I agree overwhelmingly with the sentiment of this article, and agree conceptually with everything the author is saying. Wilco have aged as well as any band I can think of, and many of the criticisms thrown their direction over the past 15 years have been flippant at best and -- as the article says -- factually inaccurate at worst (though the fact that the paid reviews are often as inane as the unpaid ones is less surprising to me than it is to the author).
I haven't revisited Cousin yet (and honestly only listened to parts of Cruel Country once -- no real reason, just more compelled by other things over the last few years), but I will, and expect I will find things in subsequent listens that I didn't notice on the first one (that happens with most Wilco albums, and definitely happened with Ode to Joy). But even if I end up not connecting with it, I definitely admire the effort -- I see them still pushing themselves, still engaged in the creative process, and navigating how to play to their strengths without resting on their laurels. Lots of respect for these guys.
Re: wilco
Posted: Thu October 05, 2023 5:02 pm
by washing machine
tragabigzanda wrote:Great read for those falling off the wagon:
Thanks for finding this, trag. Fitting that one of the related links at the bottom is titled "How to use Kaizen to achieve your goals."
Re: wilco
Posted: Thu October 05, 2023 5:12 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: wilco
Posted: Thu October 05, 2023 5:52 pm
by washing machine
Each reviewer I've read interprets "Ten Dead" as a numb response to gun violence, but I think there's another reading in there if you dare to look for it. Imagine the song from the perspective of a serial killer.
Re: wilco
Posted: Thu October 05, 2023 5:55 pm
by tragabigzanda
tragabigzanda wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb
I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 3:06 am
by Strat
tragabigzanda wrote:
Kevin Davis wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:Great read for those falling off the wagon:
I agree overwhelmingly with the sentiment of this article, and agree conceptually with everything the author is saying. Wilco have aged as well as any band I can think of, and many of the criticisms thrown their direction over the past 15 years have been flippant at best and -- as the article says -- factually inaccurate at worst (though the fact that the paid reviews are often as inane as the unpaid ones is less surprising to me than it is to the author).
I haven't revisited Cousin yet (and honestly only listened to parts of Cruel Country once -- no real reason, just more compelled by other things over the last few years), but I will, and expect I will find things in subsequent listens that I didn't notice on the first one (that happens with most Wilco albums, and definitely happened with Ode to Joy). But even if I end up not connecting with it, I definitely admire the effort -- I see them still pushing themselves, still engaged in the creative process, and navigating how to play to their strengths without resting on their laurels. Lots of respect for these guys.
I will say that Schmilco, Ode to Joy, and Cousin all suffer from mixes that almost require a solid audio setup to really enjoy. The textures are dense, and intricacies get lost if you're not able to here the separation between things. Huge differences in my engagement with these albums if I'm listening in my car vs. on my turntable. YMMV.
washing machine wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:Great read for those falling off the wagon:
Thanks for finding this, trag. Fitting that one of the related links at the bottom is titled "How to use Kaizen to achieve your goals."
Yes Jeff.
Please for the love of God try and convince me that wilco continue to push themselves.
Please.
I cant hear it. I hear tweedy songs that all sound the same and the band just doing their bits in the back. For at least 10 years now. Art of Almost and maybe Star Wars are 2 unique attempts. BUt with Tweedy solo work and the past however many Wilco records...they all blend together terrible.
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 3:11 am
by tragabigzanda
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 3:12 am
by Strat
tragabigzanda wrote:I’m unclear if you’re upset with tweedy or Wilco.
If tweedy, fine, whatever. His songs are largely (not entirely) derivative of stuff he’s written prior, and he’s settled into the whisper-singing thing for a while now.
But the band is one of the most thrilling groups of musicians going. Sonic Youth-levels of textural exploration, albeit more restrained, less rawk
The dynamic has evolved a lot. Tweedy writes his standard compositions then the band fills things in beautifully.
Mostly tweedy but when i listen to "Wilco" i truly jsut hear a band bored in the background and adding what they think they need to add to Tweedy's tired work.
i do not hear what you do and ive tried. I've tried real hard. I was super excited about them bringing in this new producer but i think in the end its just more of the same with teasers of something.....more?
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 3:13 am
by Strat
And seriously no slight to Wilco overall, they have put out so many amazing records and some of the best shows ive ever been a part of but its been an exhausting listen for me for at least 10 years now
Yea yea, same can be said for PJ but im emotionally obsessed with that one so.....
Wilco doesnt get that pass!
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 3:19 am
by washing machine
Strat wrote:And seriously no slight to Wilco overall, they have put out so many amazing records and some of the best shows ive ever been a part of but its been an exhausting listen for me for at least 10 years now
Yea yea, same can be said for PJ but im emotionally obsessed with that one so.....
Wilco doesnt get that pass!
Just close your eyes and imagine that "Levee" is part of the 1st third on Slave Ambient.
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 3:22 am
by Strat
Also tweedy brought a tear to my eye when i saw him last month solo.
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 3:23 pm
by Kevin Davis
Strat wrote:
Please for the love of God try and convince me that wilco continue to push themselves. .
I just mean that, to me, it sounds like they're still interested in making sounds they haven't made before, are still putting out new work at a respectable pace, and still feel like they're on a creative journey together, as opposed to a band that just reconvenes every few years to tour and record because it's their job. I agree that the current iteration of the band feels a bit like they're just backing Tweedy, and I imagine that is somewhat by design; both Uncle Tupelo and Wilco v1.0 had more direct artistic foils/antagonists to Tweedy, and while that brought with it a certain combustible creative energy that played out in ways that could be really exciting within the music, I'm sure it got exhausting being in bands that argued all the time. There seems to be a clearer definition/understanding of roles within the current lineup, in a way that comes at the expense of some creative tension but is almost certainly essential to building and sustaining something that doesn't just burn bright for a couple years and then expire. And it's not at all surprising to me that Tweedy would prioritize that given his history.
All that said, I think that the post-2007 version of Wilco has done well at finding freedom within those more clearly defined roles, and I think when it really works at its best you hear a cohesion and synchronicity that no previous iteration of the band was together long enough (or was ever cooperative enough with each other) to achieve. I don't think they hit the bullseye on every song, but I do think it's always sitting there, not too far out of reach.
I do sympathize with the reaction that Tweedy's writing has gotten increasingly flat and samey, and that it's hard for even the most creative arrangements to push that into a place that feels compelling. That's how I felt on my first listen to Cousin. I'm hoping the impression doesn't stick.
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 5:47 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 5:52 pm
by Strat
Chris_H_2 wrote:
Strat wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:Great read for those falling off the wagon:
That headline makes me not give a shit about what they might be saying
you're throwing a lot of negative energy around these parts lately strat
Im sorry. Im just working through the fact im over Wilco
Re: wilco
Posted: Fri October 06, 2023 6:12 pm
by washing machine
...because the wilco don't need you and man they expect the same
Re: wilco
Posted: Sat October 07, 2023 7:58 pm
by tragabigzanda
tragabigzanda wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb
I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem
Re: wilco
Posted: Sat October 07, 2023 8:40 pm
by Chris_H_2
I’m liking the album more and more. But with each listen, I also hate the song Ten Dead more and more. Hate. It.
Re: wilco
Posted: Sat October 07, 2023 8:42 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: wilco
Posted: Sat October 07, 2023 9:01 pm
by Strat
tragabigzanda wrote:I don’t know guys…Cousin is really starting to grab hold of me. Could be ranked quite highly after a couple more weeks.
