book) AGIBYHFSBSSTBTA.M For me AGIB reads the best without music especially Hell is Chrome and Company in my back. YHF obviously has some great moments and can be recited like poetry or nursery rhymes. My favorites are Kamera and Poor Places and well obviously IATTBYH This might sound stupid to some of you but sit their and try to read the In Rainbows lyrics not so much fun. discuss Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I'll go with that. Maybe wouldn't fly under an academic classification of "literature", but in the broad since of well written English letters, sure. I even agree with your hierarchy only I might swap SBS and ST. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fineartoflife Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Yeah I hear you. My last vacation was spent with a broken CD player and no iPod, but I did have A Ghost Is Born in the car, so I read and reread the lyrics many a times. Their is definitely some poetic gold to be found even without the music. My favorite songs were (like you said) Hell is Chrome and Handshake Drugs. Poor Places is my favorite othe wise. I'm not going outside. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tanner Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 I go to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a class was reading Adult Head. The professor was a huge Wilco fan, obviously. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
entropy Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Hell is Chrome (under Hell), Muzzle of Bees (under Muzzle), I'm A Wheel, Company (under Pure Bug Beauty) all appear in Adult Head, with some differences. There is also a piece called "Unlikely Japan." Adult Head is one of my favorite stand alone collections, and I'd consider myself a fairly big poetry fan. As for reading lyric books, I tend to only do that when I've got a gatefold in front of me, and having been dealing with a broken cartridge for almost a year now, I'm gonna need some time to get back to you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Hell is Chrome (under Hell), Muzzle of Bees (under Muzzle), I'm A Wheel, Company (under Pure Bug Beauty) all appear in Adult Head, with some differences. There is also a piece called "Unlikely Japan." Adult Head is one of my favorite stand alone collections, and I'd consider myself a fairly big poetry fan. As for reading lyric books, I tend to only do that when I've got a gatefold in front of me, and having been dealing with a broken cartridge for almost a year now, I'm gonna need some time to get back to you.I bought Adult Head during the recent tour and the expanded poems add some perspective to the AGIB music. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
entropy Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 That's neat, they didn't have it when I saw them. I'm usually super careful with it because I'm afraid I'm going to wear it out. I need a beater I can take places without worrying about how badly I'm gonna mess it up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 YHF obviously has some great moments and can be recited like poetry or nursery rhymes.I always thought "I'm A Wheel" makes a great nursery rhyme / kids' song. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 I always thought "I'm A Wheel" makes a great nursery rhyme / kids' song."I invented a sister populated with knives"? You singing this to chuckie? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChooChooCharlie Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 I completely agree and would also rank them lyrically the same way except for the SBS and ST swap. Half the reason AGIB is my favorite Wilco album, and half the reason Wilco is one of my favorite bands is because of lyrical excellence. There really are very few outstanding lyricists out there who also put out quality music. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 I completely agree and would also rank them lyrically the same way except for the SBS and ST swap. Half the reason AGIB is my favorite Wilco album, and half the reason Wilco is one of my favorite bands is because of lyrical excellence. There really are very few outstanding lyricists out there who also put out quality music.I agree. While SBS touches the heart and sensibilities a bit, ST attacks you with a range of emotions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChooChooCharlie Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 I agree. While SBS touches the heart and sensibilities a bit, ST attacks you with a range of emotions.Fer sure. SBS's lyrics are consistently solid, but ST's lyrics are absolutely devastating at times. Jar and Via Chicago are standouts, but I also think Candyfloss ("bitter diamond drunks") is overlooked and too easily dismissed (maybe b/c its hidden : ). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 "I invented a sister populated with knives"? You singing this to chuckie? Actually to Henry & Hayden. It's just nonsense (at least to me). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Actually to Henry & Hayden. It's just nonsense (at least to me).I was just having fun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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