Blogcritics Comments on Wilco To Re-Release "A Ghost Is Born"

Comment by Scott Butki

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 01:32:56 EST

Remember that the documentary wasn't the band's project but rather the documentary maker's. The timing was actually ideal in that it documented the change in line up and the craziest record label shuffling

Comment by sydney

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 18:16:52 EST

Fair enough!... I actually enjoyed the documentry too.. but hadn't read the book. Ya..they haven't gone to far yet I suppose. Just a little weary of it all on principle.

Comment by The Theory

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 15:38:34 EST

to an extent I agree with you. yet, the stuff is QUALITY. It's not like it's a half hearted DVD... it's a nice documentary that shows the drama of YHF. But it also includes a great audio commentary by the band and film maker... and a bonus DVD with a lot of complete live footage and music videos and stuff. Same with the book. I can place the blame of the book squarely on Wilco's shoulders as more of a self indulgent move than the documentary... but I thought it was one of the more interesting band books I've ever seen. It was a high quality book with an interesting cd that I enjoyed a heck of a lot more than "A Ghost Is Born." If the two projects where heartless stabs just to make money, I would agree that they were purely marketing ploys to make money.

Comment by Sydney

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 15:20:55 EST

Yes, that occured to me as well. It may well have be concieved from that idea, however the marketing took over and I think it ended up as somthing slightly different. We can't neccessarily fault wilco initially, but they did promote the documentry and have since released a book documenting the band as well. I mean these are things advertised on their web-site. I'm not dissing them, but if it were my band I would sort of put a cap on the off-stage elements of the band. but.... to each their own.

Comment by The Theory

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 15:08:57 EST

i took the documentary to be merely a film maker wanting to document the recording of an album and Wilco let him. i might be wrong though...

Comment by Sydney

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 15:04:01 EST

I think Wilco has to be carefull. Their music is still pretty good, but it seems they learned a few lessons with the YHF saga; That is that their fans are fiercly loyal to the point where they care as much about the band as the music. This is fine and is partly a testemant to the bands excellent track record, however it's dangerous in the sense that Tweedy and co. must avoid assuming that fans will always take their music making as serious as they do. In other words: I hope they don't assume that everything they set to tape is worthy of release just because it is from WILCO. If they keep selling themselves in this fashion, fans might get a little tired of it. Afterall Wilco's not the only quality band out there. That being said, they are one of the bands I look forward hearing upon release of a new album (not a collection of live songs and outtakes). Did anyone else think it was a little strange realeasing the "I'm trying to break your Heart" documentry so early in their career. I thought it was a little presumptious to think people would be interested in the internal dramas of the band. Had they been around for years, and established themselves as rock icons, then I could see the relevance (for instance a Bob dylan biography). As it is though, it seemed almost an opportunistic thing where they where helping create their own legend. Maybe I'm wrong, but i found it a little cheap. I have friends that loved that doc though too.

Comment by The Theory

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 14:49:11 EST

how it worked the last time they did it, you have to insert your copy of the cd in your computer and that'll direct you to a special site that you can't access without it.

Comment by Aaman

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 13:07:00 EST

Still, how will they tell? ISBN on the CD? Easily duplicated and horrendously complex to track for a multi-platinum album, methinks The honor system, maybe.

Comment by The Theory

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 13:05:29 EST

well, since they are giving the tracks out online to those who bought it the first time around, I don't see what the problem is. this sort of thing is obviously a label decision.

Comment by Thrasher

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 12:22:17 EST

Eric - Thanks for making Thrasher's Blog the blog of the day! Very cool. Seeing a nice traffic spike. Yeah, this re-issue of A Ghost Is Born has stirred up Wilco fans a bit. Fans like to have it both ways... lots of product choice but not having to buy something again only for the premium tracks.

Comment by JR

Thu, 3 Feb 2005 10:53:31 EST

Hmmm, maybe I'll pick up A Ghost Is Born on the second go 'round. I'm glad I didn't buy it already; even with the free access to the new material, it's still a hassle. Nels Cline is also on the cover of Guitar Player this month. Evidently, hearing him play will change me forever, so I've got that to look forward to. Or should I fear it? The article wasn't really specific.

Comment by Tom Johnson

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 17:12:35 EST

If it's like the More like the Moon download, there's a code in the booklet that you have to put in and then you get access to the songs. Note to music industry bastards: THIS is how it should be done! Let those who already bought (and hyped!) the album get those new goodies for free. It's too bad we can't cut out the UPC code and send it in for a real CD of the tracks, you know, like when you were a kid and cut all those Cheerios proofs-of-purchase so you could get the free yellow, Cheerios-branded bowl! I tell ya, those Cheerios marketing people really know how to win over the kids.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 17:05:02 EST

seance

Comment by Aaman

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 16:33:10 EST

How will they tell who bought the original album?