For the Wilco fans with no plans this Saturday night....

"Trace" is my favorite album of all-time. But that was Farrar's peak. I have no interest in any of the other Son Volt records. For me, Farrar is at his best with tuned-down, deliberate guitar playing, harmonica accompaniment, a strong bass line and drums that don't get in the way. His voice and style lend itself to that. The more he turns up the volume and the more instruments he adds, the further away he gets from making good music.

As for writing, d_w, are you talking about the musical arrangements or lyrics? No question Tweedy has proven to be the more creative of the two when it comes to expanding his musical horizons; however, his lyrics are often not just bad, but nonsensical. At this point, I think he believes too much of the "genius" talk. Weird is not necessarily synonymous with smart and creative.

 

man, i love spiders (kidsmoke)

 

I was talking about the lyrics, but I do enjoy the emotional psychoses of Tweedy's arrangements (even though my wife hates it and I can't find anyone to take to his shows).

Not to offend the Farrar fans, but I think the analogy of Lennon:Tweedy, McCartney:Farrar works; Tweedy the complex poet and Farrar the simple country and westerner. Even when I don't understand Tweedy, I take it as a challenge, as if unraveling Dylan.

Then again, he may have me fooled, exposing me as pretentious, but I enjoy it and I guess that's all that matters. I still haven't come around to the first Son Volt record that everyone loves, but I did enjoy the first half of The Melody of Riot. And you know what: I didn't understand what the hell he was talking about most of the time there, so I guess I am pretentious.

 

i could have written that sentence

 

The Hold Steady is OK... but I've already got "The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle" and "Greetings From Asbury Park" on CD, so owning a Hold Steady CD seems redundant.

 

I loved Trace and loved Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but my favorite post-Uncle Tupelo album is still Being There. Even if no one seems to agree with me on this.

Listened to most of the new Wilco record online last night and wasn't blown away, but I'm not dismissing it yet. A Ghost is Born didn't knock my socks off the first time either, but it sure as hell grew on me.

 

I still need to explore the Uncle Tupelo stuff (I'm thinking of starting with the anthology instead of with a particular album - is that a mistake?).
However I love Son Volt's "Trace" and "Straightaways".
I couldn't get into Wilco's "Summerteeth" or "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" as much as I tried.

I've heard alot about the Hold Steady and need to check them out.

 

If you go with one Tupelo album, I suggest "Anodyne."

 

John, and others...

I was once like you, and couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. I thought it was way, way overrated. Now I can't get enough. Of all of it. A buddy dragged me to a concert, and during Misunderstood, when I heard the line about "short on long term goals/there's a party there that we oughtta go to/Do you still love rock and roll?" something just clicked in me. Now, I think everything until Ghost is Born is fabulous, and Ghost is slowly growing on me. Start with these 15 songs (or perhaps other, smarter Wilco fans can can add their own suggestions), listen to them a couple times through, and if you still don't like Wilco, you probably never will. These are 15 of their most accessable tunes. (Not best, certainly, but most accessable.) If you dig them, then like me, you can tip-toe into some of the more avant garde stuff.

Jesus, Etc.
California Stars
Heavy Metal Drummer
Monday
Box Full of Letters
Hummingbird
Casino Queen
Pick Up the Change
Misunderstood
Outtasite (Outta Mind)
I'm The Man Who Loves You
I'm Always In Love
Kamera
Nothingsevergonnastandinmyway
I Must Be High
Kingpin
Forget The Flowers

 

oddly, john's seen 'em in concert and still says that shit... go figure

 

If you listen to one Uncle Tupelo LP this year, make it "Anodyne." [/Larry King]

 

I'd add:
Via Chicago
How to Fight Loneliness
Hotel Arizona
At Least That's What You Said
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
Handshake Drugs