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beltmann · Posted: 01.06.2005 1:47 am Post subject: Wilco

Some of you probably already know, but Wilco headlined a huge New Year's Eve concert blowout at Madison Square Garden. Sleater-Kinney and the Flaming Lips opened.

Through a very generous friend I was able to obtain a CD recording of this show, and I just wanted to gush, especially about the very surprising and very cool covers of Dylan, Judas Priest, Thunderclap Newman, Randy Newman, and Captain and Tenille. They also opened with a version of "Less Than You Think" that cut the drone down to three minutes and made it infinitely more interesting than the album version.

Listening to "I'm the Man Who Loves You" right now. Put your envy away.

Eric
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beltmann · Posted: 01.06.2005 2:30 am Post subject:

Forgot to mention that Wilco is playing Letterman this Friday, Jan. 7--I'm rooting for "Late Greats"--and then Austin City Limits on Saturday. That will showcase "At Least That's What You Said," "Muzzle of Bees," "Hell is Chrome," "Ashes of American Flags," and "I'm a Wheel."

If you haven't noticed yet, I like Wilco. But I dislike "I'm a Wheel." It might be their worst song.

Eric
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Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 01.06.2005 2:34 am Post subject:

That's awesome. How does the recording sound? Good quality?

Yes, I'm envious, but even more envious of those who were actually there. Laughing

And, yeah, "I'm a Wheel" is probably Wilco's worst song.
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beltmann · Posted: 01.06.2005 3:52 am Post subject:

And yet "Wheel" has its defenders. A lot of Wilco fans swear by it, and the band sure loves playing it. (It seems to make every set list, and they all seem to relish Pat Sansone's parody of the windmill guitar.) I suppose it rocks just fine, but it lacks what I treasure most about Wilco, which is melodic intelligence and lyrical sincerity. I often feel tempted to hit skip.

The NYE MSG recording is quite good. My only complaint is that there are fraction-of-a-second pauses between tracks, which diminishes the you-are-there vibe considerably. Still, that's a minor gripe overall.

Mike, are you still at the same address?

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 01.06.2005 4:05 am Post subject:

beltmann · Posted: 01.06.2005 4:19 am Post subject:

Er, um... hey, over there what's that?! [Sneaks off to his CD burner...]
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

beltmann · Posted: 01.06.2005 7:09 pm Post subject:

You know when you're waiting for a movie to start, and the theater pumps in music to keep us mollified? It's usually all the latest Top 40 or holiday junk, but last weekend the strains of Wilco came blaring at us. I just about fell out of my seat.

Okay, it was "Just a Kid" from the Spongebob Squarepants movie. But still.

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

Danny Baldwin · Posted: 01.08.2005 1:57 am Post subject:

a ghost is born grew on me, but I couldn't really ever get into it. They are the type of band that I know are good live, even without seeing a concert of theirs live, though. I watch Letterman most nights (with satellite I can get it at 8:35 here on the West Coast), so I'll tune in and check 'em out.
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beltmann · Posted: 01.08.2005 3:10 am Post subject:

Go back and check out Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Summerteeth, Danny. It'll happen.

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

beltmann · Posted: 01.08.2005 5:57 pm Post subject:

"Late Greats" on Letterman. It'll only be posted for a week, so be quick.

http://hixsons.us/lategreats.zip

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 01.08.2005 10:57 pm Post subject:

matt header · Posted: 01.09.2005 8:32 pm Post subject:

I might be one of the Wilco fans who loves "I'm a Wheel"; you're right about it lacking lyrical sincerity, but I tend to go far bizarre, nonsensical, tossed-off lyrics. (I especially love "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 / Once in Germany someone said 'Nein.'")
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beltmann · Posted: 01.09.2005 9:10 pm Post subject:

I can certainly understand and identify with that defense, although for me there are other nonsense Tweedy lyrics that work better. (I'm sure the difference is merely a matter of taste.) Have you ever heard "Not for the Season" (aka "Laminated Cat")?

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

matt header · Posted: 01.11.2005 7:28 pm Post subject:

Ooh! No, but if the title is any indication I'd love it. What album is it off of?
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"I don't like talking to people I know, but strangers I have no problem with." -- Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

beltmann · Posted: 01.11.2005 7:51 pm Post subject:

Well, that's the trouble. "Not for the Season" is not technically on an album, but you can easily find it among the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot demos that are widely circulating around the Net. Actually, the demos have two separate versions that are terrific.

"Laminated Cat" is a very different version yet. That one is indeed found on an album, but not a Wilco record. Three members of Wilco--Tweedy, drummer Kotche, and producer Jim O'Rourke--have a side project called Loose Fur. Their one album contains "Laminated Cat," which might be my favorite version of the song.

Wilco proper does sometimes play the song in concert, though.

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment