― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― keith, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― steve mcentee, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Aside from that: I suspect that a little editing on their last two albums wouldn't hurt, but then I just never get around to listening to disc 2 of their second album, so maybe I just don't know how good it really is.
― Josh, Thursday, 19 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
I kinda liked AM when it came out but moreso now. BEING THERE is a bit too long and unfocused but there are some bright lights in there. I was a little weary when SUMMERTEETH came out with all the praise that it was getting. I figured it was just runoff from the MERMAID AVENUE hype, but then when I finally got the record (months after it came out and the hype had died some) I thought it was OK, then it started growning on me song by song. Now I think its great. Really fantastic. They're a really good band and depending on what their next album is, they could become a *classic* band.
― Tim Baier, Thursday, 19 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Dr. C, Thursday, 19 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Sterling Clover, Thursday, 19 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― AP, Saturday, 21 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Loved Uncle Tupelo, and Wilco just doesn't have the urgency they did live.
― Dan Rivkin, Thursday, 26 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
So critically overrated in the US that I might *almost* not get mad if Tom were to describe them as irrelevant rockist crap.
― Patrick, Thursday, 26 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Tom, Thursday, 26 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Sterling Clover, Thursday, 26 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
I'm glad that none of these people going on about 'rockism' mean it seriously.
― the pinefox, Sunday, 13 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
But, hey, it's all in good spirit.
(and I say that as someone who's indifferent to Bragg musically, and left the Tolpuddle rally early last year because his performance was resembling a self-parody and I couldn't take it so close up, but I'm glad he's around.)
― Robin Carmody, Sunday, 13 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― achilles_last_stand, Sunday, 13 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Melissa W, Monday, 14 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― powertonevolume, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Tom, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Mickey Black Eyes, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― dan, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Mr Noodles, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― dave q, Friday, 15 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 11 September 2002 21:48 (twenty-two years ago) link
While I agree, remember that the whole thing was in the can before 9/11, and untouched thereafter. Which makes it all kinda spooky, methinks.
― wl, Wednesday, 11 September 2002 21:53 (twenty-two years ago) link
wl: That's why it works so well- it's a 9/11 album untainted by post 9/11 sentiments!
"Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" = r0x0r (tries to be Flaming Lips)"Summer Teeth" = sux0r (tries to be Beach Boys)
― Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 11 September 2002 22:35 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 11 September 2002 22:52 (twenty-two years ago) link
Word.
"Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" = r0x0r
True dat.
(tries to be Flaming Lips)
Errr... don't hear it.
"Summer Teeth" = sux0r
Nah.
(tries to be Beach Boys)
― wl, Wednesday, 11 September 2002 22:53 (twenty-two years ago) link
Daniel your aesthetics are in severe need of regime change.
I know! I should paint my room pink...
― Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 11 September 2002 22:56 (twenty-two years ago) link
performance of "Hate It Here" (with added horn section) on SNL tonite fucking RULED
looking forward to the second cut ("Impossible Germany" maybe?)
― Stormy Davis, Sunday, 2 March 2008 05:18 (sixteen years ago) link
Agreed. I never liked that song before just now.
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 2 March 2008 05:31 (sixteen years ago) link
ok for 2nd song "Walken" was AWESOME choice although I wasn't as blown away by the performance. uh, performance-wise.
the "Hate it Here" was totally inspiring , best-band-in-the-uni type stuff. The "Walken" was sort of "eh". which is kinda doubly weird becuz "walken" is the Little Feat-aping track that lends itself to such band solidarity. kinda seemed like the boys did not really grab that one like they could've. oh well. they sounded great.
― Stormy Davis, Sunday, 2 March 2008 06:04 (sixteen years ago) link
What's the provenance of that Nudie suit Tweedy wore?
― drench, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 00:45 (sixteen years ago) link
Leave it to a Wilco thread to feature the word "provenance".
― Pleasant Plains, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 00:53 (sixteen years ago) link
Out of curiosity, has anyone looked into whether or not their role in Volkswagen commercials resulted in the 'Nick Drake effect?' Sales-wise, not mortality-wise, mind.
― fukasaku tollbooth, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 12:18 (sixteen years ago) link
like, after wilco's adds woksvagen accidentally overdosed on anti-freeze? i'm 'pparently mis'standing something there, amn't i?
― t**t, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:11 (sixteen years ago) link
no
― tati1, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:19 (sixteen years ago) link
I thought it was odd that VW uses non-lp trax in the ads.
― C. Grisso/McCain, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:21 (sixteen years ago) link
haven't paid attention since YHF which is a pleasant-bordering-on-interesting listen. I always had a soft spot for Being There cause when it came out my Faces and Big Star Third/Sister Lovers love was at its peak. I think I eventually came around to Summerteeth, too.
― will, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:21 (sixteen years ago) link
Summerteeth is the only Wilco cd I have, actually. I'm sorta lukewarmin' to it, mildly.
― t**t, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:29 (sixteen years ago) link
THe New Haven a few weeks back show was pretty great. Nels Cline and Glenn Kotche really bring the band to the next level.
― kwhitehead, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:29 (sixteen years ago) link
meant to say New Haven show
― kwhitehead, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:30 (sixteen years ago) link
has there been a backlash to the backlash on Sky Blue Sky?
― baaderonixx, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:39 (sixteen years ago) link
I think so. The disc got lukewarm reviews when it was released (overall not bad, tho; I think the disc has a 79 METASCORE), but then it turned up on lots of critic's Top 10 lists last year. And it deserved to be on those year-end lists, I think. Great, underrated album.
I hope Nels Cline stays with the band. Such a good, innovative guitarist.
― Daniel, Esq., Tuesday, 4 March 2008 19:47 (sixteen years ago) link
I have to say I resisted them for a long time- living in Chicago, it's sort of like too much to also listen to Wilco. Its like reading "Devil in the White City" on the CTA. And the boring people and middlebrow radio dj's of Chicago are just nuts for Wilco. But that's a stupid reason to avoid them, plus I ran out of music, and I gave in. So now I think they're great. Especially, She's a Jar, Jesus etc, and Handshake Drugs.
― jsimp, Thursday, 6 March 2008 03:09 (sixteen years ago) link
I used to have a similar opinion to jsimp. Fuckin hated these guys. and yeah, largely due to the lunkhead north-side beer garden lunkhead idiocy of the whole think. But quite frankly I never even liked Uncle Tupelo back in the day. And then I remember when 'A.M.' came out and "Xrt" used to cane that ridic "Passenger Side" track, where Tweedy's all oh yeah dude I am totally ROLLING ANOTHER NUMBER. just sounded so fucking weak. ain't no Neil Young.
but then a couple things happened. Friend had a free extra ticket to one of the Vic shows that ended up on that 'Television' live CD or whatever its called. so I went. and I enjoyed myself. Seeing Nils Cline live was a revelation ( his first stint with the group .. he of course not on 'Ghost is Born' which those shows were supporting.) Also closing that show with the great Charles Wright cover did buy my respect
then 'Sky Blue Sky' came out and random samples trickled over to me .. random tracks where I heard some Cline guitar that appealed and perked my ears up .. then finally stumbling upon them guesting on 'Prairie Home Companion' (i am a fan) where they fucking ripped and i heard the ghost of my guy Cipollina in Cline's liquid flow.
Stumbled into a store a couple weeks later, noticed the 2lp of SBS on the wall, and bought it, fuck it. Really kinda fell in love with it. Still hate Tweedy's voice a lot of the time but the band is swell. Like Tweedy when he does Lennon on 'Hate It Here' and Lowell on 'Walken'. I dig the band.
but yeah, fuck the north side.
― Stormy Davis, Thursday, 6 March 2008 04:50 (sixteen years ago) link
You guys are right. The worst thing about Wilco is their hardcore fans.
I have been known to troll around their discussion group boards and it is striking at the hate the addition of Nels Cline has inspired in many of them. It's almost as if they are saying "How dare they stop being so alt-country."
If you ask me, they didn't get good until they got weird(er).
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 6 March 2008 16:20 (sixteen years ago) link
Its like reading "Devil in the White City" on the CTA.
lol
He's still got it, folks!
― jaymc, Thursday, 6 March 2008 17:13 (sixteen years ago) link
damn that is cool
― in my world of Hmong ppl (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:05 (thirteen years ago) link
The documentary "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" made me like them less. I mean, fuck they are boring in every which way. And Jay Bennett, may he rest in peace, was a dildo.
― the distance between me and a sackful is gonna be like 0 inches (rip van wanko), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:05 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah that vid is dope
― kanellos (gbx), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:06 (thirteen years ago) link
I DREAMT ABOUT KILLIN U AGAIN LAST NITE AND IT FELT ALLRIGHT 2 ME
― u aint messin w/ my dengue (gr8080), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:09 (thirteen years ago) link
someone gave me a free copy of Sky Blue Sky when it came out and i went months and months without even removing it from the cellophane. then one morning i woke up with possibly the worst hangover of my entire life and for some reason put that CD on and i think it saved my life.
― u aint messin w/ my dengue (gr8080), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:11 (thirteen years ago) link
life-saving qualities aside, I'd rather listen to wilco drummer jamming out than actual wilco tbh
― if nothing else this thread will result in some great display names (Edward III), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:13 (thirteen years ago) link
loose fur
― plax (ico), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:14 (thirteen years ago) link
BTW checked wiki and Being There and Ironman both came out on October 29th, 1996!
― in my world of Hmong ppl (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, December 20, 2010 1:33 PM (21 minutes ago) Bookmark
LOL I thought you were talking abouthttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cYpCtu1JL._SL500_AA300_.jpgand was so confused
― congratulations (n/a), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:18 (thirteen years ago) link
^^great movie i never would have watched were it not for a TOMBOT recomedation
― u aint messin w/ my dengue (gr8080), Monday, 20 December 2010 20:20 (thirteen years ago) link
i was a big fan of the Kosinski novel in middle school and my first seeds of dislike for Wilco were planted when they usurped the title. not that i feel remotely as negatively about them as a lot of people do though.
― some dude, Monday, 20 December 2010 20:23 (thirteen years ago) link
xpost yeah i love that first loose fur alb way more than any wilco rec i've heard
― Ward Fowler, Monday, 20 December 2010 21:48 (thirteen years ago) link
it's like, you like neil young-y country rock occasionally filtered with a little bit of weirdness?
Remove neil young-y and this is why I don't like them. Country rock in general is dull as dishwater (and Neil rarely is). When I first heard Summerteeth and Being There I was comparing them to the first few Old 97's albums + Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt (obv) + I dunno, the Jayhawks or something. And all those were exciting and passionate and interesting, where Wilco sounded like Muzak.
― boots get knocked from here to czechoslovakier (milo z), Monday, 20 December 2010 21:56 (thirteen years ago) link
classic thread, gr8 read:I'm really fucking drunk and can't pull the jewel case of Wilco's "A Ghost Is Born" out of the cardboard sleeve
― u aint messin w/ my dengue (gr8080), Monday, 20 December 2010 22:22 (thirteen years ago) link
oh man
― i genuinely thought when i first joined that he was the admin (ilxor), Monday, 20 December 2010 22:22 (thirteen years ago) link
Up until the last year or so, the answer would have been "Meh" but last two albums are pretty great 90s indie rock.
― dlp9001, Saturday, 22 October 2016 16:32 (seven years ago) link
Im not sure what to make of the new one yet. I like "normal american kids" a lot tho
― Neptune Bingo (Michael B), Saturday, 22 October 2016 17:40 (seven years ago) link
I think they're probably splintering their fanbase a bit, so it's hard to know what to recommend, but I get taken in about halfway through the album during the run from happiness to locator especially.
― dlp9001, Saturday, 22 October 2016 17:47 (seven years ago) link
not really caring any more, they have too many records. I'll always love Summerteeth
― akm, Saturday, 22 October 2016 18:16 (seven years ago) link
I think they have their own beer
― brimstead, Saturday, 22 October 2016 19:28 (seven years ago) link
Actually dug out my old Fuck (sorry, really wish they'd chosen a different name) albums, and yeah, there is a little bit of the same thing going on, though I like the recent Wilco stuff better.
― dlp9001, Saturday, 22 October 2016 20:27 (seven years ago) link
Not a fan of early Wilco (anything earlier than Summerteeth) and a pick-and-choose relationship with the band for any album after Sky Blue Sky. Usually a couple of standout tracks on all of the latter-day albums. The new one and Star Wars were kind of dull to me, though.
― Rod Steel (musicfanatic), Sunday, 23 October 2016 02:22 (seven years ago) link
(sorry, really wish they'd chosen a different name)
it's ok buddy
― The times they are a changing, perhaps (map), Sunday, 23 October 2016 02:31 (seven years ago) link
Expanded Reissues of AM & Being There Coming: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/wilco-details-reissues-of-first-two-lps-am-being-there-w508163
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 13 October 2017 19:08 (six years ago) link
I was surprised by how much I loved the Alpha Mike odds and sods box. I'm in on these reissues, I adored "Being There" when it came out.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 13 October 2017 19:56 (six years ago) link
I loved AM and BT back in the day but fell off the bus after YHF. That comp of rarities looks good though, have to check that out.
― calstars, Friday, 13 October 2017 20:03 (six years ago) link
Vouch for a ghost, summer teeth, yhf and especially sky blue sky, with the total classic "impossible Germany"
― Week of Wonders (Ross), Friday, 13 October 2017 20:05 (six years ago) link
I guess up until YHF he had an effective foil in Bennett
― calstars, Friday, 13 October 2017 20:06 (six years ago) link
I really dug "Germany" when I first heard it but it does zero for me now
― calstars, Friday, 13 October 2017 20:07 (six years ago) link
I still don't know what the hell happened on Wilco (The Album), it's just so uninspired. It sounds to me how I imagine people who actively hate Wilco hear them all the timeStar Wars was pretty excellent though, which was something of a relief
― PaulTMA, Friday, 13 October 2017 21:43 (six years ago) link
i haven't loved anything since YHF (though I've liked some albums), but yeah Wilco (The Album) strikes me as by far their worst. wonder if Farrar is on that last Uncle Tupelo track, or if it was just recorded pre-breakup?
― tylerw, Friday, 13 October 2017 21:57 (six years ago) link
Wilco (The Album) is like Beethoven compared to Wilco Schmilco. That is a bad record.
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 13 October 2017 23:54 (six years ago) link
Schmilco sounds like what it is - the uninteresting outtakes from those sessions W(TA) sounds like Tweedy actively persuing sub-Fleet Foxes/Feist blandness
― PaulTMA, Friday, 13 October 2017 23:57 (six years ago) link
I guess up until YHF he had an effective foilcollaborator/multi-instrumentalist/co-writer/producer in Bennett
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 14 October 2017 00:37 (six years ago) link
W(TA) is easily their worst. The bookends on The Whole Love are worth the try.
Best record post-YHF to me is Star Wars, and I actually enjoy Schmilco.
― Van Horn Street, Saturday, 14 October 2017 03:44 (six years ago) link
I am curious if the extra stuff on these re-issues have already seen the light of day on the box set, which is, for the most part, pretty great. And I happen to love Schmilco. It's like Star Wars awkward little brother.
― kwhitehead, Tuesday, 17 October 2017 16:39 (six years ago) link
I couldn't get through 3 songs of that b sides comp
― calstars, Tuesday, 17 October 2017 16:42 (six years ago) link
And Bull Black Nova is the only redeeming thing about W(TA).
― kwhitehead, Tuesday, 17 October 2017 16:44 (six years ago) link
"Alpha Mike Foxtrot" (a code for Adios M-F) is a bounty of riches. I love the band through YHF and it's got lots of live cuts from that period as well as fun alt takes and b-sides. The stuff from their later period was eye-opening for me. There's a track that sounds like a Fall outtake! And I've often found bands detritus is fascinating where they're being experimental or the song doesn't fit the album's vibe.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 17 October 2017 17:26 (six years ago) link
I saw them twice on the current tour and they were fantastic.
― Randall Jarrell (dandydonweiner), Tuesday, 17 October 2017 18:10 (six years ago) link
And Bull Black Nova is the only redeeming thing about W(TA)
"Deeper Down" is lovely
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 17 October 2017 20:42 (six years ago) link
http://www.weepaperpeople.co.uk/2017/10/08/wilco/
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 28 October 2017 17:43 (six years ago) link
https://wilco.kungfustore.com/new-items/jeff-tweedy-bobblehead-wil920.html
― Never Learn To Mike Love (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 29 November 2017 16:51 (six years ago) link