Wilco | Schmilco [September 2016]

[Kevin Davis]

I really like the songs on "Schmilco" on their own merits (even "Nope" -- I have no idea what you guys are on about with that one), but I do think being familiar with its predecessors helped sharpen its impact. I feel like it's the first Wilco album that's had this much breathing room since...maybe ever, really. Tweedy's laid-back delivery and the vaguely muted production don't necessarily call a great deal of attention to the songs' strengths, I'll grant that, but I think the flourishes do a really nice job adding little swells of emotion and harmonic emphasis, and I think just slightly below the surface these are all mostly really strong songs. I dunno...the whole thing just hits the right spot for me.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

I really like the songs on "Schmilco" on their own merits (even "Nope" -- I have no idea what you guys are on about with that one), but I do think being familiar with its predecessors helped sharpen its impact. I feel like it's the first Wilco album that's had this much breathing room since...maybe ever, really. Tweedy's laid-back delivery and the vaguely muted production don't necessarily call a great deal of attention to the songs' strengths, I'll grant that, but I think the flourishes do a really nice job adding little swells of emotion and harmonic emphasis, and I think just slightly below the surface these are all mostly really strong songs. I dunno...the whole thing just hits the right spot for me.

i don't get the hate of nope either

i'm not in love with the album yet, but very well put

[Kevin Davis]

Don't get me wrong -- I don't think this album will ever hit with the blunt impact of something like "YHF," or even the high points of less consistent albums like "Sky Blue Sky." I don't think these songs have those kinds of aspirations. What I do think is that it's a record that's aware of its space and its range of ambition, and does a good job working within it. Records like that are often very satisfying for me, more so than inconsistent albums with a select few standout songs. "Star Wars" fits that bill too, really, though I find myself identifying with the songs here more.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Don't get me wrong -- I don't think this album will ever hit with the blunt impact of something like "YHF," or even the high points of less consistent albums like "Sky Blue Sky." I don't think these songs have those kinds of aspirations. What I do think is that it's a record that's aware of its space and its range of ambition, and does a good job working within it. Records like that are often very satisfying for me, more so than inconsistent albums with a select few standout songs. "Star Wars" fits that bill too, really, though I find myself identifying with the songs here more.

as if i have answers

[lennytheweedwhacker]

quarters is probably my least favorite...common sense and happiness are only a notch above it

[tragabigzanda]

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Don't get me wrong -- I don't think this album will ever hit with the blunt impact of something like "YHF," or even the high points of less consistent albums like "Sky Blue Sky." I don't think these songs have those kinds of aspirations. What I do think is that it's a record that's aware of its space and its range of ambition, and does a good job working within it. Records like that are often very satisfying for me, more so than inconsistent albums with a select few standout songs. "Star Wars" fits that bill too, really, though I find myself identifying with the songs here more.

as if i have answers

Great interview with Nels Cline on Fresh Air last week; I just listened yesterday. He talks about how on Schmilco, Tweedy told Cline that he was being too "reverent" to the material, that he should feel encouraged to treat it with some disrespect. I thought that was brilliant -- after years of producing in studios, I can appreciate Tweedy's ability to communicate a desired direction for the music, and convey it with one sentence. Sounds like it worked.

that's cool...i'm sure tweedy used to be a lot more difficult to work with, but his brilliance is undeniable

i'm sure you've seen this, but a few days ago i was reading about his addiction and rehab stint and came across the below, which i thought was a great moment:

When he did eventually receive treatment, Tweedy said he also earned “the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me by far.”

“I was allowed to play the guitar and I was sitting there, playing [A Ghost is Born track] ‘Muzzle of Bees,'” he recalled. “This guy came up to me and he said, ‘You know, you’ve got something. I don’t know what it is but you just lack confidence. What you need to do is get out there and get in front of some people and play your music for other people.'”

“It was completely unsolicited and uninhibited by any kind of persona or culture of whatever,” Tweedy said. “It was a generous thing for somebody to come out of his way and say something encouraging and nice to his fellow traveler with the same problems… I think about that guy all the time.”

[tragabigzanda]

[Kevin Davis]

I feel like Nels is barely present on "Schmilco." Maybe not showing up for the sessions was his way of disrespecting the material?

[lennytheweedwhacker]

this is my new favorite album

[bodysnatcher]

Yeah I'm really digging this album. "Common Sense" doesn't do much for me, or maybe it is just its placement in the tracklist, but other wise this album is a great listen

[bodysnatcher]

Well I jumped to jolt my clumsy blood
While my white, green eyes
Cry like a window pane
Can my cold heart change
Even out of spite?

Such a fucking great set of lyrics

[bodysnatcher]

Happiness depends on who you blame

Tweedy's lyrics kill on this album

[Kevin Davis]

Totally agree.

Always hating normal normal american empty summer days
Lightning crazed and cracked like an egg
High behind the garden shed
Painting myself as a normal American kid
I always hated it

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Well I jumped to jolt my clumsy blood
While my white, green eyes
Cry like a window pane
Can my cold heart change
Even out of spite?

Such a fucking great set of lyrics

yes, also love the part in my sig

[tragabigzanda]

[lennytheweedwhacker]

This album is a grower, huh?

big time...as background music i think it feels deceptively simple

[Strat]

its starting to grow on me.

[bodysnatcher]

its starting to grow on me.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

i'm not really digging this fat, old look tweedy has going