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I remember a few albums where Wilco created very entertaing songs without having to fall back on killer guitar solos to make them interesting. Like maybe the first five (with a few glorious exceptions).

 

Me, too. I'm glad they're still doing that.

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i don't think nels solos are killer, that's just how rolling stone put it. this is of course the same rolling stone that consistently gives nickelback albums 4 stars. i'm not sure how much they can be trusted.

 

Nickelback has recieved 3.5, 3, 2, and 2 star reviews from Rolling Stone. Wilco has none below 3.5 stars.

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Wilco should have emotional guitar work...

Nels Cline...has amazing guitar skill, yes that is obvious, but is it necessary to display it in every song? No, and we all know from listening to Wilco live that just about every song these days turns into a nels cline guitar solo extravaganza. I much prefer it when jeff handles the solos because again his guitar work evokes a lot of emotion. That's why at least that's what you said is one of my favorite wilco songs. If Nels played the solos on that, or on I'm The Man Who Loves You, those songs would immediately become stale and dull, like most of Sky Blue Sky.

 

Nels Cline solos all sound the same. It's him hammering as fast as he can 2 or 3 strings to make that noisy buzzing sound. It's basically just him beating the shit out of his guitar. I'll be happy when Tweedy and co. prove me wrong, but I think a Wilco without Nels would be much improved.

 

 

 

I agree with much of this.

 

Nels is a very talented guitarist. No doubt. But I agree about the lack of emotion thing. I don't know exactly why, but Nels' guitar bits never do the same for me as instrument bits by other Wilco musicians...like Jeff's beautiful moment in ALTWYS (Glenn's drumming is eqaully emotional).

 

This has taken me awhile to fully understand. I really loved Nels the first couple times I saw him live with the band. He's extraordinary to watch. But over time, I'm realizing that his fast fingers aren't really adding to Wilco as a whole.

 

My favorite Wilco show without Jay Bennett was right after Bennett left, when it was just Jeff, Glenn, John and Leroy. Leroy wasn't as skilled as Nels, but he did all that was needed from his guitar and played a simple, beautiful piano. Glenn is nails. John as well. And with that four-some, the spot-light was on Jeff, which has always been Wilco's strength.

 

 

But YES...I want to be proven wrong as well with Wilco (The Album). And I'm guessing it will be an album I will like, no matter how many non-emotional Nels solos there might be.

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So Nels' solo in Ashes is not emotional? Hmm. I literally teared up in Knoxville during that solo. My emotions must need recalibration. Or probably I'm just a pussy.

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Nickelback has recieved 3.5, 3, 2, and 2 star reviews from Rolling Stone. Wilco has none below 3.5 stars.

Wilco is the kind of mature rock act that Rolling Stone likes no matter the actual quality of the release though.

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Guest Speed Racer
I remember a few albums where Wilco created very entertaing songs without having to fall back on killer guitar solos to make them interesting. Like maybe the first five (with a few glorious exceptions).

 

So you'd love A.M. with all the solos removed? BT with no solos? ST with no solos (killer guitar is exactly what makes the title track)? YHF with no killer guitars? Seriously? AGIB? I always thought killer guitar work was one of Wilco's hallmarks; I could be wrong.

 

You know, the Old 97's have sucked my ass ever since Rhett Miller decided to try to fill the void Leif Garrett left in pop music. Do I miss them? Kinda, but I listen to everything up through Satellite Rides regularly. Do I bitch and moan? No, because some people (at least 10) still like their output. Bands change, and tastes generally stay the same. Go explore the world; there's tons of great music for the listening.

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So you'd love A.M. with all the solos removed? BT with no solos? ST with no solos (killer guitar is exactly what makes the title track)? YHF with no killer guitars? Seriously? AGIB? I always thought killer guitar work was one of Wilco's hallmarks; I could be wrong.

 

You know, the Old 97's have sucked my ass ever since Rhett Miller decided to try to fill the void Leif Garrett left in pop music. Do I miss them? Kinda, but I listen to everything up through Satellite Rides regularly. Do I bitch and moan? No, because some people (at least 10) still like their output. Bands change, and tastes generally stay the same. Go explore the world; there's tons of great music for the listening.

 

well said.

 

and how can you watch Nels play and not feel any emotion? maybe it isn't the sender, but the receiver that's broken. I think they're both great, but I can kinda see the complaint about too many guitar solos. i wouldn't mind if they laid off a few....but i'm such a fanboy that i love everything they do. literally. so maybe i'm not the best one to comment on the subject.

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So Nels' solo in Ashes is not emotional? Hmm. I literally teared up in Knoxville during that solo. My emotions must need recalibration. Or probably I'm just a pussy.

 

 

Hardee har har.

 

 

I was going to post something longer, but I shortened it so as not to completely bore you all. And one thing I deleted was that "Ashes" is the ONE song that I insanely love to watch Nels and Wilco play live. You're right. It's stunning and beautiful.

 

But for me, NOT ONE pre Sky Blue Sky song is improved live because of Nels. The slide guitar on A.M. and Being There is perfect. Bennett's rock licks on Being There are perfect for those songs...no matter how sloppy or simple. Jeff's guitar on AGIB can't be topped....whether it be Hell is Chrome or ALTWYS.

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Hardee har har.

 

 

I was going to post something longer, but I shortened it so as not to completely bore you all. And one thing I deleted was that "Ashes" is the ONE song that I insanely love to watch Nels and Wilco play live. You're right. It's stunning and beautiful.

 

But for me, NOT ONE pre Sky Blue Sky song is improved live because of Nels. The slide guitar on A.M. and Being There is perfect. Bennett's rock licks on Being There are perfect for those songs...no matter how sloppy or simple. Jeff's guitar on AGIB can't be topped....whether it be Hell is Chrome or ALTWYS.

 

i think Airline to Heaven got a huge upgrade when Nels came along. Same with Mountain Bed. He's just got a better feel for melody with the slide than Jay or Bob Egan or whoever was playing slide in the earlier days.

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So you'd love A.M. with all the solos removed? BT with no solos? ST with no solos (killer guitar is exactly what makes the title track)? YHF with no killer guitars? Seriously? AGIB? I always thought killer guitar work was one of Wilco's hallmarks; I could be wrong.

 

 

Why is everyone so defensive?

 

 

My feeling (and some others) is only that Nels' playing, while stellar, doesn't ADD anything to the greatness of Wilco's songs when live. The older Wilco sets had a much less jam-band vibe to it. And many of us preferred that. Big deal.

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Although Nels could never top that twangy country solo style that Jay had, he makes up for it with his own style. I agree that Wilco has always been a guitar driven band, and Nels is literally a modern guitar God in my book.

 

And if you want emotion, don't forget his solo during She's A Jar. I have no idea how he makes that sound, but it sounds like several classical stringed instruments together.. About got me teary eyed as well in Asheville.

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He's just got a better feel for melody with the slide than Jay or Bob Egan or whoever was playing slide in the earlier days.

 

 

 

Hmm.

 

Maybe he's got "a better feel for melody", but I'm going by how I feel when I hear a song. And I liked Egan's feel much better.

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Hmm.

 

Maybe he's got "a better feel for melody", but I'm going by how I feel when I hear a song. And I liked Egan's feel much better.

 

and that is great. now you know my feelings on the subject. hence the messageboard vibe of this here messageboard.

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Guest Speed Racer
The older Wilco sets had a much less jam-band vibe to it. And many of us preferred that. Big deal.

 

1997 was the year of the 12-minute Dueling Banjos/Casino Queen (occassionally plus/minus a 'We've Been Had'), 4 different takes of Passenger Side, 10-minute Kingpin shows. Wilco shows have a much less jam-band vibe now than they did then, IMO.

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1997 was the year of the 12-minute Dueling Banjos/Casino Queen (occassionally plus/minus a 'We've Been Had'), 4 different takes of Passenger Side, 10-minute Kingpin shows. Wilco shows have a much less jam-band vibe now than they did then, IMO.

 

Exactly. I was just listening to a 97 show from Minnesota the other day, and they went off on a dueling banjo's medley in the middle of Casino queen that lasted several minutes. It was quite awesome actually.. :lol

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