Re-Discovering Wilco
Published December 02, 2004
I am an American aquarium drinker, I assasin down the avenue. I am hiding out in the big city blinking, what was I thinking when I let go of you?
That is the first line from Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which is a masterpiece. I say I am rediscovering it because it is several years old. I initially got a copy of it from 'Los before we went to England in the Spring. I listened to it driving around the English country side for hours, it was amazing. When I got back, the disc was packed away with a bunch of other crap... so I forgot about it. Recently though we caught Wilco at the Fillmore (Denver, CO) and the show was amazing. It is powerful and fun and great and loud. All the things you expect from a rock show, but not from Wilco. So, my interest was further peaked in the band again, especially with the masterpiece 5 star disc Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. That first song just slays me, it is so powerful and quiet. I have been listening to it over and over again for the last week, since I finally pried the new U2 out of my truck's CD player.
Along with my renewed interest, I decided to Netflix the documentary of the making of that album, which is called 'I am trying to break your heart'. It follows the band through the recording of the album. It was a crazy time; the lost a record deal, they reshuffled the line up, got a record deal. It is an interesting movie, and one I recommend watching after you get a good feel for the album. The band is the story of a moody cat named Jeff Tweedy. He is the talent, vision, and songwriter for the band.
Anyhow, go pick up the album already.
- Re-Discovering Wilco
- Published: December 02, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Books: Arts, Culture: Arts, Music: Indie Rock, Music: Soundtracks, Video: Music
- Writer: Lono
- Lono's BC Writer page
- Lono's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Know what? I don't even have the new disc either. Even as a very hardcore music fan, I am so fed up with the industry these days that it takes an awful lot for me to plunk down $20 for a cd.
A Ghost is Born is great!
It is, however, rather different from YHF, and rubs different folks differently.
Example: A good buddy and myself like the new one better (guitar solo in the first one makes me cry) while a couple of my brothers (not Phillip; there are six boys and one girl in the brood) much prefer YHF.
Circuit City typically sells single-disc CDs for $13.99. Their selection is more limited than Best Buy generally, but they should have some Wilco on hand. I simply will not pay $17.99 and $18.99 like I typically see at Tower, etc. and so I scour stores both online and off to find good deals. CC usually beats them IF they have it in stock, otherwise it's Best Buy.
And count me as another Ghost lover - it's a much more nuanced, subtle, and beautiful piece of work IMO. But I love both - I just tend to prefer Ghost . . .
I love Wilco, I love YHF and I love the new CD A Ghost is Born. In the opening track At Least That's What You Said, the transition from soft piano ballad to amazing guitar solo is probably the musical highlight of 2004. I can't get enough of this band, period. Their first release, AM, is a bit too country for my tastes, but Summerteeth, YHF and Ghost are all amazing albums. I didn't rediscover them, but I didn't know about them until about 6 months ago.
Dude, YHF was released in 2002 (although MP3s were on the Internet sooner), so I wouldn't say the album came out "several" years ago.
I saw them in 2002 and they were fantastic. They were "in the groove" and put on a show that will surely get them a larger audience the next time them come to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
I haven't quite warmed up to AGIB, though.
I did finally purchase the DVD I Am Trying To Break Your Heart and look forward to reviewing it.
I have been listening to the live album by Wilco repeatedly.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/22817)
Hear, hear! I haven't picked up their most recent album yet, but YHT is fantastic.