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The Whole Love Is a Masterpiece


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Its really good. I don't think it is as career defining as Yankee, GiB, or even Being There, but it is definitely an amazing collection of songs. No doubt this is the best American band on Earth right now.

 

I think it's career defining as in Wilco still has a career. When they released WTA, that career was fading fast. They're back baby.

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It's at least better than the last two albums.

 

It would take time and more listens to be better than the two prior to the last two.

 

YHF was an immediate mofo. I think Ghost took some growing since it followed YHF.

 

Half of TWL was an immediate yes for me. A quarter was kind of eh. And the other quarter was a no, at least at first. It may grow. But masterpiece? Not as of right now.

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If the purpose of art is to inspire discussion at the very least this album has earned the achievement unlocked status. A week or so ago I posted about how much I love this album and the comments were mixed, but the antil TWL contingent was far more vocal. And angry. THe more I listened to it, the more I loved it. I like it even more now. Some of the angry people are waiting for a remake of YHF. Wilco did that album, it is behid them, and this is where they are now. And I couldn't agree more, this is a masterpiece.

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"masterpiece" and "genius" are words I dont like to throw around... I seldom use them seriously. I wouldn't consider anything Wilco does either of these things... I would just say that they are really really really really really really fucking good.

 

 

kinda like Van Gogh

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One of the masterful things about this record is John Stirratt's bass playing. Star of the record for me.

 

I agree with that statement wholeheartedly. I heard a whole new style for him in some spots - way more jazz based. I also thought of McCartney in the Revolver/Rubber Soul period at times. His playing is a major highlight of this album.

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After about a dozen listens I think my opinion just now is that no way is this album is a masterpiece, I doubt even Wilco themselves would claim as much. It's clear that it is a welcome return to form and is a very good album indeed, with two obvious Wilco classics in AOA and OSM. However, two classics and a bunch of good to very good songs doesn't equal a masterpiece.

So the jury is still very much out, but those claiming this a masterpiece must have somehow had access to these songs for months, or have listened to it twenty times a day for the last fortnight. That is extremely unlikely, so after such a short period of time these claims are just ridiculously over the top, no offence intended.

That's my tuppence worth just now, but who knows what repeated listening for 6 months or so will reveal, and I would like nothing better than to come back then and say "hey I was wrong it is a masterpiece".

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I think on a philosophical level (in other words not to quibble with the other humans on here) I feel that there's something really good about rash exuberance towards new creations. I think a lot of people are very cognizant about what a heavy word 'masterpiece' is, so they don't want to look silly by throwing it around. I get that. But I feel that it is refreshing to respond to new things with this level of enthusiasm. To find things that we can hastily delight in for their genius. I think it can allow a person to become engaged, and more celebratory. I don't mean to advocate being shallow or flighty, or to render words of greatness meaningless by overusing them; I mean when I see a painting, a film, or hear an album that bowls me over I feel more alive by jumping at the opportunity to celebrate that. The more reserved critics will judge these artifacts with the objectivity of decades having past. In the mean time I will have relished in life.

 

Ahh... a rant covered in pixie dust. What I said was not specifically about Wilco.

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Not better than YHF. Even if you disregard the history behind the album, it was something incredibly special. I would put this album at the very least as the 3rd best Wilco album, maybe beats AGIB for 2nd best. The songs are fantastic, each one of them.

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Every Wilco release has its own particular charms.

I tell you which Wilco album is my favorite and always will be.

 

The Next One. I love how this band is continually moving forward..reinventing themselves. Being aware of their past but always looking to the future.

 

I have yet to be disappointed in a Wilco release. Some have been earth shattering, some have been warm and comforting.

But as I have said before, this band always seems to make the record I need to hear.

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I came back to Via Chicago looking for a reason to buy the new Wilco. I used to be obsessed with them.....until SBS, which was "pleasant enough", but hardly what I had fallen so hopelessly in love with. Then came WTA, another "pleasant" disappointment, albeit an impressive display of Tweedy's ability to reproduce what he paid homage to.

 

Wilco had, for the most part, fallen off the map for me. I still hear them whenever my iPod decides it's time for a reminder, but wasn't even aware they had a new record coming out. Then I heard "I Might" on Radio Paradise (what a god send that is), not really taken with it, but piquing my curiosity about what was on the way. After reading this thread, I'll take the plunge. If, as some of you say, it's their best since YHF and AGIB, I'll be thrilled to agree with you. I'm skeptical it could match either of those two, but it doesn't have to. It just needs to be better than SBS and WTA.

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I would say it's definitely better then SBS and W(TA), but it's not as dramatic as either YHF or GiB. I think Summerteeth is it's most close comparison. The bottomline is that this is a great group of songs that are really well produced. Another great LP to add to the catalog.

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Yes, Someday, When Roger Fox Dogs comes out, and I can relive the genius with the songs I amTrying To Bake a Tart, Videostillshot, SIRIUS HEALING, Peace on Toast, Buddha, eg, Remnants of Canadian Symbols of Nationilism, School Band Oboist, Im The Dog that Obeys You, Throwing the Baby Out With the Dishwater, Wealthy Alcoves, and I've Got Groupon SAvings, I will like Wilco again. But until I am as smart as the people who tell me I am wrong, I love this album. One day, if I work hard enough, I too can be right, but until then I love the smile this album put on my face while i walk around being wrong about this album. There o willbviously be slow people like me who like it, but dont let that stop the citicism. Roger Fox Dog will be coming out soon.

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