Jump to content

Wilco for Winter


Recommended Posts

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. :huh :brow

 

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?

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites
winter comes, and the days....

 

And the Obviousness Award goes to Froggie!!! :P

 

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites

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. :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah, good call. :yes

 

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.... :stunned

 

Edit: heehee, lest I seem to be agreeing with myself here (which, however, I do :P ) my "good call" comment was to stickman. But yes, Patrick, I kinda think you're right on that.

Link to post
Share on other sites
I like all of those! :yes

 

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah, those are good! I hadn't thought of Reservations, but definitely. :thumbup

 

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! :) )

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...