Wilco (The Album Discussion II) w/ spoilers

[Synthesizer Patel]

Now tonight is the third listen and I am 95% happy with the album. Which means there's only 1 song I don't like. Which is "You Never Know."

 

Wouldn't that mean you still like half of 'You Never Know'?

 

 

why doesnt mikael or pat or whoever is playing organ on il fight do more with it, theres awesome places for some sweet organ riffs but nothing happens the whole way through

 

this album has potential in heaps of songs but nothing seems to happen

 

I think the instrumentation on that song is the best on the whole album. Maybe there is room for improvement, like you say, but it's a breathe of fresh air from most of the other songs.

[damo]

QUOTE (damo @ May 19 2009, 12:42 AM) *

why doesnt mikael or pat or whoever is playing organ on il fight do more with it, theres awesome places for some sweet organ riffs but nothing happens the whole way through

 

this album has potential in heaps of songs but nothing seems to happen

 

 

I think the instrumentation on that song is the best on the whole album. Maybe there is room for improvement, like you say, but it's a breathe of fresh air from most of the other songs

 

yeah it is good but i dunno when i just listened to it that bugged me like it could be so much more,

i think the best instrumentation on the album is deeper down.

 

this album could be good, it just seems like they wipped it out quickly like the few second solos at the end of you and i and everlasting could be brilliant but they just cut it short.

 

i want to like this album but its just hard maybe live they will do more with these songs, hopefully

[Central Scrutinizer]

I don't know, because it is not on the copy of the leak I got.

Sounds like your leak had a leak.

[Central Scrutinizer]

why doesnt mikael or pat or whoever is playing organ on il fight do more with it, theres awesome places for some sweet organ riffs but nothing happens the whole way through

 

this album has potential in heaps of songs but nothing seems to happen

The positive spin I lay on this is that there's great framework for some awesome live performances. Kind of like Blues for Allah was for Grateful Dead.

[lost highway]

The three best songs on SBS might be better than anything on W(TA).

 

W(TA) seems to be a more solid album front to back than SBS.

 

 

So in a way, it's like 27% inferior, 73% superior to SBS. Those are quick reads though, I'll have my people cross check the data and get back to you.

[lamradio]

The song that I keep getting stuck in my head is "You Never Know'.. I know that's the least favorite song on the album for most people, but it's just so happy and catchy.. Plus I think it would be fun to see live. It almost sounds like Neil Diamond or something.. but for some reason that's not a bad thing at all.

[nodep5]

Is anyone here getting worn out with reading and writing and over analyzing this album? I'm almost to the point that I am going to stop reading anything about this album because i fear I'm always going to think of this record as the over analyzed message board record.

 

Of course everyone is cold on "you never know". Hip Wilco fans always dislike the single

I feel like ranting, but the bottom line is that people are just refusing to let this record be a record.

 

I personally believe it is the internet and the fast pace sped up music world we live in. We can't wait for an album to release so we pull down leaks only to make a judgement and toss aside within a week. And this is even for albums we claim to like. I try to fight this myself. I think there is too many bands making too much music with too easy instant access to the music. I use to sit with 5 or 6 records a year. Like really sit with them. Now I glance at 20-30 records a year. I just think we are so unwilling to let this album exist and enjoy it on its own terms.

 

Bottom line, no this isn't their greatest work, but if you are really finding faults with this record on major levels then Wilco (who they are now) just probably aren't for you. This record is solid and consistent and very easy. Now I know that is code for lame dad rock, but I'll take and I'll sit with it all year, and I'll appreciate these songs on some level.

[cryptique]

Is anyone here getting worn out with reading and writing and over analyzing this album? I'm almost to the point that I am going to stop reading anything about this album because i fear I'm always going to think of this record as the over analyzed message board record.

I find it much easier just to enjoy Wilco on ction's terms.

[nalafej]

I am going to stop reading anything about this album

 

I've stopped reading any opinions on this message board about the album - highly recommended.

 

Popped back in here today to see if somethign worthy of reading has been introduced.

[Central Scrutinizer]

I've stopped reading any opinions on this message board about the album - highly recommended.

 

Popped back in here today to see if somethign worthy of reading has been introduced.

How does one ascertain whether something is worth reading by not reading?

[nodep5]

How does one ascertain whether something is worth reading by not reading?

 

a wilcometer of course! Geez, cmon dude.

[Central Scrutinizer]

a wilcometer of course! Geez, cmon dude.

I could never get mine calibrated properly. Sorry.

[adl6690]

Me too! I find myself constantly having the urge want to keep playing this album!

 

I've loved it since the first time I heard it...then again, I will like anything involving Jeff Tweedy fronting a group of instrumentally proficient dudes

[bleedorange]

Is anyone here getting worn out with reading and writing and over analyzing this album? I'm almost to the point that I am going to stop reading anything about this album because i fear I'm always going to think of this record as the over analyzed message board record.

 

Of course everyone is cold on "you never know". Hip Wilco fans always dislike the single

I feel like ranting, but the bottom line is that people are just refusing to let this record be a record.

 

I personally believe it is the internet and the fast pace sped up music world we live in. We can't wait for an album to release so we pull down leaks only to make a judgement and toss aside within a week. And this is even for albums we claim to like. I try to fight this myself. I think there is too many bands making too much music with too easy instant access to the music. I use to sit with 5 or 6 records a year. Like really sit with them. Now I glance at 20-30 records a year. I just think we are so unwilling to let this album exist and enjoy it on its own terms.

 

Bottom line, no this isn't their greatest work, but if you are really finding faults with this record on major levels then Wilco (who they are now) just probably aren't for you. This record is solid and consistent and very easy. Now I know that is code for lame dad rock, but I'll take and I'll sit with it all year, and I'll appreciate these songs on some level.

 

I'm with you on this. Although, I doubt I'll ever stop reading. It's hard for me to understand some of the criticisms of songs like "You Never Know" and "Sonny Feeling." These are some of the best pop songs Tweedy has written since Summerteeth with some of the best harmonies and melodies I've heard in a while. And a lot of this album feels like Summerteeth to me. Do these same people not like Summerteeth?

 

In fact, my wife and I were driving back from Austin the other day and we listened to Wilco (The Album) and then I put in Summerteeth. She asked me why I wanted to listen to that one and a few songs in, she said she realized why...because they sound similar.

 

I like all Wilco albums on first listen to some degree (it is my favorite band), but this one has been growing on me with each listen to the point where I have a different song stuck in my head at various points of the day. I think it's a really good album, and at this point, I'm not all that interested in ranking it right now.

[Central Scrutinizer]

In fact, my wife and I were driving back from Austin the other day and we listened to Wilco (The Album) and then I put in Summerteeth. She asked me why I wanted to listen to that one and a few songs in, she said she realized why...because they sound similar.

I think one of the reasons the new album invites criticism is because it provides interesting comparisons/contrasts. W(TA) and Summerteeth may have very similar sounds, but from a content standpoint, you couldn't find two more polar opposite albums (the dark pain of Summerteeth, masked by Pro Tools), and the "let it be" vibe of the new album.

 

Each person has latched onto this band at a certain time in Wilco's catalog, and they reflect on each album based on what struck the chord with them for the band. Each person is viewing it through that singular prism.

 

Plus we, like, you know, wanna talk about it. mm-kay?

[Guest Speed Racer]

"You Never Know'...It almost sounds like Neil Diamond or something.. but for some reason that's not a bad thing at all.

 

Wow. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

[bleedorange]

I think one of the reasons the new album invites criticism is because it provides interesting comparisons/contrasts. W(TA) and Summerteeth may have very similar sounds, but from a content standpoint, you couldn't find two more polar opposite albums (the dark pain of Summerteeth, masked by Pro Tools), and the "let it be" vibe of the new album.

 

Each person has latched onto this band at a certain time in Wilco's catalog, and they reflect on each album based on what struck the chord with them for the band. Each person is viewing it through that singular prism.

 

Plus we, like, you know, wanna talk about it. mm-kay?

 

I'm not sure I agree that W(TA) is a polar opposite of Summerteeth content-wise. Aside from Wilco the Song and maybe Everlasting, there's a lot of darkness and mysteriousness hidden within the lyrics of this album.

 

I understand what you're saying about the way people view each album, I just don't understand why people do this. Especially for a band like Wilco. I don't expect them to ever make another Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (my favorite of theirs), nor would I necessarily want them to try.

[i'm only sleeping]

Apologies to all for my poor English. I am not only a dad, but a granddady in fact! A guy who started in rock and roll by buying the twist and south single of Beatles at age 12, the like a rolling stone single at age 14 and who became a huge daddy Wilco fan with ST, believe me or not ! Now, the second grandaughter is on her way for August. And yes, I enjoyed SBS a lot, could not understand the accusations of dad rock and all that crap. Not with that album.

 

That said, W(tA) does not convince me. I am not sure on production details, but I do think that a producer external to the band is badly needed for future Wilco albums, be it O' Rourke or George Martin. As a scientist, I fully recognize the improvements to my work made by mostly unknown, generous and knowledgeable people (the referees of my papers). In music, the same could be surely said for many records, Wilco YHF included. And I am not saying necessarily edgy.

 

Anyway, I will enjoy W(tA) as another step in an awesome trajectory of musicianship, honesty and poetry. And, yes, I downloaded the album, as an eager teenager. And as all other Wilco projects, I will buy the CDs, DVDs and vinyls when available. And in a few weeks I will be seeing them twice in two different Spanish venues.

 

I am so sorry for showing Wilco is not only dad rock but a grandaddy rock band indeed! Long life Wilco!

 

Cheers

[lamradio]

Wow. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

 

yeah.. and I have no idea why I love it, even though it reminds me of Neil Diamond. That one song, one of his more popular ones (don't know the name because I'm obviously no fan of ND).. I hope I don't ruin this song even more for other people now..

[Central Scrutinizer]

yeah.. and I have no idea why I love it, even though it reminds me of Neil Diamond. That one song, one of his more popular ones (don't know the name because I'm obviously not fan of ND).. I hope I don't ruin this song even more for other people now..

Maybe they'll start playing it between one of the innings at Fenway ...

[Sir Stewart]

Maybe they'll start playing it between one of the innings at Fenway ...

Anything but Sweet Caroline!

[lamradio]

Anything but Sweet Caroline!

 

[anthony]

My track-by-track review:

 

Wilco (The Song). This is an enjoyable little up-beat rocker song done in the best tongue-in-cheek style that Tweedy has a fondness for (like Kicking Television, The Late Greats or I

[nodep5]

My track-by-track review:

 

Wilco (The Song). This is an enjoyable little up-beat rocker song done in the best tongue-in-cheek style that Tweedy has a fondness for (like Kicking Television, The Late Greats or I

[RainDogToo]

I am surprised by the consistent lack of love for Country Disappeared. I can't that song and melody out of my head. Anyway, I loved SBS and the lack of love for it or this song won't stop me.

 

I'm with you! CD is a great song!