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We're a lot funnier than people give us credit for' Singer Jeff Tweedy claims


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Well, just about the least likely paper for a Wilco piece. Either someone in particular there likes them or they are the only remaining celebs who don't know their phones are being hacked by the dark forces in the Murdoch empire.

 

As an aside, one of my favourite lines on TWL is the simple 'So on and so forth', just 'cos I know JT always cracks a grin when he sings it - as if it's the antidote to complicated lyrics and being taken too seriously :-)

 

Anyone with a blinking raffia owl on stage can't be too hardcore. I only noticed it blinking for the first time on the Sat night at the Roundhouse. Thought I was having a funny turn for a few moments ...

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/sftw/3914424/Wilco-We-dont-take-ourselves-as-seriously-as-others-do.html

 

November 4, 2011 13:27

By CARL STROUD

 

Wilco: 'We're a lot funnier than people give us credit for' Singer Jeff Tweedy claims there's 'more humour' in his lyrics than people think

 

"I AM the driver at the wheels of the horror, sadness is my luxury, I was born to be alone," sings Jeff Tweedy on track Born Alone from Wilco's eighth album The Whole Love.

 

But the frontman claims his lyrics aren't as dark and earnest as they sound.

 

"I think there's a lot more humour in almost any Wilco record than almost anybody gives us credit for," argues Tweedy.

 

If there is a band today taken more seriously by its fans than Wilco it would be hard to find.

 

The veterans, formed from the ashes of alt country group Uncle Tupelo in 1994, are cherished as one of the most serious-minded practitioners of bruised Americana in action today.

 

Over eight studio albums, the band — comprised of Jeff, bassist John Stirratt, guitarist Nels Cline, multi-instrumentalists Pat Sansone and Mikael Jorgensen plus drummer Glenn Kotche — have provided a muscular backdrop to their frontman's frank lyrics.

 

Rampant drug addiction, depression and heartache have all plagued the 44-year-old singer at various points.

 

Fans pore over his writing, endlessly debating the meanings on internet message boards.

 

Yet Tweedy insists they don't warrant such close scrutiny.

 

"As a writer I don't take my lyrics nearly as seriously as a lot of people do," says Tweedy.

 

"I enjoy singing them not because they're poignant, but because they make me smile a bit — they're kind of funny."

 

The band's 2002 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and its Grammy-winning 2004 follow-up A Ghost Is Born are often hailed as twin masterpieces — fusing extreme musical abstraction with more gentle songcraft.

 

It is often claimed that Wilco's albums since have not managed to equal those adventurous heights. And it's an accusation that exasperates Tweedy. He says: "People claim we're forever dumbing down. I think we've been pretty dumb all along. And defiantly so. It's pop music. We want to make pop music. I love pop music.

 

"And to be honest, the execution of the simpler songs are much more difficult than throwing some sounds together and saying you're subverting a form.

 

"In a lot of cases, experimentation is great if it works but often it's the easier way out.

 

"It's easier for people to take the p*** out of something they can understand than it is to have a pop at something which might prove embarrassing because they haven't understood it."

 

He adds: ""If someone is coming at a new album really wanting to have the same experience that they had with some other record then that can't be met.

 

"I don't know what we can do to meet those expectations other than ignore them," he concludes, before adding: "I don't think we put out any s***."

 

Yet despite his insistence that his lyrics not be taken at face value, he concedes that the achingly gentle Dawned On Me, from The Whole Love, is based on experience.

 

The tear-jerker explores his 20-year love affair with his wife Sue. And it's a wise meditation on the practicalities of maintaining a marriage over two decades.Tweedy says: "I think an obsession with romantic love in a relationship causes a lot of pain.

 

"I think the only real hope for any relationship, in terms of longevity, is to main tain the ability to fall in love with each other and not get too distracted when it's not too perfect. Me and my wife have been together for 20 years and I think it's pretty unrealistic to always be in love."

 

After 16 years on affiliate labels associated with big-hitters Warner, The Whole Love appears on the band's own dBpm imprint.

 

And Tweedy relishes cutting out the mountain of bureaucracy that comes with huge labels.

 

He admits: "It's a relief that we're now dealing directly with our audience. I feel there's no one who should be expected to understand or work better with our audience than us."

 

Wilco famously fill in time between band commitments with solo projects. Guitarist Cline has released a number of jazz albums. And Jeff has been restless — featuring in a number of outfits including Golden Smog, Loose Fur and The Minus 5. And one of his most recent forays outside of Wilco was with legendary fellow Illinois-ite and gospel star Mavis Staples.

 

Jeff produced and co-wrote a number of tracks on her 2010 album You Are Not Alone.

 

It seemed a strange choice for the godless rocker to work with the evangelical Christian — but it produced spectacular results.

 

He says: "We have a lot more common ground than people would think, based on my lyrics and her past.

 

"I would argue Mavis isn't really as religious as she is spiritual. She's remarkably devoid of any judgement. She's extremely tolerant."

 

He found surprising parallels between two seemingly disparate worlds.

 

Tweedy says: "I think Wilco have a lot of things in common with soul music. I feel like I'm a child of punk music in a lot of ways.

 

"And I feel like gospel and punk share the same fearlessness about the world. The idea that you can't be held down, that you will transcend, that you will live your life how you see fit.

 

"They're great ideals."

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Ha! I yield to your knowledge of a vision of the world expressed through the medium of string.

 

Meanwhile, since Mavis got a mention, like this pic

mavis_staples_with_jeff_tweedy_newberry.jpg

 

But really, how can anyone who knows anything about Wilco not appreciate and embrace the comedy angle . A big draw for me certainly. And though my first exposure to Wilco was via Billy Bragg & MA when I saw Man in the Sand on TV, when I decided tp pay them some real attention on their own and got the IATTBYH film, what happened? Within the first few minutes JT was sticking a fag in his belly button (with what I have come to know as a 'sharpie' through time spent with you lot) and coming over all German. Art rock my arse! The other winning moment was when wiping up after one of his attacks - folding the loo paper so scrupulously and tidying up after himself. That man was brought up well, and not much of a punk :-)

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Yet despite his insistence that his lyrics not be taken at face value, he concedes that the achingly gentle Dawned On Me, from The Whole Love, is based on experience.

 

The tear-jerker explores his 20-year love affair with his wife Sue. And it's a wise meditation on the practicalities of maintaining a marriage over two decades.Tweedy says: "I think an obsession with romantic love in a relationship causes a lot of pain.

 

"I think the only real hope for any relationship, in terms of longevity, is to maintain the ability to fall in love with each other and not get too distracted when it's not too perfect. Me and my wife have been together for 20 years and I think it's pretty unrealistic to always be in love."

 

Dawned on me isn't really a tear jerker is it? Sounds pretty up beat to me. Still, good to learn a little more about this song.

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Same photographer Jim Newberry

 

 

 

autumn_defense_jim_newberry_photo.jpg

 

That's a fantastic photo.

 

Fun topic for an article! A listen to banter during Tweedy solos and some Wilco shows is evidence that the band has a sense of humor. The entire Wilco (The Song) is really really funny if you think about it.

 

As for romance--it's overrated. A little of it is good for a relationship or marriage, but friendship, trust, sincerity, some common interests, and simply being able and willing to put up with each other are the keys to making it last.

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Good article, thanks for posting that. Although "bruised Americana" did make me cringe a bit.

 

Yeah, the owl is awesome. Macrame. Which is a strange word that I often still get confused with macabre. This can be embarrassing.

 

Nels also used to have some kind of fuzzy standup doll thingie on one of his amps. Like the thing you throw baseballs at to win a cupie doll at the carnival. I didn't see that one last time.

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"I think the only real hope for any relationship, in terms of longevity, is to main tain the ability to fall in love with each other and not get too distracted when it's not too perfect. Me and my wife have been together for 20 years and I think it's pretty unrealistic to always be in love."

 

 

what a hypocrite

 

 

 

MN0074479.gif

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what a hypocrite

 

 

 

MN0074479.gif

 

I figure you're being sarcastic/sardonic/ironic, but the statement did hit me.

 

I always thought this song, like a lot of Summerteeth, is heavily ironic. Same with Nothingsevergonnastandinmyway again. These songs sound like he means anything but what he's singing...the old unreliable narrarator.

 

That or it's the added perspecitve of being 12 years down the road.

 

Either way, I find the progression in thought and feeling to be cause for reflection and enjoyment.

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Yet despite his insistence that his lyrics not be taken at face value, he concedes that the achingly gentle Dawned On Me, from The Whole Love, is based on experience.

 

The tear-jerker explores his 20-year love affair with his wife Sue. And it's a wise meditation on the practicalities of maintaining a marriage over two decades.Tweedy says: "I think an obsession with romantic love in a relationship causes a lot of pain.

 

"I think the only real hope for any relationship, in terms of longevity, is to maintain the ability to fall in love with each other and not get too distracted when it's not too perfect. Me and my wife have been together for 20 years and I think it's pretty unrealistic to always be in love."

 

Dawned on me isn't really a tear jerker is it? Sounds pretty up beat to me. Still, good to learn a little more about this song.

 

Not sure if it is a tear jerker for all but for people like me who have been married for 20 years it led to a collection of dust in my eyes I couldnt clear manually because I was too taken with the notion that I probably dont appreciate my wife enough.

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