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| From | ronald and karen sanchez <eldeluxe@mcn.net> |
| Subject | Re: HYPE (was: revisiting the White Stripes) |
| Date | Fri, 31 Oct 2003 12:25:50 -0800 |
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Michael
I recently saw Wilco for the first time and was extremely impressed. I had some
of the albums and but have probably listened to YHF the most. I know some "main
stream" listeners who thought they totally lost it with that one. Me, I think
it's the best, for one major reason, the new drummer is so much more
interesting. I picked up Summerteeth after the gig, as it was highly
recommended. It's got some great songs, but again, I think the production on
the first three albums is too slick, and stiff.
Before the show, I ran into Tweedy at Ear Candy the only record store in
Montana worth the trouble. When Jeff was waffling about buying 20 Granite Creek
for $8, I suggested that he wouldn't be disappointed. I told him about seeing
Moby Grape, and he guessed correctly that it would have been at the Fillmore...
The night we saw them was, as Jeff describe it after the show, "the
chronological set". They went through their catalog in order. I was told that
two nights before in Vancouver they had played the "abstract" set. Lots of
noises.
Compared to Son Volt and Mercury Rev (who I think are trying to do something
similar) I thought Wilco was light years better live.
The Minus 5 album Down With Wilco is recommended, as it puts the band in the
hands of a different songwriter. There are some incredible songs there.
I won't argue that Wilco is capable of putting one off live. I've heard a few
stories about the previous gigs here, where Tweedy was pretty insulting to the
audiences. who knows?
RS
Michael Bennett wrote:
> Jeff --
>
> I had a feeling that this sentiment was at the root of your discontent, and
> there are times I share it. Quite frankly, the third White Stripes release
> had me scratching my head (though I think the new one is wonderful) -- what
> were people hearing? And even bigger one for me is Wilco's YANKEE HOTEL
> FOXTROT -- I discuss this to an extent in my current column at Fufkin.com,
> but I saw their last show for the forseeable future and felt very out of
> place -- to me, they came off as antiseptic and lacked passion. Their new
> material was all over the place, some good, some dull. Yet the crowd
> reaction -- they could do no wrong whatsover. Goodness knows if they had
> the performing aptitude of The Band, f'rinstance -- the sycophantic crowd
> really would have wet themselves, methinks.
>
> Yet, with both Wilco and the Stripes -- there is a core of people who hear
> it and it grabs them. I certainly don't question the sincerity or musical
> acument of this core, as I count many friends among those constituencies.
> But then the hype factory goes into effect and suddenly these acts become
> the shit -- and you either get it or you don't, I suppose. When Wilco goes
> to their older rock material, and people go apeshit and I could think of a
> few hundred bands who could so thoroughly blow them away, both in quality of
> material and in quality of performance.
>
> I can think of some explanations, but for now, I'll just say -- Jeff, I'm
> with you, bro.
>
> Mike Bennett
>
> Record reviews and more at http://fufkin.com
>
> >From: "AssociationWorks" <AssociationWorks@comcast.net>
> >I guess what really fascinates and baffles me at the same time
> >is why these two bands got the "hype" they did...and why alot of
> >critics and music geeks wear their hearts on their sleeves for them
> >just because they're "cool". Ugggh!!!
> >
> >- Jeff
>
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-- Ronald Sanchez
Director Of A&R
Career Records
www.CareerRecords.com
The Donovan's Brain Web Site
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