kidsmoke Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 So I was thinking about this last night, and reflecting on how so very many of Jeff's songs contain summery imagery. That led to me thinking about which Wilco songs are more Fall or (especially) Winter themed/oriented/suggestive. I don't mean strictly songs that have a harsher "severe-weather" sort of feeling, but also those songs that have the overall feel of the season, including the season's more cocooned feelings....those feelings that the weather and the holidays give, of drawing closer together to our families and loved ones, and maybe retreating a little from the larger world. I hope somebody understands what I mean. In that "drawing together" sense, I hear a line like "Our love is all of God's money" as being a wintery, cozy, intimate line. What songs of Wilco's would you put on a mix intended for Winter? Why? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sgtpepper64 Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Cool topic. I would probably start with "Hell Is Chrome" because it always conjures up such a great image with "The air was crispy like sunny late winter days"I always thought that was a brilliant line because everyone knows what he's talking about. "How To Fight Loneliness" for some reason (and I have no idea why) always make me think of the way wet, snow soaked shoes make imprints on wood floors. "Venus Stop The Train" sounds like a very wintery type song that might play in your head as you're sitting watching the snow fall. Same with "Say You Miss Me" That's all I've got for right now. I'm curious to see what everyone else will come up with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 winter comes, and the days.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 I like all of those! And y'know what, despite its title, Summer Teeth seems wintery to me. Cold and lonely. Funny the mood a song can create. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 winter comes, and the days.... And the Obviousness Award goes to Froggie!!! Good one, your frogishness! Especially coming as it does from someone who has Christmas in the summertime! Do you Aussies give each other beachballs and tanning lotion and surfboards for Christmas? I wonder things like this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Wilco albums, particularly YHF or AGIB - more 'listen' than 'singalong' albums. I get more anxious in the winter (in the pre-psychiatric era, one might have called it stir-crazy), and this is the only time of year that I actually do what one might consider arts and crafty creative projects. The rest of the year I'll listen to songs on the way to doing something else, but winter is when I'll sit for six hours at a stretch and do a repetitive task. I plan on spending lots of quality time with superglue and colored tiles tonight, and just put on YHF. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 > Do you Aussies give each other beachballs and tanning lotion and surfboards for Christmas? nah, usually we have a bbq with lots of beer and watch all the snow on TV, oversees! the last time it snowed down in melbourne was 1986! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thejokeexplained Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I usually relate seasonally to records depending on when they were released and i heard them for the first time. And sense Wilco has always released their records in the Spring ; at least sense i have followed them Summerteeth and on, i have a hard time relating any of their work to fall and winter. Not that i don't listen in the Winter but when i do it reminds me of Spring and Summer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stickman Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I think the Pacific Northwest DVD stuff is pretty wintery. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patrickhayes Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I'd have to agree to Summerteeth being a winter album all together Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 Yeah, good call. But please, specific songs, people...I'm thinking to actually assemble this mix cd! And possibly even share it, if I can get my act together....but no promises there.... Edit: heehee, lest I seem to be agreeing with myself here (which, however, I do ) my "good call" comment was to stickman. But yes, Patrick, I kinda think you're right on that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Conrad Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 In A Future AgeLeave Me (Like You Found Me)One by One (despite the lyrics)Wishful Thinking Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stickman Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Let's see here then... specific songs from Pacific Northwest (almost a tongue twister...almost) hmm... How to Fight LonelinessRadio KingIn A Future AgeOne by OnePlease Tell My Brother How's that for a start? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dondoboy Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Hell is ChromeBox Full of LettersAshesBut I have no reason for any of them. Just seem wintery. So does Misunderstood. Cool topic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikeyk52 Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Panthers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Basil II Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 -Cars Can't Escape (Reasons for you to love me) -Pecan Pie! -Jeff's cover of "St. James Infirmiry" -Robert Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigWheeledWagon Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 I like all of those! And y'know what, despite its title, Summer Teeth seems wintery to me. Cold and lonely. Funny the mood a song can create. I've always had the opposite feel for the album -- it feels like lat spring/early summer to me (nothing to do with the name, though). I think this is largely a personal thing, though. I bought the album in May of '99 right around the time I graduated from college, and it became the soundtrack to that time period in my life. Thus, I've always associated it with warm May/June evenings and that bittersweet time period. Also, although the lyrics of the album are incredibly dark, the music contrasts the lyrics for the most part and is lush and warm. Also, the Beach Boys' influence gives me that summer feeling. Anyway, I find myself playing "Summerteeth" much more frequently in May and June. I've always though of "Being There" as an autumn record; though, again, this is largely because this is the time of year I first discovered it. Still, something in the music seems autumnal (same with "YHF"). "AGIB" seems like a winter record to me -- as a whole, it feels cold, stark, and brittle. I guess I get a bit of a late summer/early fall feel with "A.M.," and "SBS" is all over the place for me. There are definitely some wintery songs on "SBS," though. You know, this isn't the first time the issue of seasonal associations with Wilco songs has arisen on the boards, and I find it really interesting how many listeners have these associations with Wilco albums or songs. I make these associations with a lot of albums (for some reason I always find myself breaking out Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" when spring really gets underway), but probably more so with Wilco than with any other band/artist. Some of Jeff's lyrics suggest that his mood is very much affected by the changing seasons (and of course seasonal change can have a serious effect on depression), so perhaps this really translates to the listener as well. Good topic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted December 14, 2008 Author Share Posted December 14, 2008 I should clarify that I was referring to Summer Teeth the song, not the entire album. Though the album has some wintery elements throughout. I guess I don't really see that whole album as a "Winter" though, for reasons I'm not sure I could put into words. It has too much warmth and brightness. That's as far as I'll try to explain that. I'm enjoying this discussion & listening to how the songs move and influence all of you. Music is a language like no other, for sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 when you wake up feeling old it has a warm feeling during winter nights Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bakerian08 Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 "when you wake up feeling old" is a good one.i also think "venus stopped the train" "reservations" and "far far away" have wintry vibes going on Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted December 14, 2008 Author Share Posted December 14, 2008 Yeah, those are good! I hadn't thought of Reservations, but definitely. And absolutely, "When You wake Up Feeling Old". A favorite of mine. Which older Wilco songs? Like from AM & Being There? I wish we could ask Jeff this question directly; it'd be interesting to know how he sees his own songs, and whether he sees some songs as befitting a certain season. (Jeff, feel free to weigh in! ) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 maybe Dash 7 from A.M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
j4lackey Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Sunken Treasure for me, BT version. I know he says Autumn Fires, etc, but it just really rings good, deep, lonely meloncoly(sp?), gives it a sound. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sunken mountain Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Radio King -I have it in my mind associated to the Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bilbrekm Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Listening and cataloging music, to me, is just like keeping a journal... I make myself mixes on almost a monthly basis and find it amazing how my mind AND heart are so connected to music. A simple lick, chord structure or lyric can take me back to conversations, moods or the places I was at when I was digging whatever song/album/artist. Isn't it remarkable how music can do that to a person? I was thinking the other day about trying to do a winter mix solely comprised of Wilco. I have a Slow Tunes version, but it doesn't always fit with a fire, a bottle of cabernet and a snowfall. My picks, of those I didn't see mentioned, would be: -Sunken Treasure live (preferably the Charlottesville show-opening version from 10/07. I was there and WOW) -Bob Dylan's Beard -Poor Places -Not For The Season (JT solo, acoustic) -New Madrid (JT solo, acoustic) -Too Far Apart would be my A.M. vote. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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