Entertainment For Lively Minds
Wilco v. Silver Seas
Posted by itfc1959 on 15 October 2011 - 7:58pm.
Ooh, it's tempting, isn't it? Both come highly recommended by The Mothership, both have apparently achieved their apotheosis and let's face it, there's not much else going on, is there?
Well, maybe not. A good idea on paper, perhaps. But on the strength of the recommendations I've downloaded both artists. They each have good things going for them: a clear identity, strong songs, unambiguous statements of intent. I don't think I would go so far as describing either of them as being 'on top of their game', as I would hope that the best is yet to come.
But, if push came to shove in this flat to the floor scenario, whose side would I come down on?
Er....
Wilco.
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Well...
...Wilco have a catalogue of real excellence stretching back nearly 20 years, not to mention Uncle Tupelo before that. In Jeff Tweedy they have one of the most accomplished songwriters I can think of, who invented "alt country", has consistently pushed the boundaries of what that awful little pigeon-hole can mean, and has come damn near to genius on a number of occasions. In Nels Cline, they have probably the most gifted and exciting guitar player working today. They're a brilliant, versatile, surprising band who have achieved amazing things in their career.
The Silver Seas are a reasonably competent Jackson Browne tribute band.
Bit of a poser, this one, isn't it? ;-)
BTW - all it takes...
...is some serious immersion in Yankee Hotel Foxtrot for, say, a fortnight, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. It's not the world's most immediate record, but it really does the business.
Wilco basically ruined alt-country/Americana for me, because to my ears they make everyone else sound so boring.
Yep
must have listened to YHF hundreds of times, never get bored of it.
Nels Cline
Agree with you Bob - Nels Cline is a pretty extraordinary guitarist - capable of real surprise which very few guitarists seem to be these days.
The man's a flat-out god-damn force of nature.
On the guitar forum I used to frequent, we often discussed Nels. It helps that he favours a Jazzmaster - the forum was based on Jazzmasters, Jaguars and related/similar models - but he's just an extraordinary player. There are a handful of guitarists I admire whose stuff I don't even attempt to play; Nels is one of them. Nobody plays like him.
Silver Seas spoiler alert
Agree with you Bob - not much of a comparison. A ghost is born is my favourite Wilco album but this years release is excellent too. I bought the Silver Seas album mainly because Mr Hepworth said anyone who didn't like it could have their money back. I am not too keen on it but recognising times are hard have not had the affront to ask him for a refund of the purchase price. Anyone thinking of buying it please be aware that the free track on this months Word cd is the best one on the album and arguably you don't need to hear the rest.
Immerse yourself
in Wilco's superb live album Kicking In Television: Live In Television.
No contest.
EDIT: Very kind of you all not to point out my mistake in the title of this album. It's called, of course, Kicking In Television: Live In Chicago. Anyway, I'm off to listen to Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Side, The Rolling Stones' Exile On Exile Street, and maybe David Bowie's The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Spiders.
3rd time lucky...
... it's called "Kicking Television : Live in Chicago.
Coo-ee drakeygirl
Don't forget to listen to Kate's debut!
Kicking In The Insides of a Television
Don'tcha just love Track 1 on side 2? James and The Giant Peach
Oh FFS! I am such a muppet!
I give up on myself on this thread. There's no hope for me. #saveoursubs
Wilco
I bunged my Wilco albums onto the pod this week with the new album and filled the commute with them. Damn fine group, great songwriting.
I'm not disagreeing with the general tone
but if I'm in the car with the family, the Silver Seas will stay on whereas I will get told to change it if its Wilco. There is something clever about good tunes, melodies and harmonies. It's easily derided but actually quite impressive in itself.
Leedsboy, that answers the argument
If I am told to change the music in the car it normally means its pretty good. If no comments are made I start questioning my own taste!!
I love Wilco...
... though some of the more recent albums have not been, for me, quite as good as YHF and AGIB - but I'm loving the new one. I expected, and hoped, they'd go even more experimental after AGIB but they went the other way with Sky Blue Sky and Wilco The Album - but the songwriting was still excellent. The two "Loose Fur" (Tweedy, Koetche and Jim O'Rourke) albums are worth a listen also.
I'm not a fan of Silver Seas but I can see that they are good at what they do - writing catchy 70's-sounding pop songs.
O God, do I have to choose?
I think they're both incredibly overrated. The Silver Seas album I downloaded on the recommendation of Mr H and Danny Baker. I'm sorry chaps, I love you both dearly, but never again. It's not bad, it's not brilliant, it's just 'pleasant'. I want a bit more than just pleasant.
As Lenny pointed out...
...Danny Baker was once unshuttuppable in his fevered praise for Hootie and the Blowfish.
IMHO
Cat shit Vs Dog shit
OOAA!
Well, I like
the Silver Seas but not really fair to put them up against Wilco, they're different sorts of band. Very much doubt Silver Seas are going to come ver all experimental on us. Wilco are a great band; Being There, Summer Teeth, YHF and the Whole Love are quite superb. Even their later 'difficult albums' are more listenable than most bands can manage, though hardly sing-along romps.
Finally got to hear a Silver Seas track
... care of the latest WORD CD - 'What's the Drawback?' I liked it and thought how much it sounded like Josh Rouse from his Nashville album. One Google later and I find that Silver Seas head honcho co-wrote a song on Rouse's Nashville album (plus another from Subtitulo). Well, there you go.
I love Josh Rouse.