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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
 Posted - 06/25/2004 : 16:42:02
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Yeah, I know you've all heard it and known it for months now, but I just bought it and heard it for the first time (actually, my roommate bought it), and I want to yack about it.
The first 3 songs were unlike anything Wilco have done before. That quiet piano intro into that kinda-Neil Young-ish insane guitar solo. And that third song that lasts 10 minutes w/ the phat beat going is another step away from YHF. I had heard this album didn't really deviate much from anything they'd done before. The first three songs alone made me wonder why people were saying this wasn't new ground for Wilco. Actually, some of it is reminiscent of Loose Fur, the side project of Jeff Tweedy and Jim O'Rourke.
After the third songs, there's a number of songs that have that chamber pop/baroque pop sound, though not to the degree that Pieholden Suite from Summerteeth was. Kinda reminds me of the Minus 5 (which Wilco helped with). One of my friends who was listening to the album thought these songs (track 4-6 or so) sounded like bluegrass. I tried to say no, but my other friend insisted there was bluegrass in there. Fuck that. Not that I have anything against bluegrass, but this ain't bluegrass. Not any kind I've heard anyway? What do you yah'll think?
I haven't digested the album yet. I only know that I probably won't listen to the second half of the fifteen minute track very often just because I'd rather hear all these amazing songs than noise. I think it's cool that it's there, and I'm sure I'll listen, but there's so many good songs to be had here that I just don't see the noises being a priority for now.
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2004 : 16:44:44
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Yeah, this album definitely shows the Jim O'Rourke input on the songs. And all that piano is just such a descendent of Burt Bacharach. Fuck, this ain't no bluegrass. This is chamber pop! This is Wilco!!!!!!!!!
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2004 : 16:46:28
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The reason I had to reiterate the whole "not bluegrass" thing is cuz I heard a moment that was SO Jim O'Rourke/Brian Wilson/Burt Bacharach/some-mellow-Elvis Costello/some of that music played over the phone in Virgin Suicides.
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
Edited by - TarTar on 06/26/2004 17:27:08 |
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Jose Jones
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1758 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2004 : 20:32:51
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yes, the new wilco album is fantastic! i had one of the greatest weeks of my life last week, and "a ghost is born" was it's soundtrack. it's now a part of me.
i also spun YTF a few times this week, which continually blows me away. awesome.
-dan |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2004 : 22:26:08
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I can't believe how many critics are complaining about all the weirdness, guitar wanking and lack of poppier songs on the record. There's only a handful of songs with tons of guitar wanking and weirdness. And as for the lack of Jeff Tweedy being the songwriter he once was, I don't feel he's lost it. As was the case with YHF, the songs take a few spins to get into your head. But once they are, they're permanently engrained. Handshake Drugs, Theologians, The Late Greats, I'm A Wheel, these are all classic Tweedy ditties. And I think Spiders (Kidsmoke) and At Least That's What You Said are great steps into new territory for Wilco. The only thing I don't care for much is Less Than You Think, but hell, I didn't really care much for the end of Reservations on YHF, so I just didn't listen to it. But maybe someone out there loves Less Than You Think.
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
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Cartland
- FB Fan -
Iceland
78 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2004 : 04:45:10
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Jeff Tweedy is quite possibly the most brilliant mind in popular music today. A Ghost Is Born is yet another proof. Wilco's entire catalog is nearly perfect. What a bunch of brilliant records! AM, Being There, Summerteeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost Is Born. Tremendous.
Theologians and Hummingbird are examples of songwriting one can only aspire to. |
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Jose Jones
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1758 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2004 : 08:46:04
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Company in my Back is amazing, also. my only complaint with the album is Kidsmoke could be two and a half minutes shorter, and Less than You Think could be 12 minutes shorter. but now i'm nitpicking.
oh, and the lyrics to I'm a Wheel are atrocious. does that song (musically) sound like Spoon to anyone?
-dan |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2004 : 17:19:14
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The lyrics to I'm A Wheel, which just came on as I began writing this, are great! Lotta fun. I don't think the point of the song is to say anything. It's just an excuse to rock, and so why not have some random lyrics?
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
Edited by - TarTar on 06/30/2004 17:30:49 |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2004 : 17:33:23
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I don't know. I hadn't really gotten a chance to listen to all of Less Than You Think yet, at least not w/o people arond and talking going on. Yesterday I tried, but my roommates girlfriend was like, "What is this? This is annoying." But now that I'm listening to it while I'm all relaxed with a beer in my gut, it's kinda nice. I can hear it's purpose in existing.
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
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Jose Jones
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1758 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 08:11:06
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you don't HAVE to like 12 minutes of droning noise, tartar. say it with me: "this shit breaks the flow of an otherwise phenomenal album!"
MAYBE if it was the last song, but 'late greats' is so good that there's no way i'm sitting all the way though 'less than you think.'
-dan |
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misleadtheworld
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1222 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 09:54:41
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I've only listened to half of it so far and I love it. Nicely different from YHF. I can't get into their early stuff for some reason (particularly 'AM'). I've been meaning to get Summerteeth though, I've not heard that one.
 Trigonometry killed the cat.... |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 16:05:03
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| The 2 hour streaming concert at the Vic Theater that comes with the CD is pretty sweet. I haven't gotten into the new songs but it'll probably happen. |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 16:11:18
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I didn't say you had to like it, Jose Jones. And it's not like I'm floored by it, but it's kind of cool. Would make for good soundtrack music to a Kubrick-type film. If you think it breaks the flow, that's why God invented skip buttons. The album is almost over at that point anyway. Late Greats is kind of like an afterthought, a bonus.
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 16:15:48
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Summerteeth is easily Wilco's most instantly catchy album. Tons of pop songs and fun instrumentation. Pieholden Suite is chamber/baroque pop at it's best.
I've never really gotten into AM, but there's a few songs from that I like -- Casino Queen, Passenger Side. A lot of songs that just don't stand out, though.
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
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Jose Jones
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1758 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 16:18:22
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afterthought? bonus?! LIES!!! it's a great song, just poorly placed! actually, the 12 minute drone that precedes it cuts it's momentum.
i was just messing with you about "having to like it." also, i HATE using the skip button. but, i'm forced to in this situation, sadly.
-dan |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 16:32:09
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Well, I mean, Late Greats is kind of like a hidden track, but you can either listen to some noise rather than fast forward, or just skip to it in this case.
When I saw Wilco in late 2002, the second song they played was Less Than You Think, and I remember the ending of it being really cool and tripped out, and rocked out, too. Wish they'd gone with that ending rather than this one.
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
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Jose Jones
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1758 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 16:34:34
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yes, that would have been preferable. ah well, the album is still fantastic. big ups to Wilco!
-dan |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2004 : 16:39:41
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You know an album is incredible when two people carry on and on about the inclusion of one piece of music and whether it enhanced the record or marred it.
"You gotta watch the mota, Thurston. Yr fuckin memory just goes out the window." |
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Branic
- FB Fan -
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 15:20:31
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I agree with Tar tar, in an instance of artistic endeavor, levels of beauty or intrensic worth are generally measured by an emotive response in the viewer (or listener in the case of A ghost is Born). What more could an artist want than to have fans arguing over his work?
It seems to me that the some people lack the cognitive ability or prior experience to understand modern popular art music. They may argue over semantics trying to place wilco's songs into a category. They may also search for a motive as to what songs mean or what jeff Tweedy meant when he said ___. All of this is irrelevant.
The songs Tweedy and company put out in this album should be listened to and pondered, but it is senseless to quander over what their intentions were. At that moment when the album was recorded and called 'finished' no more judgment can be passed as to its intentions,
after that point one can only drink a beer listen and be thankful that someone is pouring their life into something that can be observed. |
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misleadtheworld
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1222 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 15:25:24
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Welcome Branic. I see your residence is Portland, just like Mr. Black.
Hey Sandy |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 15:40:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Branic
The songs Tweedy and company put out in this album should be listened to and pondered, but it is senseless to quander over what their intentions were. At that moment when the album was recorded and called 'finished' no more judgment can be passed as to its intentions,
No offense dude, but ugh!
Post-modern bullshit makes my head hurt. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 15:48:44
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| listening to Wilco makes my head hurt |
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shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 15:54:38
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quote:
Originally posted by floop
listening to Wilco makes my head hurt
influence on the forum almost duped me into acquiring one of their albums.
i'm digging spoon though!
"You'll soon be dust your deeds already are, You saw no orb no fiery bushes either, I must be drunk I feel unsteady, No monster me, sadly no saint either... " |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 16:00:06
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| Don't let floop and his poor ocular hygeiene get to you. Wilco is a good band, but their latest album might not be the best one to start with. |
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Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
