Wilco is re-releasing A Ghost Is Born with a bonus disc on March 7.
From Filter Magazine (via Mansion On The Hill) comes word that Wilco is re-releasing A Ghost Is Born with a bonus disc. The new version will be released March 7 with five new tracks, including a previously unreleased outtake and a b-side from their initial recording sessions, as well as live renditions of original album tracks taken from an October 2004 performance in Madison, WI.
Fans who have bought the original album will be able to download the new tracks for free. Very cool, fellas.
Here's the track List:
1. Panthers
2. At Least That's What You Said (live)
3. Late Greats (live)
4. Handshake Drugs (live)
5. Kicking Television
Reaction to the new Wilco disc from Frank at Chromewaves who calls the re-release trend "obnoxious".
"I don't care how you try to justify it, it's a cash grab and a slap in the face to the fans who would want the bonuses since they've almost certainly already bought the original issue. I hardly think there's anyone out there who were on the fence about getting the album, but now that there's a bonus disc they're convinced. It's flat out insulting to the fans, and any artist who goes along with such a marketing plan is diminished in my eyes for doing so.How could it be that the band that had been so generous to their fans two years ago in giving away the More Like The Moon EP online was now going along with one of the most egregious music marketing tactics of recent times?"
But with the outrage comes redemption with the free download. Says Frank:
"We will never again doubt that Wilco is a band that does right by its fanbase. Amen."
Speaking of Nels, there is an interesting interview with him on
J U N K M E D I A. Cline is asked about how fans have reacted to him as a new band member?
NELS CLINE: "I'm not sure exactly what's going on further back in the hall, but the uberfans (as Wilco calls them) seemed to accept my presence almost immediately. Jeff asserts that each new wrinkle in the Wilco saga alienates about a third of their fans, then they acquire other fans who take their place. I can tell you that I was nervous about being accepted - part of my personality - but that the power of the music seems to have put me in a pretty good light. What really matters is that the band has been inspired and excited about the sound of the new lineup."
In more Wilco news, Americana UK News has a report from Billboard that Wilco, Franz Ferdinand, and Interpol are among the artists that have contributed rare or previously unreleased tracks to a double-disc compilation that will raise funds for Asian tsunami relief. The 26-track set sprang from a partnership with Filter magazine and Urban Outfitters, which will on Feb. 28 begin exclusively selling the album at its retail outlets and Web site.
"The UNICEF Tsunami Relief Fund will receive 100% of the proceeds from sales of the collection. Among the notable inclusions here are Interpol's "Slow Hands" remixed by Spoon's Britt Daniel, Franz Ferdinand's "Matinee" remixed by Headman and previously unreleased tracks from Hot Hot Heat ("Apt. 101"), Rilo Kiley ("American Wife"), Clinic ("Fingers") and Earlimart ("Lullaby").Continued on the next page Page 1 — Page 2
Article comments
1 - Aaman
How will they tell who bought the original album?
2 - Eric Olsen
seance
3 - Tom Johnson
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.
4 - JR
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.
5 - Thrasher
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.
6 - The Theory
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.
7 - Aaman
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.
8 - The Theory
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.
9 - Sydney
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.
10 - The Theory
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...
11 - Sydney
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.
12 - The Theory
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.
13 - sydney
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.
14 - Scott Butki
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