get ready for a star wars/schmilco-heavy ballot
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, 31 August 2022 15:25 (one year ago) link
here for it
― Indexed, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 15:25 (one year ago) link
absolutely campaigning for the first loose fur album
― ufo, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 15:38 (one year ago) link
would be my #2 if we were counting side-project & wilco albums together, and i expect the three tweedy-led tracks will all be on my ballot, especially "laminated cat"
― ufo, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 15:51 (one year ago) link
i hope people don't overlook "bird without a tail/base of my skull" for instance just because it's on the new album
― ufo, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 15:57 (one year ago) link
What's the consensus on Outtasite (Outta Mind) vs. Outta Mind (Outta Sight) to prevent vote splitting? I prefer the latter as it rocks more & is how it comes across live.
― BrianB, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 16:00 (one year ago) link
This is one of those polls where I have enough knowledge and liking of the music to construct the sort of ballot the real heads would absolutely hate, lmao
― imago, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 16:01 (one year ago) link
i think the votes for "outtasite" & "outta mind" should just be combined
― ufo, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 16:03 (one year ago) link
Seems fair
― BrianB, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 16:05 (one year ago) link
Don't sleep on the Minus 5's Down With Wilco for the side project poll!
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 31 August 2022 16:26 (one year ago) link
One side project I will campaign for is Glenn Kotche's 2006 solo album Mobile, which begins with Steve Reich-inspired ambient but quickly expands in scope and becomes a showcase for Kotche's tremendous talents as a multi-instrumentalist and composer. He plays drum kit, piano, vibraphone, mbira, and electronic drum pads. The whole thing is extremely rhythmic and musical in a way that might surprise you and appeal to fans of bands like The Books. I have not kept up with Kotche's solo output so would be interested if there are other albums voters would recommend.
― Indexed, Wednesday, 31 August 2022 16:31 (one year ago) link
the sort of ballot the real heads would absolutely hate, lmao
tried to figure out what you could be going for here and realised you're talking about voting for all of the wilco book
― ufo, Thursday, 1 September 2022 07:51 (one year ago) link
lol!
but yeah y'know. only votes for the 'experimental' stuff. appears to not understand country music. hasn't heard anything before YHF or from any side project. probably gonna sit this one out tbh but 'one sunday morning' had basically better win
― imago, Thursday, 1 September 2022 08:19 (one year ago) link
Gonna try to do at least a tracks ballot. So many good side projects, that’s the most daunting one.
It seems like Tweedy-sung Mermaid Avenue should be eligible for the tracks ballot, is that right?
― Chris L, Thursday, 1 September 2022 09:42 (one year ago) link
ranking albums is going to be so hard because there's an easy, boring #1 for me and then there's a wide assortment of albums that are pretty good but all flawed in very different ways
― ufo, Thursday, 1 September 2022 10:10 (one year ago) link
https://aquariumdrunkard.com/2022/06/16/jeff-tweedy-on-wilcos-cruel-country/
just stumbled across this interview where tweedy mentions their next album is in progress & is an "alien" "experimental" "sculpted art pop" album so that sounds very promising
― ufo, Thursday, 1 September 2022 12:53 (one year ago) link
hasn't heard anything before YHF
you fool!!!!!
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 1 September 2022 13:01 (one year ago) link
I love Aquarium Drunkard despite the fact they're named after my least-favorite lyric in all of Wilco-dom.
― Chris L, Thursday, 1 September 2022 13:17 (one year ago) link
lol!but yeah y'know. only votes for the 'experimental' stuff. appears to not understand country music. hasn't heard anything before YHF or from any side project. probably gonna sit this one out tbh but 'one sunday morning' had basically better win― imago, Thursday, September 1, 2022 3:19 AM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
― imago, Thursday, September 1, 2022 3:19 AM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Vote!
Gonna try to do at least a tracks ballot. So many good side projects, that’s the most daunting one.It seems like Tweedy-sung Mermaid Avenue should be eligible for the tracks ballot, is that right?― Chris L, Thursday, September 1, 2022 4:42 AM (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
― Chris L, Thursday, September 1, 2022 4:42 AM (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Yes, absolutely. Sorry, should have clarified that.
Spent yesterday revisiting the Loose Fur albums. Born Again in the USA has some good material, but I pretty much always prefer the live Tweedy solo versions of his side-project songs. Used to have the Sunken Treasure, Live in the Pacific Northwest DVD audio on my iPod -- which has "The Ruling Class" and "Laminated Cat", as well as a few other loose ends like "The Thanks I Get", all of which will be on my ballot -- and would listen to it more than most of the Wilco albums.
― Indexed, Thursday, 1 September 2022 14:07 (one year ago) link
WARM is much better than I remembered -- worth a revisit -- though by the time I finished WARMER I needed an espresso. Former might sneak onto my side project ballot but there's all those damn Uncle Tupelo records.
― Indexed, Thursday, 1 September 2022 21:03 (one year ago) link
here to vote for all the tupelo records/songs!
― Will (kruezer2), Thursday, 1 September 2022 21:25 (one year ago) link
Would rule to see at least one Golden Smog track place. This one is great imo:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We5Jij2jxRA
― billstevejim, Thursday, 1 September 2022 21:32 (one year ago) link
Aw shit, ive been cuttin' wilco-only down to 40, gonna have to recalibrate my tweedy sense.
― BrianB, Thursday, 1 September 2022 21:57 (one year ago) link
but yeah y'know. only votes for the 'experimental' stuff. appears to not understand country music. hasn't heard anything before YHF or from any side project
if you want more 'experimental' wilco then the first loose fur album is the way to go, it kinda splits the difference between yhf & o'rourke's insignificance but is krautier than either
& summerteeth is one of the least country wilco albums, being the one where they got really into power-pop & 60s psych-pop. i recommend the live version of "via chicago" at least if you want one of their best self-consciously 'experimental' moves
― ufo, Friday, 2 September 2022 13:37 (one year ago) link
literally still staggering in disbelief that lj has never heard summerteeth
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Friday, 2 September 2022 13:49 (one year ago) link
I too am surprised to hear there are YHF fans who haven't heard Summerteeth! It is well worth anyone's time to listen to Being There > Summerteeth > YHF, if only to hear how much their sound evolved in that period from alt country -> 60s pop rock -> experimental indie folk. All three are excellent albums that reflected the evolving interests and talents of the people who worked on them, all three sound "like Wilco," but they are very, very different.
Perhaps a bit silly but the first four album runs for Wilco and Radiohead have always been loosely connected in my mind, with the second record being a much better, fully realized (but still quite commercial) version of the sound developed on the debut, the third picking up specific, successful elements of the second and making something far more creative and interesting, and the fourth being a rejection of the third's more bloated features for a sparser, more experimental sound. Wilco was a year or two behind Radiohead in their album cycle, and while I am not aware of any direct inspiration they took from the band, it seems they had similar motivations in their evolutions.
Coda: Found this after writing the above: https://www.reddit.com/r/radiohead/comments/51pfly/wilco_and_radiohead_have_had_very_similar_album/
― Indexed, Friday, 2 September 2022 14:01 (one year ago) link
summerteeth/yhf & the bends/okc works better as a comparison i think though it's still not a great one
― ufo, Friday, 2 September 2022 14:07 (one year ago) link
would the loose fur s/t be less criminally underrated if it were billed as "jim o'rourke & wilco" or "jim o'rourke & jeff tweedy" i wonder
― ufo, Friday, 2 September 2022 14:11 (one year ago) link
That Wilco/Radiohead thing def. holds water. There were comparisons in the press at the time and certainly plenty of fans who came aboard w/Summerteeth and/or YHF who were also big Radiohead nuts.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 2 September 2022 14:16 (one year ago) link
Indeed, Wilco graced the cover of The Wire circa A Ghost Is Born and were described as the "American Radiohead" in the article.
― henry s, Friday, 2 September 2022 14:54 (one year ago) link
Just to clarify, I never took to the "American Radiohead" description, but if you've only heard YHF, you're missing out.
― Indexed, Friday, 2 September 2022 14:58 (one year ago) link
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/302725926_10158929598063157_6699227372384948705_n.jpg?stp=cp1_dst-jpg&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=6Rfp995dwawAX-csL4X&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=00_AT-_D4RZ9XusDaFTd_R0WOM3F4uEikSzwz7SYJRD6ERklw&oe=63171164
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 2 September 2022 15:32 (one year ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/jADyVyK.png
― Karl Malone, Friday, 2 September 2022 15:53 (one year ago) link
The "American Radiohead" thing reminded me of how film critics were trying to compare seemingly every movie to Mulholland Drive in the early 00s.
― Chris L, Friday, 2 September 2022 15:59 (one year ago) link
A little surprised to find that I'm placing more tracks from Cruel Country than I am Being There. It's a top 5 Wilco album for me for sure. Can't wait for it come out on vinyl.
― BrianB, Friday, 2 September 2022 16:56 (one year ago) link
Also, I just noticed that the progress bar in Spotify for the songs on Star Wars is a light saber!
― BrianB, Friday, 2 September 2022 17:12 (one year ago) link
xxxp STP? Dan Fogelberg? FFS...
― birdistheword, Friday, 2 September 2022 18:28 (one year ago) link
RE: Wilco/Tweedy tracks, for the Mermaid Avenue songs, those are eligible as long as Tweedy sings lead, correct? (He didn't write the lyrics, but all the music with his lead vocal has music composed by him and Wilco, so that should make him a co-writer in that respect.)
― birdistheword, Friday, 2 September 2022 21:21 (one year ago) link
ah nm, I missed the post that confirmed that it's a yes
is any of tweedy's solo work worthwhile? i listened to warm & it was pretty dull
― ufo, Sunday, 4 September 2022 02:29 (one year ago) link
Pulled together all the Wilco/UT/Golden Smog/Loose Fur songs and really quickly picked out about 30 songs I knew were contenders. Now I’m shuffling through the rest to remind me of anything I’m forgetting. But golly when he is boring he is really boring.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Sunday, 4 September 2022 18:19 (one year ago) link
ah nm, I missed the post that confirmed that it's a yes― birdistheword,
― birdistheword,
I just posted this in the ballot thread for people who bookmark.
I have never seen a voting link for a artist ballot poll before, nice addition. I would not be able to figure all that out myself.
― Bee OK, Sunday, 4 September 2022 18:49 (one year ago) link
still bizarre to me that the label didn't hear a hit on summerteeth and insisted that they write one (resulting in "can't stand it" which is pretty average and not an obvious hit) when the album has like, "i'm always in love" and "elt" on it
― ufo, Monday, 5 September 2022 05:42 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IsGgKM56qs
this 20 minute loose fur jam (a bonus track on their second album) is cool
― ufo, Monday, 5 September 2022 06:34 (one year ago) link
XP They were trying to break into Alternative Radio in '99, which was becoming the home to alot of bland Guitar Pop Rock. I remember some retrospective interview with Tweedy or maybe Stirratt where he mentioned the label was "...mad we didn't want to become Matchbox 20".
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 5 September 2022 14:04 (one year ago) link
This recent Stereogum #1's piece on Vertical Horizon does a good job summing up the radio hellscape in 1999.
https://www.stereogum.com/2196389/the-number-ones-vertical-horizons-everything-you-want/columns/the-number-ones/
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 5 September 2022 14:10 (one year ago) link
even in the 99 alt radio hellscape it's still like, "i'm always in love" would have surely been a better bet than "can't stand it" idk
― ufo, Monday, 5 September 2022 14:22 (one year ago) link
I agree with you, but when the label wants you to be Matchbox 20...
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 5 September 2022 14:35 (one year ago) link
jeez, that stereogum piece is harsh enough that it makes me worry about the v horizon singer's self-esteem, if he sees it!
i mean, that song does suck very badly though
― Karl Malone, Monday, 5 September 2022 14:35 (one year ago) link
Self XP...or now that I think about it, it may have been the Wallflowers.
Anyway, here's the band on Leno doing "I Can't Stand It"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSd2wvurFBE
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 5 September 2022 14:45 (one year ago) link
the Nels Cline Singers' Share the Wealth
yooooooo this rocks
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 17 September 2022 03:42 (one year ago) link
ballot submitted
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 17 September 2022 04:21 (one year ago) link
First proper listen to Warm and yeah, it's lovely. This is vague, but there's something about the later Wilco/Tweedy stuff wherein I sort of half-listen, letting it coalesce in the background - it's more of a totalising effect somehow, less of the statement of the earlier records (up to Ghost, I guess), sonically and lyrically.
― Shard-borne Beatles with their drowsy hums (Chinaski), Saturday, 17 September 2022 10:47 (one year ago) link
Picking up lots of Beatles from Warm, but also plenty Bolan, oddly - partly in the harmonies (such as they are) but also in the way Tweedy's voice falls off or in at the end of a line.
― Shard-borne Beatles with their drowsy hums (Chinaski), Saturday, 17 September 2022 10:50 (one year ago) link
I helped with modifying the date.
Tonight, finally listened to YFH again.
― Bee OK, Sunday, 18 September 2022 04:25 (one year ago) link
12 ballots submitted - as a reminder, voting has been extended a week but if possible to submit any sooner, I'd appreciate it.
― Indexed, Sunday, 18 September 2022 17:05 (one year ago) link
you can expect most ballots to come in at the last minute, just how these things go
― ufo, Sunday, 18 September 2022 18:53 (one year ago) link
Am I late to learning that the Spotify song progress bar is a lightsaber for Star Wars?!
― Indexed, Monday, 19 September 2022 18:37 (one year ago) link
i guarantee if you put an album called star wars episode 20 empire of shit tomorrow it would have a lightsaber progress bar, spotify adds it to every “star wars” release
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Monday, 19 September 2022 18:56 (one year ago) link
LMAO
― Indexed, Monday, 19 September 2022 19:04 (one year ago) link
will mixed ballots be accepted? i haven't had time to do a full re-listen so i'll prob only be able to rank 10 or so
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Monday, 19 September 2022 20:12 (one year ago) link
Yes!
― Indexed, Monday, 19 September 2022 20:50 (one year ago) link
Just leave an extra space in your ballot, and I'll assume it's mixed.
Is anyone else obsessed with "That's Not The Issue"? Maybe my favorite of the early country songs. Love the shuffle rhythm and the interplay of banjo and electric guitar. A simple but effective lyric, too.
― Indexed, Monday, 19 September 2022 21:04 (one year ago) link
voted!
― Will (kruezer2), Monday, 19 September 2022 21:11 (one year ago) link
5 albums was a tough cut off, found it harder than the tracks (not that that was easy either!)
― Will (kruezer2), Monday, 19 September 2022 21:12 (one year ago) link
Someone will have to figure out if One Sunday Morning is for Jane Smiley's Boyfriend or Girlfriend, because we have votes for both.
― Indexed, Tuesday, 20 September 2022 20:55 (one year ago) link
Also, we have votes for both Outta Mind (Outta Sight) and Outtasite (Outta Mind). There was some discussion upthread about combining these votes...thoughts from the group?
― Indexed, Tuesday, 20 September 2022 21:01 (one year ago) link
don't see any reason not to combine them at all
― ufo, Tuesday, 20 September 2022 21:06 (one year ago) link
they're the same song, arranged differently. i think combining makes sense
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 20 September 2022 21:10 (one year ago) link
the vast majority of the ranked section of my ballot is gonna be from the big 3, and i am ok with it
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 20 September 2022 21:45 (one year ago) link
when I started this i thought it was going to be easy. there are so many songs...
I'm getting there though
― gman59, Tuesday, 20 September 2022 23:42 (one year ago) link
There *are* so many songs! We only have 12 ballots, many of which are partial, and over 130 different songs have received a vote.
― Indexed, Wednesday, 21 September 2022 13:47 (one year ago) link
hey indexed did my ballot go thru? I see that you had 12 before and after i submitted.
― Will (kruezer2), Wednesday, 21 September 2022 14:44 (one year ago) link
yup, didn't see that gman59 had submitted
― Indexed, Wednesday, 21 September 2022 15:21 (one year ago) link
Voted
― Bee OK, Thursday, 22 September 2022 01:26 (one year ago) link
ah oops yes I did submit. thank you!
― gman59, Thursday, 22 September 2022 15:58 (one year ago) link
Just a few days left, and we could definitely use a few more ballots, especially for Poll #3, though I know that might be the hardest for folks to feel comfortable participating in. Thanks to those who have already voted. Has been a big help in prepping images.
― Indexed, Thursday, 22 September 2022 19:21 (one year ago) link
(Almost) Last Call. I know many of you are off-ILM on weekends. Would love to get a few more ballots. Thanks to the couple of folks who have submitted in the last 24 hours!
― Indexed, Friday, 23 September 2022 21:55 (one year ago) link
Voted! Ridiculously hard. That strange feeling in trying to rearrange things that many of the tracks are so part of the sorry self I carry around with me every day that I scarce recognise the titles.
― Shard-borne Beatles with their drowsy hums (Chinaski), Friday, 23 September 2022 22:10 (one year ago) link
Still planning to submit!
― bunny slopes, Saturday, 24 September 2022 05:48 (one year ago) link
lol k, did it
― bunny slopes, Saturday, 24 September 2022 06:07 (one year ago) link
Voted!
― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Sunday, 25 September 2022 21:55 (one year ago) link
Submitted a lean but mean ballot.
― Chris L, Sunday, 25 September 2022 22:12 (one year ago) link
just voted, went with my gut!
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Monday, 26 September 2022 00:30 (one year ago) link
Got a bunch of ballots yesterday - many thanks to the procrastinators and all who voted.
My work week looks absolutely brutal so will likely save the roll out for next week. If anyone wants to submit a late ballot, let me know, and I'll see what's possible based on image work.
― Indexed, Monday, 26 September 2022 13:54 (one year ago) link
I know I was one of those requesting the additional time, but I had a variety of life events pop up this week that mean I'm not able to pull together a ballot. Sorry about that. Really looking forward to the roll out though!
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 27 September 2022 15:56 (one year ago) link
Tracks voting is absolutely closed but if you or anyone else wants to submit an Albums or Side Projects ballot before the end of this week, go for it. Very easy for me to update those in advance of next week's roll out.
― Indexed, Tuesday, 27 September 2022 17:31 (one year ago) link
The anticipation is killing me.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 1 October 2022 03:27 (one year ago) link
ratings for selected lines in Shot in the Arm:
The ashtray says you were up all night (10/10)
We fell in love in the key of C (9)We walked along down by the sea (1)
― Karl Malone, Tuesday, 18 October 2022 18:57 (one year ago) link
Please rate “I know you don’t talk much but you’re such a good talker“ from outta sight outta mind
― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 12:54 (one year ago) link
Also, I can’t honestly say that this is a true misheard lyric, but having grown up in Albany New York, whenever tweedy sings “you followed me down the neck to D“, I like to sing it as “you followed me down to Schenectady“
― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 13:01 (one year ago) link
realizing i never posted my (mixed) ballot!
TracksI Am Trying To Break Your HeartI’m Always In LoveMisunderstoodPoor PlacesImpossible GermanyHotel ArizonaAshes Of American FlagsSummer Teeth(Was I) In Your DreamsELTA Shot In The ArmWait UpSunken TreasureHate It HerePot Kettle BlackI Got You (At The End of the Century)Via ChicagoWhen You Wake Up Feeling OldSomeday SoonNothing’severgonnastandinmywayagainRandom Number Generator
Forget The FlowersMuzzle Of BeesOuttasite (Outta Mind)KingpinJesus, EtcHeavy Metal DrummerI’m The Man WHo Loves YouHandshake DrugsThe Joke ExplainedSomeone To LoseCalifornia StarsAt Least That’s What You SaidTheologiansAcuff RoseEither WayOne Sunday MorningArt Of AlmostNew MadridWatch Me Fall
AlbumsYankee Hotel FoxtrotSummerteethBeing ThereStar WarsSky Blue Sky
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 13:23 (one year ago) link
this is so bizarre that i hesitate to bring it up, but: did you read or hear about Schenectady recently, in relation to Wilco? because -- i know this sounds completely fake and just feel free to ignore it -- last night i went to bed at about 7:30pm. i woke back up at midnight and was wide awake, in bed, for several hours. during that time, i had Shot in the Arm in my head. it was annoying. i put on some other music (Languoria) but I couldn't get it out of my head. "We fell in love, in the key of C" (cool timpani part), then the "...we walked along down the sea" part that i don't like so much, then the rest of it, the sliding down the neck to D, and then once again the sea. but then - I SWEAR IT! - i was rhyming "Schenectady" in there. "we walked along...to sche-nec-tad-y...", and i was even thinking to myself "why do I know his town?". i lived in brooklyn for a couple years, i went to grad school in upstate, my ex's family has a home out there, etc. but Schenectady is not a town i ever think about, and i had absolutely no idea how to spell it.
so why do YOU sing it that way? is there something out there in the world that is causing us to introduce "Schenectady" in there?
the first place i looked was this thread, as well as the voting thread. but i don't think it was on ilx - i did a search for "Schenectady" and it hasn't come up for months. then i looked on genius.com, because i had been peeping the lyrics there along with the scholarly annotations. but no. i don't think so.
to wrap this up i would like to rate “you followed me down to Schenectady“ as 10/10 and canon; true wilco heads will dream it to life
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 14:21 (one year ago) link
did you read or hear about Schenectady recently, in relation to Wilco
and
ok ignore these questions as you very clearly mentioned that you grew up nearby, lol.
i don't know how to express how strange this is (to me) and also how little it matters in the grand scheme of things
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 14:24 (one year ago) link
on an entirely different note, has anyone seen "Where are you, Jay Bennett"? it's up in full on youtube, at the moment. i admit that i skipped through much of the formative years stuff and just went straight to the wilco portion. it is a very bitter movie because some of the people left behind have an obvious chip on their shoulder, but it's also revealing in some ways.
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 14:27 (one year ago) link
That misheard lyric has never occurred to me -- I always liked the "followed me down the neck to D" line as I believe it's sung while Tweedy plays a D -- but I know the town from the film of the same name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synecdoche,_New_York
― Indexed, Wednesday, 19 October 2022 14:49 (one year ago) link
I’m adding this “mishearing“ to my internal canon because I love it too and otherwise co-sign Karl’s ratings
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Wednesday, 19 October 2022 21:53 (one year ago) link