froggie Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 the way sounds that jeff is gritting his teeth while singing 'your ticket you obtaaaiin" is worth the price of admission alone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
linclink Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Tough to whittle a band as brilliant as Wilco down to two discs.That!!With kudos to "Robby" & his quoting of this & responding thusly with "This."The task of any kind of best of (2 CDs & 38 songs) involving a catalog that is at this level, is as great as it is impossible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Magnetized Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 the way sounds that jeff is gritting his teeth while singing 'your ticket you obtaaaiin" is worth the price of admission alone!I'm going to reconsider. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jesusetc84 Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Good songs, for sure. But think of how much space Mountain Bed, Spiders and Almost take up on a disc. That being said, 6+ minute tracks like Misunderstood, Sunken Treasure, IATTBYH and Handshake Drugs are critical on a release like this. I'd be willing to sacrifice some of the SBS and WTA tracks to accommodate some of the aforementioned songs that were excluded, maybe even Can't Stand It - but since this has to be more of a "mass appeal" release I can see why they left those out. Tough to whittle a band as brilliant as Wilco down to two discs.Wilco is just a generally poor choice for a best of due to song length (average song is about 4 1/2 minutes.) and due to (in my opinion) being an artist from the old school of making and listening to albums as complete works of art. They're not a hits artist, nor an iPod shuffle artist. They're a dog eared vinyl band. :-) My personal best of I came up with when I heard this was being made was: Disc 1: 01. I Must Be High02. Box Full of Letters03. Pasenger Side04. Misunderstood05. Monday06. Outtasite (Outtamind)07. I Got You (At the End of the Century)08. Sunken Treasure09. California Stars10. One By One11. When The Roses Bloom Again12. Can't Stand It13. She's a Jar14. A Shot in the Arm15. I'm Always in Love16. Via Chicago17. Airline to Heaven18. Remember the Mountain Bed Disc 2: 01. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart02. Jesus, Etc03. Ashes of American Flags04. Heavy Metal Drummer05. Poor Places06. Spiders (Kidsmoke)07. Handshake Drugs08. Wishful Thinking09. Theologians10. Impossible Germany11. Hate it Here12. One Wing13. You and I (w/ Feist)14. I Might15. Art of Almost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThisIsNowhere Posted October 19, 2014 Author Share Posted October 19, 2014 Does anybody know if this will be coming out on vinyl? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chinese Apple Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I think it's ironically funny that they put 19 songs on each CD of an album called "What's Your 20?"... wonder if it was on purpose, or not? Wonder if they could've squeezed any more on there? At least one more per would've been great... Seriously, it brings out the OCD in me that there are only 19 tracks on each CD and the title wants you to have 20. But it is uber effective and makes me want to fill in that "blank," which requires a mental cataloguing of all my favorite Wilco songs, and thinking what I would include if I were boss. I love, too, that it is a question about location. Such a clever title. Whoever came up with it in Wilco Inc. should get a raise and a promotion. Guess what I'm getting everyone on my list for Christmas this year... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I think it's ironically funny that they put 19 songs on each CD of an album called "What's Your 20?"... wonder if it was on purpose, or not? Wonder if they could've squeezed any more on there? At least one more per would've been great...I'm guessing that it was intentional, with #20 acting as a 'fill in the blank' type gesture as each fan will always have their 'how could they possibly leave THAT song off?' moment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I'm guessing that it was intentional, with #20 acting as a 'fill in the blank' type gesture as each fan will always have their 'how could they possibly leave THAT song off?' moment. This is exactly it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I'm guessing that it was intentional, with #20 acting as a 'fill in the blank' type gesture as each fan will always have their 'how could they possibly leave THAT song off?' moment.I agree. So my #20 for each disc would be Summer Teeth and Art of Almost. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 my 20s: Hotel ArizonaSide With The Seeds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 You Are My FaceOne Sunday Morning (I know it's long, but it's a colossal ender) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I'd probably go with Hotel Arizona and Poor Places. Although, the selections from A Ghost is Born could stand a redo (other than Handshake Drugs). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Airline to Heaven sucks. Why is this song on so many of their releases? I'm not that big of a fan of the studio release but the recording on Kicking Television makes me tear up just about every time. Superb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peteboiler Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I would add 'At Least That's What You Said', and 'You Are My Face.' Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smells like flowers Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Although, the selections from A Ghost is Born could stand a redo (other than Handshake Drugs).Yes. Must have Muzzle of Bees! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I'd probably go with Hotel Arizona and Poor Places. Although, the selections from A Ghost is Born could stand a redo (other than Handshake Drugs).i thought Poor Places was on there...scratch my Side/Seeds call. i'm w/ bleedorange. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
linclink Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I'm guessing that it was intentional, with #20 acting as a 'fill in the blank' type gesture as each fan will always have their 'how could they possibly leave THAT song off?' moment.That's what I was guessing too...& I was just trying to find a "20" for each CD & it was more like trying to choose between 20...too many great tracks from too many great albums...what I was writing was an overpopulated mess. I know they divided things up in halves (5 albums for each CD: AM. BT (2), Mermaid Ave. albums (add up to 1) & "Summerteeth" vs. YHF, AGIB, SBS, WTA, & TWL), & tried to be even handed & chronological with things... but... the material from "A.M." & "Mermaid Ave", as fine as those are, seems over-represented compared to the short shrift given to the last three albums...which, is a minor complaint for a majorly great album...and, as a best of, one that I have less interest in overall. The only solution would seem to be a 3 CD set, at a cheaper price, but that's probably just giving too many tracks from each album & thus hurting the back catalog a lot, & 3 CD's is a big package for a mildly interested fan who wants a simple "best of". Oh well... What I'd maybe cut from CD-1: It's not that I don't either like these a lot, or even love some of them, but... first & foremost most of the stuff from "A.M."- anything other than "Box Full Of Letters" is questionable on a comp for me, it's still fine material (& certainly up there with the work he was doing on "Anodyne", by far my fave Uncle Tupelo album) but things just get better from here on out..."Red Eyed & Blue"- a fine track, but one I would clearly cut in favor of lots of others from "Being There" that I'd take over this one..."She's A Jar"- I love it too, but there's just others I love even more from this one more... CD-2?: Much tougher. The YHF tracks are tough here, as there's nothing I'd really want to cut, but I love some tracks that aren't here easily as much.While I love "Theologians" it might be the "She's A Jar" of CD-2 for me, but what to replace it with? I couldn't tell you, as trying to choose one from all the tracks I love on this is just impossible.While I totally dig "Walken", it's one I'd could clearly cut & I can say my most likely replacement choices would be "What Light", "Sky Blue Sky", "Side With The Seeds" or "Shake It Off".I love the choices for WTA & TWL, but while there are other songs I might have chosen in place of certain ones here, trying to even approach which ones is just getting lost in a maze of faves too thick to even begin to try & sort out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albert Tatlock Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 There was a 'JT names his favourite 20 songs' piece some time ago where he deliberately left No. 20 free to slot in whatever he was listening to at the time, so it could well be a related ploy. The 19/38 does also bug me though :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 That's what I was guessing too...& I was just trying to find a "20" for each CD & it was more like trying to choose between 20...too many great tracks from too many great albums...what I was writing was an overpopulated mess. I know they divided things up in halves (5 albums for each CD: AM. BT (2), Mermaid Ave. albums (add up to 1) & "Summerteeth" vs. YHF, AGIB, SBS, WTA, & TWL), & tried to be even handed & chronological with things... but... the material from "A.M." & "Mermaid Ave", as fine as those are, seems over-represented compared to the short shrift given to the last three albums...which, is a minor complaint for a majorly great album...and, as a best of, one that I have less interest in overall. The only solution would seem to be a 3 CD set, at a cheaper price, but that's probably just giving too many tracks from each album & thus hurting the back catalog a lot, & 3 CD's is a big package for a mildly interested fan who wants a simple "best of". Oh well... What I'd maybe cut from CD-1: It's not that I don't either like these a lot, or even love some of them, but... first & foremost most of the stuff from "A.M."- anything other than "Box Full Of Letters" is questionable on a comp for me, it's still fine material (& certainly up there with the work he was doing on "Anodyne", by far my fave Uncle Tupelo album) but things just get better from here on out..."Red Eyed & Blue"- a fine track, but one I would clearly cut in favor of lots of others from "Being There" that I'd take over this one..."She's A Jar"- I love it too, but there's just others I love even more from this one more... CD-2?: Much tougher. The YHF tracks are tough here, as there's nothing I'd really want to cut, but I love some tracks that aren't here easily as much.While I love "Theologians" it might be the "She's A Jar" of CD-2 for me, but what to replace it with? I couldn't tell you, as trying to choose one from all the tracks I love on this is just impossible.While I totally dig "Walken", it's one I'd could clearly cut & I can say my most likely replacement choices would be "What Light", "Sky Blue Sky", "Side With The Seeds" or "Shake It Off".I love the choices for WTA & TWL, but while there are other songs I might have chosen in place of certain ones here, trying to even approach which ones is just getting lost in a maze of faves too thick to even begin to try & sort out. Well, to each their own, but to say the A.M. choices aren't deserving is more than a tad off, in my opinion. I Must Be High, Casino Queen and Passenger Side are absolutely key pieces of the Wilco catalog, especially for any newcomer, for whom compilations are generally designed. Both MA albums were crucial in Wilco's development. All three tracks selected from those records, I think, also are critical in a collection like this. California Stars above anything. Red-Eyed and I Got You are companion pieces. Hard to hear one without the other. Wilco's roots-rock sound in the early days should absolutely be put in the spotlight here, as they were one of the best, if not the best when it came to that sound. What Light and Shake it Off have no business on a "best of" compilation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Side with the Seeds is the only song from the last three albums that I would put on this compilation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Well, to each their own, but to say the A.M. choices aren't deserving is more than a tad off, in my opinion. I Must Be High, Casino Queen and Passenger Side are absolutely key pieces of the Wilco catalog, especially for any newcomer, for whom compilations are generally designed. Both MA albums were crucial in Wilco's development. All three tracks selected from those records, I think, also are critical in a collection like this. California Stars above anything. Red-Eyed and I Got You are companion pieces. Hard to hear one without the other. Wilco's roots-rock sound in the early days should absolutely be put in the spotlight here, as they were one of the best, if not the best when it came to that sound. What Light and Shake it Off have no business on a "best of" compilation.Reading the track list and this discussion has me listening to each track in order while riding the Acela to NYC. No doubt to me that A.M. is essential Wilco listening and the A.M. songs represented on the compilation fit right in. It was the sound of that band that is so well captured, and the absolutely crazily good songwriting is evident from the get -go. I also don't disagree with any of the #20's mentioned. The sheer number of great songs is mind-blowing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
linclink Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Well, to each their own, but to say the A.M. choices aren't deserving is more than a tad off, in my opinion. I Must Be High, Casino Queen and Passenger Side are absolutely key pieces of the Wilco catalog, especially for any newcomer, for whom compilations are generally designed. Both MA albums were crucial in Wilco's development. All three tracks selected from those records, I think, also are critical in a collection like this. California Stars above anything. Red-Eyed and I Got You are companion pieces. Hard to hear one without the other. Wilco's roots-rock sound in the early days should absolutely be put in the spotlight here, as they were one of the best, if not the best when it came to that sound. What Light and Shake it Off have no business on a "best of" compilation. It's tough choosing & don't get me wrong, I do love "A.M.", a whole lot too, just a little less so than the other albums. I think the other three songs are terrific, they just aren't as essential for me I guess.They also have to balance things material wise too. I just thought 4 from "A.M." & only 3 from each of the last 3 seemed off to me, but that's me. And they are on different CD's, so how they are fighting for space is also different. While I get that "Red-Eyed & Blue" & "I Got You" are companion pieces, & it's certainly a fine song, there are just a few other "Being There" songs I'd personally rather have...and finally, in retrospect, being that they are only 3 songs from the Mermaid Ave. albums, I'd have to say that they're clearly not over-represented, my bad...The bottom line is there is just too much great material here & so much more I'd love to have seen be able to make it... C'est La Vie... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I'm not that big of a fan of the studio release but the recording on Kicking Television makes me tear up just about every time. Superb. Yes it is superb. Based on the audience energy during this song, I'm pretty certain that "sucks" is a minority view! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 i thought Poor Places was on there...scratch my Side/Seeds call. i'm w/ bleedorange. I've always thought of Poor Places as one of a handful of iconic Wilco songs. I was really surprised it wasn't included on this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 it's a pretty amazing song, the lyrics esp. so powerful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.