Being There & Summerteeth...

[jakobnicholas]

It seems pretty clear that many of us long-time Wilco nuts favor BT and Summerteeth over the most recent albums. Some may put YHF in the same category, but I'd argue that YHF doesn't seem as timeless and is rather cold. AGIB has tons of balls and love it for that, but it's not an all-out classic.

 

 

I've listened the past week to BT, Summerteeth, SBS and W(TA), and while SBS and W(TA) have great parts, they lack something start-to-finish that exist on BT and Summerteeth. There's a definite sound and vibe and electricity that seems to run throught those 2 records.

 

 

I've heard some suggest that Wilco fans who have followed the band since A.M. like the earlier records better because it was a better, more exciting time for that person. I don't think that's true for me.

 

 

 

For those who agree, what would you say it is that makes BT & Summerteeth so great?

[Guest Speed Racer]

I'd take AGIB and YHF over BT and ST most any day.

 

That being said, BT was the honeymoon: Jay did for Wilco/Jeff on BT what Glenn did for Wilco/Jeff on YHF. New confidence, new ideas, new energy.

 

ST was the point at which the relationship turned the corner. Jeff was, creatively, totally heads and shoulders above where he was with BT, Jay had a mellotron, a vision, and a license to ill - and, last but not least, neither of them were in the healthiest place at the time, but still speaking the same language to each other. I don't think you could make a record like ST working with someone so closely in a place like that and expect it to end any other way than it did, with YHF and the dismissal.

[Analogman]

It seems pretty clear that many of us long-time Wilco nuts favor BT and Summerteeth over the most recent albums. Some may put YHF in the same category, but I'd argue that YHF doesn't seem as timeless and is rather cold. AGIB has tons of balls and love it for that, but it's not an all-out classic.

 

 

I've listened the past week to BT, Summerteeth, SBS and W(TA), and while SBS and W(TA) have great parts, they lack something start-to-finish that exist on BT and Summerteeth. There's a definite sound and vibe and electricity that seems to run throught those 2 records.

 

 

I've heard some suggest that Wilco fans who have followed the band since A.M. like the earlier records better because it was a better, more exciting time for that person. I don't think that's true for me.

 

 

 

For those who agree, what would you say it is that makes BT & Summerteeth so great?

 

Like a lot of the old school folks, they sort of lost me with Summerteeth. I prefer A.M., Being There, and A Ghost Is Born above all the rest of the albums. For me, I suppose it has something to do with the sound, the songs, and the guitar playing.

[Guest Francis X. Hummel]

For me, it's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Being There that would qualify as their two classics. Summerteeth is totally rad, don't get me wrong, and it was also the first Wilco ablum I ever heard and sparked my interest in the band, but it doesn't touch YHF or BT. In fact, I like AM better too. I think Summerteeth's sound just doesn't sit as well with me as the sound of YHF, BT or AM. A little too much keyboardy pop for my taste. Still amazing though.

 

Interesting that you find YHF "cold" but not Summerteeth. Lyrically, both are rather cold in my opinion.

[Doug C]

Being There, Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot are all classics.It is difficult for me to rank them. I'd have to say that they are equal. The rest bring up second place.

[nodep5]

For me it is a combination of being young and music "hitting" me at the time in real intense way added with what I believe the peak for Tweedy in terms of natural songwriting pouring out of his veins. I was there with UT, but didn't get lost with Summerteeth (if anything that is the album that made me realize how great they were/not just some band). I love YHF, AGIB, SBS and possibly W(ta), but that same level of magic has never been there. I catch waves of it, but it is fleeting.

[jakobnicholas]

Interesting that you find YHF "cold" but not Summerteeth. Lyrically, both are rather cold in my opinion.

 

 

I find Summerteeth to be very human lyrically and musically, which makes it sound warmer to me. The 3-song stretch of Pieholden Suite, How to Fight Lonliness and Via Chicago has it all. We're Just Friends, My Darling and Future Age are very human. She's a Jar shines with interesting and harrowing lyrics with a very warm-sounding harmonica. And the keyboards, which I like a lot, make it sound warmer and friendlier and more likeable.

 

To me, YHF, with all its extra sounds and empty space, just sounds a little distant and cooler. It's a great disc, no doubt, but it almost sounds a little too planned and thought-out. I prefer the YHF demos over YHF.

 

Again, it's hard to put what you hear and how it makes you feel into words. I just know that BT and ST rise above Wilco's other very good albums.

[jakobnicholas]

I love YHF, AGIB, SBS and possibly W(ta), but that same level of magic has never been there. I catch waves of it, but it is fleeting.

 

 

 

That's how I feel.

 

The stretch of music and creativity from Being There to Mermaid Ave. to Summerteeth to YHF demos was abosolutely AMAZING. That's when the Wilco magic was in full-steam.

 

That magic is still there (Hell is Chrome, much of Wilcobook, Lullaby of Rafters and Beams, Bull Black Nova, Solitaire....etc.), but not as consistently.

[Doug C]

The stretch of music and creativity from Being There to Mermaid Ave. to Summerteeth to YHF demos was abosolutely AMAZING.

I am on board with this statement.

[nodep5]

That's how I feel.

 

The stretch of music and creativity from Being There to Mermaid Ave. to Summerteeth to YHF demos was abosolutely AMAZING. That's when the Wilco magic was in full-steam.

 

That magic is still there (Hell is Chrome, much of Wilcobook, Lullaby of Rafters and Beams, Bull Black Nova, Solitaire....etc.), but not as consistently.

 

Stop Stop Stop, what is this "Lullaby of Rafters and Beams" you speak of my friend.

 

And off the top of my head, Wilco songs post YHF that give me that feeling again...

Either Way, ALTWYS, Hell Is Chrome, You Are My Face, One Wing, Bull Black Nova (there is more but that is without thinking)

[Guest Speed Racer]

Stop Stop Stop, what is this "Lullaby of Rafters and Beams" you speak of my friend.

 

Early title for the song, "Sky Blue Sky" featured on the soundtrack to the short film, Zamboni Man (someone else on vocals).

[jakobnicholas]

Stop Stop Stop, what is this "Lullaby of Rafters and Beams" you speak of my friend.

 

And off the top of my head, Wilco songs post YHF that give me that feeling again...

Either Way, ALTWYS, Hell Is Chrome, You Are My Face, One Wing, Bull Black Nova (there is more but that is without thinking)

 

 

Sorry. I was referring to the early version of the song Sky Blue Sky that Tweedy made for a short film called Zamboni Man. I LOVE this Tweedy-created version of it. It's got horns and even hearing the ice-skater on the ice during the song adds to its greatness. I'd put Tweedy's cover of Jandek's Crack A Smile in with this....I like his use of synthesizers on it.

 

I agree with your list of songs. Wilco still has "it". Just not by the buttloads that they used to have "it".

[Guest Francis X. Hummel]

Wilco definitely still has it. Post YHF songs that easily prove it:

 

ALTWYS

Muzzle of Bees

Handshake Drugs

Wishful Thinking

Theologians

The Late Greats

You Are My Face

Impossible Germany

Please Be Patient With Me

One Wing

You Never Know

 

Another note...

 

I've mentioned this before, but YHF was just the album for me. Who I was, my age, my thoughts on life, my mood, what it was, what it said, how it sounded, etc. when released, were just the perfect combination. I used to listen to it twice a day everyday (on the way to school and the way back). It's the most important piece of music to me. Ever.

 

But in all honesty, I rarely listen to it anymore. I'm not that same person I was in 2001/2002, and it doesn't speak to me in the same way anymore. I still think it's brillant and the shinning moment in their history [so far]. Being There is close too.

[Jesusetc84]

Summerteeth was my first Wilco album, and will always be on some level my favorite tied with YHF. Those were the first two Wilco albums I heard, and nothing else they did before or did after has hit me quite as hard as those two.

 

My favorite song of all time is Strawberry Fields Forever, so I guess it's natural that I'd favor Summerteeth over other Wilco albums.

[IRememberDBoon]

I love it all but I swear I really love every song from beginning to end on AM for some reason and I didnt discover it until like 04 or so.

 

 

1. I Must Be High

2. Casino Queen

3. Box Full of Letters

4. Shouldn't Be Ashamed

5. Pick up the Change

6. I Thought I Held You

7. That's Not the Issue

8. It's Just That Simple

9. Should've Been in Love

10. Passenger Side

11. Dash 7

12. Blue Eyed Soul

13. Too Far Apart

[John Smith]

For me Being There since day one has been my favorite Wilco album, it is just more of the type of music I like than most of the others. Summerteeth is way down on the list for me, too much going on up front with the record. On that level I tend to be out of alignment with many Wilco fans, and it really does seem to be the one I listen to the least. I still take YHF as my second. I’ll get back to you in a few months on where the new one fits in for me.

[pillowy star]

I find Summerteeth to be very human lyrically and musically, which makes it sound warmer to me. The 3-song stretch of Pieholden Suite, How to Fight Lonliness and Via Chicago has it all. We're Just Friends, My Darling and Future Age are very human. She's a Jar shines with interesting and harrowing lyrics with a very warm-sounding harmonica. And the keyboards, which I like a lot, make it sound warmer and friendlier and more likeable.

 

To me, YHF, with all its extra sounds and empty space, just sounds a little distant and cooler. It's a great disc, no doubt, but it almost sounds a little too planned and thought-out. I prefer the YHF demos over YHF.

 

Again, it's hard to put what you hear and how it makes you feel into words. I just know that BT and ST rise above Wilco's other very good albums.

 

[dunnright00]

YHF is my favorite "Album" in the sense of a concept listening from start to finish.

 

BT and ST have my favorite songs, with BT having more songs that I like, but ST having more of my favorites.

 

Hmm... let me clarify. I like pretty much every song on BT, but if I were to rank all of my favorites, most of the top 10 would be on ST.

[jmacomber68w]

Being There has a large collection of amazing songs, but for me, it does not have that "album feel", just throwing it out there

[froggie]

i also love the AM -> ST period. even though i discovered wilco when mermaid avenue came out, i still listen to the 90's albums the most. when AGIB came out, i though "what the hell's jeff doing?". i still cant listen to it straight through. SBS was a lot like a 'come back' album for me

[DAngerer09]

Being There would kick some serious ass if it was condensed into one album.