Red Mosquito

One of the biggest about-faces on a record I've done in quite a while was on Ode to Joy. I was not into it at all when it first came out, but over time, the sound of the record really revealed itself as being unlike other things they'd done before. It's acoustic, but there's something particularly about the drumming on the record that accentuates it in their catalog. But it's a pretty punishing listen, overall, so it's hard to go back to it regularly.

Generally, I feel Wilco's post-AGIB drop is true but overstated. Sky Blue Sky has improved a lot for me over time, and in a way is the best example of Tweedy's contrarian streak affecting his music. And I'd agree that Star Wars is a great record; I think it has a reputation of being really slapdash, but when you listen to it, most of those songs are really well-constructed.

The solo stuff has overall struck me as a bit one-note, but I really love the note he hit on Warm. This is one of my favorite songs he's written:

verb_to_trust wrote:I listened to it all the way through earlier today and I think you really just have to be in the right mood to take it on. It's sparse sounding like Schmilco, but not in the same warm and nostalgic way.

good call

I'm with Chris on Star Wars.

Gotta say - Sky Blue Sky is really going down smooth right now

OH yea. Forgot how quickly it goes down hill.

Either Way, You are My Face, Impossible Germany, hate it here, Walken.

Thats a good EP.

tragabigzanda wrote:Please Be Patient With Me and What Light are the only songs id cut from that album.

Both of those are top-tier Wilco for me.

Walken and Hate it Here are my easy cuts.

I think the first half of SBS is a tour-de-force, beautiful and nuanced and moody and creative and every bit on par with what came before. There is some good stuff on the second half of the album, but songs like "Walken," "Hate It Here," and "What Light" -- while not unenjoyable by any means -- always feel a bit lightweight in comparison to the melancholy mood set by the first half dozen or so tracks on the record.

I really like "One True Vine" and "The Thanks I Get" too, a couple of B-sides from the album.

ghost wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:Please Be Patient With Me and What Light are the only songs id cut from that album.

Both of those are top-tier Wilco for me.

Walken and Hate it Here are my easy cuts.

Blasphemy!

Going with verb on this one.

Both hate it here and Walken are welcome in any Wilco live set as far as I'm concerned, and I've seen the band multiple times.

Songs like Hate it Here, Shake it Off, and Walken are examples of the songs I was talking about regarding the band struggling with its identity and trying too hard to pigeonhole Nels Cline and his “sound” into the songs.

And Trag, What Light is fantastic you rube.

I forgot about Shake It Off. Add that to my easy cut list.

What Light hits me right in the dad rock sweet spot.

Sky Blue Sky is top shelf Wilco for me. The only song I would cut is On and On. It translates so well live, they use Nels really well and the diversity on the record makes for a great straight through listen that still holds up today.

With the exception of Star Wars, everything after has been tough to fully get into.

tragabigzanda wrote:I listened to AGIB the other night, and the bridge in Theologians ("I'm going away where you won't look for me...") is one of my favorite moments in the catalog.

No one is every gonna take my life from me...

i love that era of wilco.

bring back jim o'rourke