mpolak21 Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Panther's thread has piqued my curiosity. After seeing Born Again in The USA pull away from Sky Blue Sky, I wondered how the first Loose Fur album would fair against A Ghost is Born. Though Loose Fur was recorded before Yankee Hotel Foxtrot I have always felt it has a little more in common sonically with A Ghost is Born. Both records seem to have been recorded in the same way, basic tracks recorded together by the band in the room, overdubs added later with pro-tools. I also am pretty sure Yankee Hotel Foxtrot would beat pretty much any album we put up against it in a pool here, it did win the best albums of all time poll. I find both albums to be masterpieces. What can I say about A Ghost is Born. It's chaotic, inconsistent, frustrating, wonderful, beguiling, strange and beautiful. It transcends its inconsistencies in the same way that the White Album does. I have listened to it more times than another non-Beatles recording in my collection. It was a profoundly important record for me. Yet Loose Fur's self-titled is damn good as well. If I was dying and could only put on one more album this might be it (Astral Weeks, YHF, and Aeroplane would come to mind as well). Chinese Apple is one of the best things Tweedy's ever written, Laminated Cat is nothing short of amazing. I find So Long to be one of the most interesting pieces of music of the decade. Elegant Transaction rules. The Muzzle of Bees through Company in My Back section of A Ghost is Born is divine, but there's nothing on Loose Fur that I don't want to listen to each time through (like the white noise or I'm a Wheel if I am feeling particularly snobbish). It's a tough call for me, but ultimately Ghost gets my vote by a nose and Glenn's hammer dulcimer on Company in My Back. So, I have rambled enough, your thoughts? --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
orchestra Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 AGIB is my favorite Wilco album, and trumps Loose Fur's s/t, which is still very good. If only Loose Fur were a bit longer (it could have had Millionaire and Street Success!). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 this one's getting tight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Loose Fur (s/t) is full of great moments. It feels somewhat ad hoc, probably because they just tossed off some songs. What makes it amazing is that it is still so freaking good. AGIB was made with a little more effort on big picture. Wasn't quite as improvised. Probes a little deeper. Might be one of my top ten albums of all time. The other poll was a toss up. This is a no-brainer. AGIB is the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 Loose Fur (s/t) is full of great moments. It feels somewhat ad hoc, probably because they just tossed off some songs. What makes it amazing is that it is still so freaking good. AGIB was made with a little more effort on big picture. Wasn't quite as improvised. Probes a little deeper. Might be one of my top ten albums of all time. Agreed. Thus far Ghost seems to be the overwhelming favorite, which isn't particularly surprising. Would people take Ghost over Born Again in the USA? (I would). What about Loose Fur vs. Born Again in the USA? (It's Loose Fur for me, but it's close). --Mike this one's getting tight. I kind of wanted to set a spread on this like a football game and have people wager. I think I'd have had AGIB plus 25. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moe_Syzlak Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Agreed. Thus far Ghost seems to be the overwhelming favorite, which isn't particularly surprising. Would people take Ghost over Born Again in the USA? (I would). What about Loose Fur vs. Born Again in the USA? (It's Loose Fur for me, but it's close). --Mike1. AGiB2. BAitUSA3. LF s/t4. SBS Or, in chronological order: LFAGiBBAitUSASBS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 1. AGiB2. BAitUSA3. LF s/t4. SBS Mine would be AGIBLF s/tBAitUSASBS --Mike Oh, right I should do this now, I suppose. AMBTSTYHFAGIBSBS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 AMBTSTYHFAGIBSBS Some day you will see a VCer at a Wilco show wearing shorts. And down the back of their leg these letters will appear in the form of a tattoo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Some day you will see a VCer at a Wilco show wearing shorts. And down the back of their leg these letters will appear in the form of a tattoo. I was thinking it would be a good one for the nape of the neck... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
W(TF) Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 get the t-shirt....can u imagine the looks and having to explain this to everyone you talk to? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 i'm one of the Loose Fur traitors! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 get the t-shirt....can u imagine the looks and having to explain this to everyone you talk to? Wouldn't you need to leave enough space at the bottom for future releases? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TCP Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 I did not vote for this poll. I love AGIB and Loose Fur equally, they're two of my favorite things Jeff Tweedy has done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Panther Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 A ghost is born is one of my favorite recordings by anyone Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Panther Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I think Loose Fur is A better record than BAITUSA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 Well since I did in this in the first thread... This is not meant to be in anyway definitive and is catered totally to my own tastes. Hybrid playlist- A Loose Ghost is Fur. 1.) At Least That's What You Said2.) Hell Is Chrome3.) Laminated Cat4.) Elegant Transaction5.) So Long6.) Muzzle of Bees7.) Hummingbird8.) Handshake Drugs9.) Wishful Thinking 10.) Company in My Back11.) Chinese Apple12.) The Late Greats --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheMaker Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Wow, I'm on the losing end of this one, too. I think AGIB is Wilco's weakest album by a nose, and I freaking love the first Loose Fur album. It's so much better than their more incidental follow-up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 > I think AGIB is Wilco's weakest album by a nose, phew! - i thought i was the (L)only one! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Well since I did in this in the first thread... This is not meant to be in anyway definitive and is catered totally to my own tastes. Hybrid playlist- A Loose Ghost is Fur. 1.) At Least That's What You Said2.) Hell Is Chrome3.) Laminated Cat4.) Elegant Transaction5.) So Long6.) Muzzle of Bees7.) Hummingbird8.) Handshake Drugs9.) Wishful Thinking 10.) Company in My Back11.) Chinese Apple12.) The Late Greats --Mike this looks good, but I would use the Wilco book "Hummingbird" and the EP version of "Hanshake Drugs". oh, and chuck the Late Greats altogether. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Loose Fur has 2 incredible songs and the rest bores me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Some day you will see a VCer at a Wilco show wearing shorts. And down the back of their leg these letters will appear in the form of a tattoo.That would be a good button to recognize fellow VCers at shows. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 this looks good, but I would use the Wilco book "Hummingbird" and the EP version of "Hanshake Drugs". oh, and chuck the Late Greats altogether. I'll try this out and maybe put the original live version of Spiders. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 I'll try this out and maybe put the original live version of Spiders. --Mike I'd like to hear a studio recording of that one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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