jff Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I kind of always thought that the 'two guitars are obsolete' comment was just the kind of thing someone would say knowing that such a comment would push the buttons of the other person involved. Like you would do with someone you've lived with or been close to for a long time. Only this was on film. Sigh. That's a strong possibility. I haven't listened to the commentary, but it's pretty clear from the film that the "obsolete" comment has to do with the fact that Wilco had been a pretty straight forward two guitar rock band for a while and were moving in different directions. I would imagine that Tweedy thought the two guitars on that song (I can't even remember what song it is now) sounded like they were treading water rather than moving forward. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Francis X. Hummel Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I would imagine that Tweedy thought the two guitars on that song (I can't even remember what song it is now) sounded like they were treading water rather than moving forward. I think that was the case. Wasn't it Jesus, Etc.? Either way, I love Jay's response of "I don't know what that means". I would have said the same thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I kind of always thought that the 'two guitars are obsolete' comment was just the kind of thing someone would say knowing that such a comment would push the buttons of the other person involved. Like you would do with someone you've lived with or been close to for a long time. Only this was on film. Sigh. I don't think he meant to needle him so much as just get him to do what he wanted, and it's often easier to shroud those motives in a weird statement about obsolecense than, "I don't want two guitars." Either way, I love Jay's response of "I don't know what that means". I would have said the same thing. I LOVED THAT! When Jeff said that, I thought, "I don't know what that means," then Jay said it and I about peed myself. The look on his face is perfect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
schoenfraun Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 This was just posted on the Chicago Magazine website today: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2009/Where-Credit-Is-Due/ A nice remembrance of Jay with comments from Edward Burch, Ken Coomer, and Bob Andrews. No comments from current Wilco members, though. I know everyone's excited about the Wilco cover of Spin, but this may be of interest, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Nice article. In August, Bennett’s contributions come back to light, as Warner Bros./Reprise rereleases three of Wilco’s early albums—A.M. (1995), Being There (1996), and Summerteeth (1999)—all of which bear his influence. I was under the impression that Jay did not join the band until after A.M. had been recorded, so it's not going to bear much of his influence, unless he recorded some overdubs at some point that will be included on the reissues. edit: that first sentence might come off as snarky, which could not be further from my intent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Nice article. I was under the impression that Jay did not join the band until after A.M. had been recorded, so it's not going to bear much of his influence, unless he recorded some overdubs at some point that will be included on the reissues. edit: that first sentence might come off as snarky, which could not be further from my intent. No, you're right. He didn't join until after A.M. was released, but joined shortly afterwards for the inaugural Wilco tour. That's just a slip-up in the reporting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 did you listen to it? The context was referring to the song they were playing, not the two guitar thing in total. I just watched the scene in question with the commentary on, and this is what I get: As given by Jeff, after the fact, without Jay present? I understand what Jeff is trying to say, but it's awfully easy to make yourself look better in such a situation when you're able to explain the (real or "enhanced") meaning of your words after the fact. Jeff had that opportunity and he came up with a plausible explanation. It's certainly possible that's all he meant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 This was just posted on the Chicago Magazine website today: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2009/Where-Credit-Is-Due/ A nice remembrance of Jay with comments from Edward Burch, Ken Coomer, and Bob Andrews. No comments from current Wilco members, though. I know everyone's excited about the Wilco cover of Spin, but this may be of interest, too. It is, thanks for posting. Okay here's my very distorted and unnecessarily personalized view of the I'm Always in Love two guitars are obsolete argument. I base this on having listened to too many bootlegs. In the spring of 1999, I'm Always in Love was played with both Jay and Leroy on keyboards and Jay playing the main synth riff. The main problem with this version is (to me) at least, the synth riff sounded terrible. They didn't just use the setting they had on the album, and instead the main riff was played by this high pitched buzzy thing that was quite distracting. By the time they were touring on MA2, Jay had shifted to guitar, the main synth riff was no longer played and the song was almost completely guitar driven. It sounds a little strange, it's like the Beatles doing Strawberry Fields without the mellotron, but Bennett generally owns on the guitar parts. So as they were getting ready to tour in 01, I guess Jeff wanted to shift it back to the original two keyboards sound. And by this point they were able to get a much better live synth sound. Obsolete was probably the wrong word to use, I would have gone with a simple "Jay, we need the ew-e-ew-ew-e-ew-ew sound," and I think it would have gotten the point across. I have thought way too much about this. But at the end of the day what really matters is the song, and I'm Always in Love sounded great in that run of 01 shows. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 For what it's worth, this is printed at the end of the thank yous in the A.M. CD booklet: Very special thanks to Jay Bennett. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barnyard pimp Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I always thought the film was edited strangely, because it DOES sound like they're talking about 'Jesus etc' but I've always thought they were clearly referring to 'Always in Love' like the poster above elaborates. Watch the, er, costume changes and question the editing... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
grateful dead Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I think jeff just wanted to play the lead riff and not be so cluttered with more guitars, Jesus etc is pretty simple. PLUS jay is an amazingly smooth keyboard player. In the end the lesson is you can't lose with any instrument Jay played. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewR Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Watch the, er, costume changes and question the editing... The editor also took some liberties when it can to editing the live shows together. You can see clothes change as they switch the shots. Just thought I'd throw that out there... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barbarino Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 That Epiphone Texan that Jay is holding up on the cover of Being There should end up in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. One of the best album covers ever! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HungryHippo Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 dunno if anyone has seen this but there's a nice write-up on Jay Bennett in the latest Mojo mag (w/ Fleet Foxes on cover.) think i'll get it tomorrow and post it here for those interested. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 That Epiphone Texan that Jay is holding up on the cover of Being There should end up in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. One of the best album covers ever! +1 But are you sure its the Texan? I always assumed it wa the Casino. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HungryHippo Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 the world has now been without Jay for 1 year Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Wow..year went quick.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Time passes too quickly. I heard a Summerteeth number on a mix this weekend and must admit it made me sad. Jay did do some crazy unusual stuff with Wilco. What a shame. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pillowy star Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 An immense loss, always and forever. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Time passes too quickly. I heard a Summerteeth number on a mix this weekend and must admit it made me sad. Jay did do some crazy unusual stuff with Wilco. What a shame. LouieBThanks for the bump, HH. I was reminded of this over the weekend as well, Lou. I was sorting through a bunch of papers and stuff over the weekend and I came across a nice obit in the Indy Star that my mom clipped out for me. No offense to anyone but things (including the board imo) haven't been the same since Jay passed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Pitchfork finally reported on the news of Jay's last album and his foundation... http://pitchfork.com/news/38889-final-jay-bennett-solo-album-to-be-released-as-free-download/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 I was reminded of this over the weekend as well, Lou.No offense to anyone but things (including the board imo) haven't been the same since Jay passed.The song that came on was nothingsevergonnastandinmyway (again). I know the current band kicks ass, but something about the wonderful little fills that come at the end of lines and between verses in a song like this (and the others on ST) are Jay's lasting influence on even this band (who has to try and reproduce those things). Sure, the band now has great musicians and a great live sound. Meanwhile Wilco is now a big draw that travels the world to critical aclaim (and rarely even plays the midwest any more.) Jay's ongoing contribution can't be minimized by anyone. Both Mikael and Pat have become really fine keyboard players and Nels is of course an incredible guitarist. But Jay's sonic invention was amazing. His staying in the band wasn't to be, but everytime the songs are played from his era, Jay becomes part of the band again. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lynch Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 The song that came on was nothingsevergonnastandinmyway (again). I know the current band kicks ass, but something about the wonderful little fills that come at the end of lines and between verses in a song like this (and the others on ST) are Jay's lasting influence on even this band (who has to try and reproduce those things). Sure, the band now has great musicians and a great live sound. Meanwhile Wilco is now a big draw that travels the world to critical aclaim (and rarely even plays the midwest any more.) Jay's ongoing contribution can't be minimized by anyone. Both Mikael and Pat have become really fine keyboard players and Nels is of course an incredible guitarist. But Jay's sonic invention was amazing. His staying in the band wasn't to be, but everytime the songs are played from his era, Jay becomes part of the band again. LouieB Very well put Lou. I was thinking about the scene in "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" a couple of days ago, where Jeff and Jay are playing Car's Can't Escape. Just a beautiful, touching scene. Two great musicians doing what they do best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 The song that came on was nothingsevergonnastandinmyway (again). I know the current band kicks ass, but something about the wonderful little fills that come at the end of lines and between verses in a song like this (and the others on ST) are Jay's lasting influence on even this band (who has to try and reproduce those things). This is very true. Jay had an amazing, amazing sound. I don't dislike anything he did in the studio with Wilco except My Darling. There's nothing I hate more in new Wilco than when current members try to pull off some of Jay's more amazing licks and sounds. I haven't heard Summerteeth live with the new band, but I don't have any interest in that - this guitar work was some of Jay's best, and his voice really came through on it. (and rarely even plays the midwest any more.) This is very untrue. From May 09 - May 10, I count two Chicago shows, three MN, two WI, three MI shows, two OH shows, one IA show - 13 shows in the Midwest. A lot of people are lucky if bands - even Wilco - come to their region once a year, but I had about five opportunities to see Wilco within four hours of me this year. There's no way you can say they rarely play the Midwest anymore. That's not even counting Jeff's two Chicago solo shows. Oh, and are MO and KS midwest? Then they were in the midwest for about 15 shows. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 From May 09 - May 10, I count two Chicago shows, three MN, two WI, three MI shows, two OH shows, one IA show - 13 shows in the Midwest. A lot of people are lucky if bands - even Wilco - come to their region once a year, but I had about five opportunities to see Wilco within four hours of me this year. There's no way you can say they rarely play the Midwest anymore. That's not even counting Jeff's two Chicago solo shows. Oh, and are MO and KS midwest? Then they were in the midwest for about 15 shows.Okay...I give on this one....MO and KS are midwest. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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