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Sky Blue Sky - Confession of a Relatively New Fan


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It seems to be about the change of pace from previous albums. When it was first released, I had a really hard time getting into it, but for some reason I felt like trying it again a few months ago and it's been a frequent flyer in my car CD player ever since.

 

Some songs' lyrics are more simple in some of the songs than in previous albums, so that might be a factor too. There isn't quite as much of the poetic essence. Initially maybe that was part of my inability to appreciate it at first--it's hard to say. Now I think it's lovely.

 

I actually like the songs mentioned above. The idea in Leave Me, of not wanting to be scarred or shaken up in whatever way by a relationship, is a powerful theme for anyone who's come out a horrendous relationship and weren't quite the same for a long time. The lyrics might be simplistic for the most part, but the last few lines are classic poetic Tweedy. As for Either Way, it's that sense of letting things be and accepting what happens without pushing it in a way that convolutes things. The sun will shine--life will go on--either way, no matter how one feels. It brings to mind a Flaming Lips lyric, "The universe will have its way."

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It seems to be about the change of pace from previous albums. When it was first released, I had a really hard time getting into it, but for some reason I felt like trying it again a few months ago and it's been a frequent flyer in my car CD player ever since.

 

Some songs' lyrics are more simple in some of the songs than in previous albums, so that might be a factor too. There isn't quite as much of the poetic essence. Initially maybe that was part of my inability to appreciate it at first--it's hard to say. Now I think it's lovely.

That's it exactly. "it's lovely". Wilco before had been so much more than "lovely". There was weight behind it all. Gravitas. I feel that more in the new album. Some heft.

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It seems to be about the change of pace from previous albums. When it was first released, I had a really hard time getting into it, but for some reason I felt like trying it again a few months ago and it's been a frequent flyer in my car CD player ever since.

 

Some songs' lyrics are more simple in some of the songs than in previous albums, so that might be a factor too. There isn't quite as much of the poetic essence. Initially maybe that was part of my inability to appreciate it at first--it's hard to say. Now I think it's lovely.

 

I actually like the songs mentioned above. The idea in Leave Me, of not wanting to be scarred or shaken up in whatever way by a relationship, is a powerful theme for anyone who's come out a horrendous relationship and weren't quite the same for a long time. The lyrics might be simplistic for the most part, but the last few lines are classic poetic Tweedy. As for Either Way, it's that sense of letting things be and accepting what happens without pushing it in a way that convolutes things. The sun will shine--life will go on--either way, no matter how one feels. It brings to mind a Flaming Lips lyric, "The universe will have its way."

 

Can't we look at it objectively? I know I can look at it subjectively and still say SBS is the best, but since it is a little different than YHF and AGIB it sucks for you guys? No no no. This is a beautiful CD. The worst songs are the last two, but they don't suck. Everything else is unreal in my eyes.

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I can't look at much objectively! :P

 

Tell us, when did you get into Wilco? It seems that old-timers are least likely to get into SBS, while those who found the band through SBS have special love for it. Totally understandable!

 

For me, the last 2 songs are great, and I'm arguably one of the few who adores What Light. It's Side w/ the Seeds and Shake It Off that I would rate lowest, but that's just me and my quirky likes & dislikes. I love the rest of it, even though it took me so long to get it. No, it doesn't suck at all, far from it. But for some--and I can't speak for everyone, of course, but based on what I read here and my own initial reaction to the album--it might be that shift from YHF and AGIB that is hard to...well, shake off, to use part of a song title. :)

 

I joined this board during the YHF era and remember a few still grumbling about the ST and YHF shift from A.M. and Being There, so it's just a matter of time, perspective, and individual tastes.

 

So, either way....

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I still dislike Sky Blue Sky outside of the BT-ST-YHF comparisons. If Sky Blue Sky were my first Wilco album, it would not impress me. Sky Blue Sky sounded like a bad copy of an Eagles record, and much more sedate. There's a difference between simplicity and trite sentimentality. I wish they found a different way to approach this entire album. I wouldn't say that everyone hates it since you obviously like it, but there's some amount of dislike and disapproval. And for anyone that's ever liked music (or any of it for the matter), looking at music objectively is almost impossible.

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Oh... there's some hate. I love it, but I understand their POV. YHF and AGIB are fantastically weird. SBS is pretty damn normal. I don't think anyone was expecting that record when Nels came aboard.

 

"Shake It Off" is pretty goofy, although it sounds like it isn't loved on this board. Personally, I really fuckin love it. Let it be known also that I listen to A Ghost Is Born and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot quite often and I still prefer Sky Blue Sky. I got into them in 2007 as that album came out, so maybe that is why my opinion is different...or because its a great album.

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I became a Wilco fan in late 2005. As a result, when SBS came out I was still absorbing the back catalog and it was all very fresh and exciting to me. A Ghost Is Born was (and is) my favorite, so you can guess what direction I wanted to see Wilco to continue in.

 

When SBS came out I was incredibly disappointed. It was verging on depressing for me - that this band I had recently fallen in love with let me down. There were two main problems for me. 1. As a 24 year old I couldn't relate to much of the sentiment in the album. 2. It seemed like Wilco had gone soft on me.

 

However, I kept listening. Once the shock wore off I spent some time with the album and came to appreciate its beauty. To this day I think SBS is a lovely, elegant album. Not my favorite, but still essential to the Wilco catalog.

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First 6 songs and the closing track are as good as anything as they've done and unlike W(TA) it actually feels like Tweedy has something to say.

 

That being said, What Light is not just the worst Wilco song, it's probably the worst song of all time.

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