rhino4evr Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 Just to clarify, the only album I don't like of WIlco's is (TA),..and I still kinda like it. I agree that SBS is great due to it's warmth and personal nature...something Sukirae has in common. What I was saying is The Whole Love is the "best" the band has sounded on record, and the closest they have come to matching their live sound on a record. You act as if Art of Almost is the only sonic wonder on that album...I Might, Dawned on Me, Capitol City, to name a few, are very dynamic songs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 There's also some beautiful sonic stuff happening on One Sunday Morning. You're tempted to focus on just the words and the hypnotic guitar, but there's some great percussion, electric guitar, and other noise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 I never warmed up to The Whole Love; nothing against it. Wilco the Album seemed more novelty than anything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 i think it's pretty natural for a band's creative force to hit an asymptote 20 years on... in fact, i can't think of many who didn't. This is where the comparison to Spoon comes in. Both bands formed around the same time. They have both released 8 albums in the 20 years they have been around. Both lead singers are great writers and great front-men who also happen to have great bands as side projects. Both are successful producers (although Jeff has more of a resume here). But there are two main differences. 1) Jim Eno has been with the band he cofounded with Britt the whole time. 2) Spoon just released what is arguably its best album last year. And while Wilco has the slight edge with its early stuff. Spoon has released 3 incredible albums since Wilco released its last great album in 2004. Is the dynamic between Eno and Daniel the reason Spoon has stayed at the top of its game? Is Spoon the outlier on the common career trajectory? I'd like to think that Jeff has more in him and that Wilco won't be relegated to the pile of aging bands that release good but ordinary music for the rest of its career. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 i disagree w/ you about Spoon's output. i think their highlight was _Girls Can Tell_, and it's been spotty since then. in fact, i think the _Sneaks_ and _Telephono_ are better than Ga x 5 or Transference. i like Eno as a drummer but i don't think he's at all responsible for the songwriting quality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 i disagree w/ you about Spoon's output. i think their highlight was _Girls Can Tell_, and it's been spotty since then. in fact, i think the _Sneaks_ and _Telephono_ are better than Ga x 5 or Transference. i like Eno as a drummer but i don't think he's at all responsible for the songwriting quality. But Eno is also a producer. And a good one. I think that combination of having two strong voices in the room helps. They also went to an outside producer on They Want My Soul. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on Spoon's output. Except for the fact that Girls Can Tell is their best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mus2009 Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 I'm surprised TWL hasn't stuck with me, I really enjoyed it when it came out Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Al.Ducts Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 I hope the new record is just Jeff playing 13 guitar solos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 multi-tracked. just one song. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SarahC Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Looped continuously for 55:02 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
howdjadoo Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Wilco - 2016 - The White Album Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbray Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Wilco - 2016 - The White AlbumI don't think Wilco should ever make an attempt at "The White Album". I think people forget that the Beatles were easy to listen to with such quick succession because they had three (four twice and 1/2) songwriters that made cohesive yet disparate records. Here, it's just Jeff with varying band input (now that Jay has been long gone). I like Sukierae, but it could have been a stronger single album if only for the style fatigue factor. As for 2004 holding the last "masterpiece" album, that is affected by when you started listening. If you look at Wilco in phases (1:AM, BT, Mermaid(s). 2: Summerteeth, YHF, AGIB. 3: SBS, W(tA), TWL), Where you started listening tends to be where you last perceive Wilco as capable of master-craft. You may be able to look backwards and see greatness, but not forwards because the band is no longer making the type of music you fell in love with. Obviously this is generalized and everybody listens differently, but as someone else already said, the best part of Wilco is the difference between each record, not the similarities (that's why Wilco (the Album) is not as great as the rest). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Passenger Sid Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Wilco: The Christmas Album. That would be FANTASTIC! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rhino4evr Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 That would be FANTASTIC! I disagree. Christmas albums are the worst. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 there's at least one good one:http://www.discogs.com/John-Fahey-The-New-Possibility-John-Faheys-Guitar-Soli-Christmas-Album/release/1700076 and a good 7"http://www.discogs.com/Frogs-Here-Comes-Santas-Pussy/release/1031399 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 I disagree. Christmas albums are the worst.Jimmy Smith and Vince Guaraldi would like a word with you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mus2009 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 damn i do love a good peanuts christmas album Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ghost of Electricity Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 You want a Christmas record? Here's a damn good Christmas record: http://www.awesometapes.com/chief-commander-ebenezer-obey-international-brothers-christmas-special-king-juju/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted July 8, 2015 Author Share Posted July 8, 2015 Dude, Spoon: Ga, Ga, Ga, Transference... so great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackberry Rust Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Producers aside, I think the relative coasting since around 2005 has been due to the comfort zone factor. Now I certianly don't wish mental illness, substance abuse, musical disunity and a generally screwed up existence on anyone, but - as most fine musicians do - Tweedy wrote his best stuff when he was under the hammer. It's a bit disingenious to claim that suffering for one's art is the only way you're going to make decent art, but it goes some way: Leonard Cohen, Jason Molina, Sparklehorse, Neil Young's Ditch Trilogy. So, whilst I sincerely don't wish any ill fortune on Tweedy, it might be time to get out the axe and pare Wilco back to a four piece - Jeff/John/Glenn/Mikael or Pat. I've got a soft spot for Nels, and I'm sure some folks are glad he brought modal shredding back into the spotlight, but his guitar playing drives me up the wall. Technically it's impressive, but at least Jeff can play with some soul. I don't mean this to sound brutal, but I honestly think it's the only way they'll make a halfway decent album again. Then again, it's been over ten years since Ghost, so I should probably just get over it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ghost of Electricity Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I've got a soft spot for Nels,.. but his guitar playing drives me up the wall. That doesn't sound like a soft spot to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
knotgreen Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Producers aside, I think the relative coasting since around 2005 has been due to the comfort zone factor. Now I certianly don't wish mental illness, substance abuse, musical disunity and a generally screwed up existence on anyone, but - as most fine musicians do - Tweedy wrote his best stuff when he was under the hammer. It's a bit disingenious to claim that suffering for one's art is the only way you're going to make decent art, but it goes some way: Leonard Cohen, Jason Molina, Sparklehorse, Neil Young's Ditch Trilogy. So, whilst I sincerely don't wish any ill fortune on Tweedy, it might be time to get out the axe and pare Wilco back to a four piece - Jeff/John/Glenn/Mikael or Pat. I've got a soft spot for Nels, and I'm sure some folks are glad he brought modal shredding back into the spotlight, but his guitar playing drives me up the wall. Technically it's impressive, but at least Jeff can play with some soul. I don't mean this to sound brutal, but I honestly think it's the only way they'll make a halfway decent album again. Then again, it's been over ten years since Ghost, so I should probably just get over it. I mostly agree, though I'm guessing that I've enjoyed some of Wilco's recent albums more than you have. I don't doubt that the current lineup is capable of making a great record, they definitely are, but I think a change could be good. (I'd also much prefer Jeff or Pat play lead instead of Nels) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbray Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I mostly agree, though I'm guessing that I've enjoyed some of Wilco's recent albums more than you have. I don't doubt that the current lineup is capable of making a great record, they definitely are, but I think a change could be good. (I'd also much prefer Jeff or Pat play lead instead of Nels)Pat has been showing off his muscle lately with leading the production side of TWL and even on-stage (using his Billy-Bo for "Red-Eyed and Blue/I Got You at the Cap show stands out in my mind) but I would personally like to hear less of the late 60's/70's aesthetic moving forward. I would be interested in seeing what the band could with less guitar. Summerteeth stands as the only up-front synth record (Art of Almost aside) and but that lacked nuance and was buried under chugging baritone guitar or steel guitar ala Nashville (I'm Always in Love, ELT). In my mind I see giving Mikael the lead in exploring the ideas behind the SOMA Hummingbird or Unlikey Japan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rhino4evr Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I think Nels adds way more then he takes away from a lot of the songs. It's hard for me to even listen to older tracks on the previous albums now, due to how much I like his guitar noodling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilconut Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Um, then there's this via the band's FB: https://www.facebook.com/wilcohq/photos/a.127996970420.136900.8290410420/10153437544455421/?type=1&theater Does anyone else think this looks more like album art than a concert poster/press shot? Or is that just me... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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