Wilco’s new album “A Ghost Is Born” came out today, and I picked it up right after work. I’m a little dissappointed, but then again, I think topping or even matching “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” (or “Summer Teeth”) is pretty damn hard for any band. Maybe I’ve gotta give it more time (YHF didn’t get me on the first listen either.) What do you guys think of this album, and Wilco in general?
I think Wilco’s great. I absolutely love Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I listened to the new album once in streaming audio at their web site. It was okay, but didn’t grab me right away. But then, neither did YHF. But I’ll be buying the CD for sure.
I am a big Wilco fan courtesy of this here message board. I have been listening to the new album off of their website and I really like it. I think the album warms up after the first few songs, although I don’t get the 10 minutes of buzzing on “Less Than You Think”. But it does add a lot of suspense getting to my favorite track, “The Late Greats”.
Haven’t yet picked up Ghost but I plan to very soon.
I’ve recently become quite the Wilco admirer, but possibly in a somewhat shallow way, as that I really only enjoy their up-tempo songs! Songs like “Kamera,” “Can’t Stand it,” “I Must Be High,” etc. I absolutely fucking love, while their slower numbers just seem to depress the crap out of me.
This must be a highly personal preference though, as I’ve yet to hear any Wilco fan express the same sentiment.
Well, Moody Bastard, I prefer my Wilco to be more accessible too. That’s not exactly what you’re saying but that’s how I’ll say it.
For instance, I love the album A.M., but didn’t like Summerteeth at all. I didn’t even buy YFH. I did like the song “Heavy Metal Drummer” – the only tune I heard more than once off it.
I think they’re awesome when they’re doing poppier stuff – when they’re more clearly in a standard rock format – but they really lose me when they get more “atmospheric”, let’s say.
I know that’s sacriledge to real Wilco fans, but. . .whatever.
They’re a band whose music I appreciate but don’t really dig. I never have cause to put it on. I don’t like it driving. I don’t like it when I get back from work. I don’t like it when I’m reading and want something on. I don’t like it when I want something heavy. There’s just no good time for Wilco for me.
Preach it, brother.
Wilco fan here, so up-tempo, down-tempo, alt-country, feedback and distortion, whatever, it’s all good to me. I picked up *A Ghost is Born[i/] at lunchtime yesterday, and I’ve only listened all the way through about 2.5 times so far, so the jury is still out on where I’ll rank it with their other discs. For those of you looking for accessibility, be warned that there are no immediately obvious “radio friendly” tracks, and it is definitely closer to YHF than their other titles.
Those of you looking for poppy, catchy, Wilco (ie “Monday”, “Candy Floss”, “Heavy Metal Drummer”) would definitely enjoy “The Late Greats.” Catchy as hell. I’m only in the middle of my third listen, but I really like “Handshake Drugs,” “Wishful Thinking,” and “Company In My Back” so far. The slower “atmospheric” songs generally take longer to appreciate, but I have no complaints so far. Yes, “Less Than You Think” does drag a bit, but so did “Reservations” and I still like YHF a lot. Based on the first few listens, this one appears to be on the same level of Being There, Summerteeth, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and that’s some pretty good company to be in.
I love Wilco as well. I’ve had “How to Fight Lonliness” stuck in my head for 3months now, and I’m not even annoyed yet.
Though when I played “Summer Teeth” for my husband, he looked at me and said “So…are paying a homage to the Beatles or ripping them off.”
I convinced him they weren’t ripping off anybody. They may have been influenced by the Beatles, but no way that music that good could be considered a ripoff.
He did spend the rest of the album pointing out all the Beatle-esque sounds and quality though.
Well, I bought “A Ghost is Born” today, and I’ve listened through once, plus listening through it once a while ago in streaming audio.
So far, I’m not sure what to think. YHF had me caught by the second listening, and within three or four I was amazed by it. So far, that hasn’t happened with AGIB. But Wilco often needs repeated play before what they are doing sinks in, so I’ll be listening some more.
If Summerteath is ripping anything off, it is Pet Sounds - not the Beatles. The only real Beatles element (other than a pop/rock sound) is the Mellotron.
Does anyone else think Tweedy is overrated? UT was was Farrar’s band. And let’s face it AM was not really very interesting. Being There was best when Bennett’s influence was heaviest. Summerteeth was Bennett’s album. YHF was a mix of Bennett and O’Rourke. And Ghost is all O’Rourke. Don’t get me wrong I think Wilco is one of the most best bands around but it does seem like Tweedy uses great producers/bandmates and get all the credit.
I don’t think we need that “most”.
I agree with many of the other posters, I like Wilco when they’re rocking or popping. Some of their country stuff is good too. A bit of experimentalism can be great, I loved Yankee Hotel Foxtrot especially. But I got the impression that with A Ghost is Born Tweedy et al are taking themselves a little too seriously, and they’ve taken experimentalism past the point where it’s worthwhile. Still a decent album though.
I’m kind of a “half-assed” Wilco fan. I’ve bought a few of the albums and listen to them once in a while. I like quite a bit of YHF, but it has never forced its way into heavy rotation (I have a 6 disc changer in my garage/shop). The stuff I like is really good, but some of the songs just kind of blend into the background.
From what I’ve heard, however, I think that if I pay more attention to it, the more I will appreciate it. But is doesn’t seem to measure up to the Jayhawks.
For anyone out there reading this: Go get The Jayhawks Hollywood Town Hall. I really can’t imagine anyone being dissapointed. Of the hundreds of CDs I own, this is one of the best. Sorry for the hijack.
Ditto the Jayhawks. Tomorrow the Green Grass is also excellent, as is Rainy Day Music. The Jayhawks probably get more play in my CD rotation than any other band. Closely followed by Beck and The White Stripes.
Finally picked up Summer Teeth yesterday, as a direct result of this thread, methinks. I’d only, er, borrowed it from the library previously. But I didn’t copy it then and I coulda! Oh ho, I coulda copied it and then some. . .
Kel Varnsen - Latex Division- a special Fusilli* Jerry award to you for a killer screen handle.
Thanks for the Jayhawks recs. I’ve been meaning to check them out for a while now.
*Y’know- because you’re silly.
I picked up AGIB two days ago. I find it actually pretty accessible, but I think after YHF I was ready for lots of droning noise, complex song structures, etc. So had I not heard YHF who knows.
Anyhow, I really like the atmospheric guitar stuff in “At Least That’s What You Said” and “Hell is Chrome,” as well as the jauntiness of “Handshake Drugs” and “Theologians.” I haven’t been able to penetrate “Less Than You Think” yet, but the ten-minute “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” is growing on me.
So I’ll give it a 8.6 out of 10. And I second (third, fifth) any recommendations for the Jayhawks, though I think the two bands are evolving in highly different directions.