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One thing that really struck me was how much this album makes me appreciate Nels Cline. SBS had a lot of Nels shredding but this album makes me re-think my initial "one trick pony" label. His lap steel work on "Deeper Down" and "Solitaire" as well as the little touches at the end of "Everlasting Everything" are really melodic and subtle, two qualities I thought he lacked after hearing most of SBS. And when there are frantic guitar 'freak outs',like on "Bull Black Nova" or "One Wing", they arent distracting from the song underneath, they add to the song.

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I've been listening to it quite a bit the past month and it grows on me more every time. But having the precise lyrics now ... Jeff never ceases to amaze me with the beautiful, interesting writing. And there are all kinds of wonderful subtle musical moments here too.

 

After three listens I could already tell I'd like it better than SBS. It's not on the same level as YHF and AGIB for me, but I'm loving it and that would be expecting too much anyway.

 

Favorites now are Deeper Down, BBN, Sonny Feeling and Everlasting. Least favorite is Wilco (The Song).

 

:cheers

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when you guys say lossless..... do you mean listening to it straight off the CD / vinyl?

 

I'm referring to FLAC - which in my case I ripped from my CD. Much better than an mp3 which loses of quality and nuance in the process of compressing the file. FLAC is still compressed, but not nearly to the same extent and it happens without losing anything that is encoded on the disc.

 

I'd love to step up to vinyl, but that's a big investment that I can't make quite yet.

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This record sounded amazing; needle on vinyl, through a stellar sound system, on a private beach in Michigan.

 

The production is rich and pristine. I had forgotten the pure joy of playing a disc of virgin vinyl.

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I'm referring to FLAC - which in my case I ripped from my CD.

 

ok this sorta confuses me. I know when we are in the world of mp3 and digital downloads, FLAC is far superior. But when you own a physical copy of the CD, wouldn't listening to the CD itself be far greater than ripping it into another format, then listening?

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I got into Wilco over the last year. I started with Yankee, then Ghost, then Sky, now slowly embracing Being There and I've listened to parts of Summerteeth a few times. At this point, I like no band more than I like Wilco. This is my first 'new album' as a 'current' fan, as it were. I bought it today without having heard any of it before, save for the Cincinnati show a few weeks back (and I certainly didn't retain any impressions of the new songs from that night). Im a little disappointed in this album so far, but that seems to always happen to me with new albums from bands I love. Overall, after 2 listens, I think I'll really enjoy the album, save for maybe 1 or 2 songs. A few songs, I love: You Never Know, Wilco (the song) (oddly, if I may say so), that I will, I will, I will song...... (I've been drinking wine all night, can't recall the song name and don't care to get up to check (or take the 3 seconds to google search, though, apparently, thats not a time issue thing since Im writing this long-winded, inane explanation)).

 

In the end, for me, this band is F'n great; a treasure.

Cool to hear the perspective of a "new" fan. Welcome to the board.

 

I think One Wing may be the best song Jeff has written since 2003-2004. Every time i listen to it I'm more and more amazed by it. Such a pretty song. They really did a great job on it.

Far and away the best thing on the album, in my opinion.

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In the liner notes (CD booklet), on the last page,

 

W(TA) says "Wilco are ...." (names; I don't recall the sequence)

 

YHF says "Wilco is/was ..." (names)

 

I smiled when I read the W(TA) version today. I, for one, am glad that the lineup is what it is, and that it's stable.

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ok this sorta confuses me. I know when we are in the world of mp3 and digital downloads, FLAC is far superior. But when you own a physical copy of the CD, wouldn't listening to the CD itself be far greater than ripping it into another format, then listening?

 

FLAC and other losselss formats get you the exact audio quality that is on the disc. That's why it's called lossless. Plus it carries the advantages of being portable (my Discman is in the attic) and being much easier to keep multiple backups.

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Cool to hear the perspective of a "new" fan. Welcome to the board.

 

Thanks! I like being here!

 

I listened again today and it grew on me more. I would hence erase the negative thoughts from my initial post in here. I'll continue to listen to it often as my appreciation for it grows, though I'll need to dial it down more than I have with recent albums I've loved (Microcastle and Veckatimest) so as not to burn out on it.

 

Wilco will love you, baby.

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after the second day of listening, here's how they rank; best to least

 

you never know

one wing

country disappeared

i'll fight

wilco song

you and i

solitaire

bull black

deeper down

everlasting

sonny feeling

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I totally held out...didn't listen to the stream or anything else except some radio play on internet radio (internet radio...now THAT'S a revelation!! Parallel universe) of Bull Black Nova. Records generally grow on me with repeated listening, but this was a real letdown. Slick....weak. I'm glad that Jeff is a happier person now, but the music was better when he was in a darker place. I never thought Wilco would evolve into pop, but here we are. Don't get me wrong, pop isn't all bad....it's just not what I want Wilco to do. Yes, I know, it's not about me (as far as you're concerned).

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I totally held out...didn't listen to the stream or anything else except some radio play on internet radio (internet radio...now THAT'S a revelation!! Parallel universe) of Bull Black Nova. Records generally grow on me with repeated listening, but this was a real letdown. Slick....weak. I'm glad that Jeff is a happier person now, but the music was better when he was in a darker place. I never thought Wilco would evolve into pop, but here we are. Don't get me wrong, pop isn't all bad....it's just not what I want Wilco to do. Yes, I know, it's not about me (as far as you're concerned).

 

have you listened to summerteeth? that's pop.

 

keep listening to the album though. it's a grower for sure.

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have you listened to summerteeth? that's pop.

 

keep listening to the album though. it's a grower for sure.

 

Very familiar with Summerteeth. Some of it is pop, but my favorite stuff on there is not....She's a Jar, Via Chicago, Future Age, How to Fight Lonliness etc. Can't Stand It (literally although I know why it is what it is), Candyfloss, NEGSIMWA and the like.....not so much.

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When I first heard The Album I wasn't that excited or engaged by it....it reminded me a bit too much of SBS. I was wrong. Really enjoying this record and its production.

 

I've "spun" the leak, the cd and the vinyl. Buy the vinyl.

 

e

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I totally held out...didn't listen to the stream or anything else except some radio play on internet radio (internet radio...now THAT'S a revelation!! Parallel universe) of Bull Black Nova. Records generally grow on me with repeated listening, but this was a real letdown. Slick....weak. I'm glad that Jeff is a happier person now, but the music was better when he was in a darker place. I never thought Wilco would evolve into pop, but here we are. Don't get me wrong, pop isn't all bad....it's just not what I want Wilco to do. Yes, I know, it's not about me (as far as you're concerned).

 

Sananguy, I couldn't agree more. More than aything I think my frustration is having to try a Wilco album "grow on me." For me, the past two albums have taken awhile to warm up to. After reading several posts in this discusion many people it seems have had to let the album "grow on them." I guess I am ready for a Wilco album to hook me right away. The way AMs Box Full of Letters made me excited for the other 10 songs or how Summerteeths Via Chicago made me love song writing. Maybe I don't get it and I am looking for too much but I can only say that I, personally, am turned off by much of studio work from this band. I guess I will have to enjoy them as I always do, live.

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Interesting first impressions... personally I loved this new album immediately! Some of Wilco's albums have been growers, like A Ghost Is Born. I'm still waiting on Sky Blue Sky. But this new album is as instantly enjoyable to me as YHF was... which surprises me a bit!

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I can't recall a single Wilco album that didn't hook me right away. Over time, they either de-grow on me (SBS) or flourish over time (all the rest). After a month, it's still too early to tell, but this album has definitely stayed with me and different songs have emerged as my favorite at one time or another. So it's looking good so far.

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Sananguy, I couldn't agree more. More than aything I think my frustration is having to try a Wilco album "grow on me." For me, the past two albums have taken awhile to warm up to. After reading several posts in this discusion many people it seems have had to let the album "grow on them." I guess I am ready for a Wilco album to hook me right away. The way AMs Box Full of Letters made me excited for the other 10 songs or how Summerteeths Via Chicago made me love song writing. Maybe I don't get it and I am looking for too much but I can only say that I, personally, am turned off by much of studio work from this band. I guess I will have to enjoy them as I always do, live.

 

i've got the same feeling/impression about the new one. except for a couple of songs, at tops 4 or 5, i'm already having to look forward to the next album. i am tired of this mellowed out version of the tunes. if it weren't wilco i wouldn't even spend the time to listen to the songs. If i heard them as a 'new' band i wouldn't even be interested enough to google 'em to find out who they were. personally, i think the new son volt is definitely gonna win this round of releases.

 

cheers,

 

b

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On the contrary opinion to most here. I actually love the sound that wilco has produced in the last half decade. Sbs and this album are perfect records for me. I think impossible Germany is one of the best tunes of the last 10 years. I love these guys and this new album has made for a killer week

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