Wednesday, July 22, 2015

"The food here is terrible." "And such small portions.": Wilco's New Free Record



When I am asked, "Don't you like any new artists," I still answer "I love Wilco," even though they have been a band almost four times longer than The Beatles were. Wilco was the last "new" band that struck a chord with me. That chord resounded in 1994 and it has parlayed into an incredible catalog of studio work and inspired live performances, and to this day, I look forward to new music from Jeff Tweedy and company the way I once used to back when things were, you know, better.


As you might have heard by now, "Star Wars" was a surprise free drop last week on Wilco's website and on select digital sites. It is, as far as anyone can tell, the new "official" Wilco record, which is scheduled for a traditional release later this year.

I dove in headfirst... and almost cracked my skull open.

"Star Wars" is a sputtering collection of songs things trying to be songs. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Tweedy has successfully experimented before, but this is the first time these experiments were labelled Wilco and not Loose Fur, a band that included Jim O'Rourke and released two interesting records in 2003 and 2006  respectively, or simply Tweedy, his recent oddball solo affair with help from his son Spencer.

Some might argue that Wilco has been experimenting from day one, with each of their releases sounding different than the one prior. I guess I wouldn't disagree. But "Star Wars" is the first time I listened to a Wilco record and did not immediately want to listen again. I was left cold, and strangely enough, it was over all too quickly. This bothers me more than the content. It's 34 minute length feels like the cherry on top of an unbaked cake. I don't mind the new musical territory, I just want to believe the band means it. And I don't.

"Star Wars" begins with its moments. "More" and "Random Name Generator" both quirk along at an upbeat pace and for a few minutes you'll feel confident that Jeff Tweedy has done it again. But then, it all starts to slowly fall apart. "Taste The Ceiling" sounds like a "Summerteeth" throwaway, say "Candy Floss's" stranger, inferior brother. "Pickled Ginger" is a distorted, two minute mess, like something Tweedy might have introduced in a rehearsal with "So what do you think of this?" only to receive stares from a stone-faced backing band. If you're still hanging around by the last three tunes, "Cold Slope," "King Of You," and "Magnetized," you will surely want to kick the chair out from underneath you when this trifecta completes it monotonous run.

I just made "Star Wars" sound unbearable, and as a whole, it might be. But broken up into pieces, with a song or two on separate albums,  a b-side here, an E.P. there, maybe a tune in a movie, and these songs  things might have worked while we waited for something proper. But all together as one, "Star Wars" sounds like a free album.


12 comments:

Steve Mc said...

It's hard to argue with that. Over here in the UK, it's had some glowing reviews but, for me, the problem is pretty straightforward - I really like the sound and production but the songs simply aren't up to it. Maybe with 3 cd's of material in less than a year Jeff Tweedy's stretching himself too thin, maybe these tunes'll be a revelation live, who knows...

The caveat is that having listened a few times, I'm warming to some of it. The caveat to that caveat is that there's nothing really immediate or grabby enough to keep me listening. Or make me buy the CD when it comes out.

Anonymous said...

Hello all…no, please remain seated,

I would have posted this to your “Shout It Out Loud” box…thing…whatever. But my work computer blocks access to those things. Boxes? Feeds?.... Aagh, fuck, Whatever! Who cares what they’re called. I’m distracting myself from the main point.

Which is this…If the fact that Wilco has turned into Won’t-co has got you down, please try the following tonic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iAYhQsQhSY

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats playing a song called S.O.B. (with a name that great, we’re already off to a good start, no?)

I know I’m hi-jacking your thread, and will accept a mild rebuke as punishment. But I heard this song on XM Radio on my way into work and I have to share it with someone.

Regards,

RichD

Jeff Matthews said...

I was at Pitchfork Friday night when these sings were debuted live - the first 11 songs of the set. The audience, including me, started enthusiastically (how cool is this? they're playing the WHOLE ALBUM!). At first I attributed their awfulness to bad sound but when I later went home and listened to Star Wars, it was worse. Total throwaway stuff. None of this will be played live in a year. Song fragments, some interesting lines here and there, but overall a mess.

William Repsher said...

I gave it a cursory few listens since downloading over the weekend. And while it isn't blowing my doors off, I have to admit, most of their recent releases haven't done the same. I didn't consider it that much of a failure -- there are a few tracks I'm surely going to re-visit and get on the iPod. But I really didn't care for the "lo fi" vibe which I guess is a carry-over from his solo album. This pretty much feels like an extension of that album, which was meant as a more informal, seat-of-the-pants endeavor. You'd figure with his full band he'd take advantage and flesh things out, but he must sense some value in doing things this way for now.

Puts me in a mind of Paul Westerberg's last few half-assed releases, which have basically been home demos recorded in his basement and presented as legitimate releases. There are some damn good songs in those few albums that are pretty much dead to the world because he can't bring himself to deal with support players and recording studios. Not that I'm expecting Abbey Road intricacy every time out. But a good producer, studio and back-up musicians who get him on some level would do a world of good to a lot of those songs. But I suspect they'll stay buried forever. I don't get it.

I really miss Jay Bennett! I bet Tweedy doesn't, and the rest of the band surely doesn't, but something about their relationship had that band functioning on that much higher a level. They've surely had moments since, but not whole albums of greatness as they once did.

buzzbabyjesus said...

I didn't bother to download it. I figured I wait to see what Sal said.

buzzbabyjesus said...

Cheer up Sal! There's a new Galactic album.

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness for you, Sal! I was gonna check it out until I read this :) I loved Wilco's early stuff but they lost me. I, too, miss Jay Bennett. While a couple of years old now, if you haven't heard it, The Mother Hips wrote a great elegy for him, titled "Song For JB" which they play frequently. A great listen.

Ken J Xenozar said...

It sounds like I am as big a fan of Wilco as you. And I had the same reaction. I think they gave this one away for free for a reason - it's not really that good. I will give it a few more tries, but really doubt it will improve. I get the feeling the guys felt like they had to get together and keep the momentum going, but clearly Tweedy's songwriting juices were not flowing. Oh well...

A new Galactic album!?

dogbreath said...

As ignorant of Wilco's output as I am, (no shame, no guilt, I just am) and although I've always liked the songs which have popped up on your pages, I think this free download was not a good place for someone like me to start getting what the band's about. Enough said!

Anonymous said...

I only love the first album; everything since has been too earnest for me, which I chalked up to Tweedy getting married and having a family. This album is more refreshing to me, the first with trademark Nels Cline fucking around. Does anyone else hear Tony Visconti-like guitars in the buzzing chords?

Anonymous said...

In ranking 3 of the recent "free" albums from that world wide web, I'd place Toy by Bowie a solid first, then U2 and then the Wilco. However, I like them all for various reasons, not the least of which, is that they are so much better than 98% of the crap out there! Which is a low standard nowadays...

Andy

kevin m said...

Go figure. Rolling Stone just basically declared Star Wars a modern day classic.

I really like the song You Satellite. But for the life of me, I can't name one other song title from the album off the top of my head.