Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Seeing as it is the end of such a wonderful 2007, and I’m in a nostalgic mood, I thought it might be nice to do a series on songs that have changed the way I think about my life and the music to which I listen. Brief commentary to accompany songs. In no particular order.

Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

When I first heard this song, everything suddenly just made sense. I realized that there was a whole different way that artists could approach writing and making music. Lyrically phenomenal, and musically irresistible, the whole Illinois album could’ve made it in this feature. Indeed, one day there will be a college course on this song alone.

Wilco - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

Wilco was really one of the first lesser known bands (at the time) that I listened to, and I gobbled up Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in the hopes that the songs within would do justice to the awesome album title. “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” came on, with the esoteric ringing, then a captivating bassline, then Jeff Tweedy’s aching vocals, and then the piano-heavy bridge. That bridge still gets me every time (around 4:21)–the song becomes a part of me, enveloping me in a blanket of a pure sonic ecstasy. Intriguingly inspirational, this song was even more miraculous when I heard them perform it live.

David Gray - White Ladder

I became immediately enamored with David Gray upon my first listen to White Ladder. It was still before he came stateside so I had that “best-kept-secret” feeling when I heard the album. Of course “Babylon” and “Please Forgive Me” are great songs that certainly got their airplay even in the US, but when I heard Gray’s croon over the lazy guitars and the mysterious rhythmic bangin on “White Ladder”, I was busting (props to George Costanza).

More to come later so stay tuned.

“Maybe the sun will come out today/Maybe the clouds will go away,” croons Jeff Tweedy on the first track of Sky Blue Sky. Indeed, it seems like Wilco has finally turned its head away from the dark depression that Tweedy embodied for most his adult life. This album shows a much softer, happier side of Tweedy and Wilco, ripe with delightful guitar solos (you should have seen them in concert!) and rather trippy lyrics. Some have critiqued Wilco for never having lyrical substance, but to say this is to completely disparage the care that they have taken to make their words sound important. They still manage to do the same with Sky Blue Sky, but their message is just a littler clearer, a little more direct.

Perhaps it’s that directness that is so appealing about Sky Blue Sky. Many listeners have cited this album as Wilco’s worst, but I would say that these individuals never really understood Wilco in the first place. This is a success story, and SBS is the part in the movie where they all the hard work and dedication pays off. Listen to “Impossible Germany” and tell me that Tweedy doesn’t have a smile on his face when that 3 minute guitar solo just frees itself from the speakers. Even in person, they all look content with where they are musically–and perhaps it’s that balance, that calmness that upsets people.

But ignore those fools and play SBS loud. You’ll hear the sweet-talkin’ Tweedy’s sensitive side on “Hate it Here”, and you won’t be able to get that Theologian-like “Walken” out of your head. Play the Neil-Youngesque “What Light”, and you’ll be sold that this album is as solid as the defining Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or A Ghost is Born.

So forget what you’ve been told. Go and get yourself a copy of Sky Blue Sky.
Listen to “Impossible Germany” (4.8/5)
Listen to “What Light” (4.4/5)

As I watched Wilco in a gymnasium turned rock club Friday night, I was continually impressed with the band’s impeccable time and seamless transitions. Kudos to the whole band for an impressive, well-rehearsed set, but I would like to focus on the man behind the kit, Glenn Kotche. Naturally, Kotche is most well-known for his work with Wilco. Seeing him live is a real tribute to his tasteful musicianship. He never sticks out or overplays, but makes his presence heard by staying “in the pocket,” and adding tom-tom and cymbal flourishes to spice up Wilco’s guitar-driven tracks.

Kotche, who studied percussion at University of Kentucky, has released his own solo albums and collaborated with a number of varied musicians, including experimental guitarist and music producer Jim O’Rourke, and jazz bassist Darin Gray.

Kotche’s solo efforts, the most recent came out in 2006, show a side of him that exists only latently in his work with Wilco. While he dabbles with electronics and more obscure percussion instruments with Wilco, he really lets his creative juices out in his solo albums. Check out his website to listen to some tracks from his experimental, improvisatory solo albums, and to learn more about his side projects (including an experimental rock trio with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Jim O’Rourke).

I’m veering a little off course with this post, as I get ready for two awesome shows coming to Northwestern. We’ve got Wilco coming Friday (about to release Sky Blue Sky…more on that soon) and then we’ve got His Birdness (Andrew Bird) coming on Monday night.

But I’m in a Chicago kind of mood tonight, and so I figured I’d give a little taste of some cool Chicago blues from Jimmy Rogers’ “Chicago Bound” and the harmonica stylings of Charlie Musselwhite on “Chicago Sunset”.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy these goodies, but just in case you’re not totally satisfied, I’m gonna give you a little Wilco love as well.

Check out Jimmy Rogers–Chicago Bound
Check out Charlie Musselwhite–Chicago Sunset
Wilco-I’m Trying to Break Your Heart (Live Version)

So this post is going to address some changes to the blog and some other noteworthy events this week.

1) As I’m sure you might have heard, Wilco streamed their upcoming release Sky Blue Sky this weekend, and I had a change to listen to it. The album isn’t due out until May 15th, so I’m hesitant to fully talk about the album right now, so I’m gonna wait. What I am going to tell you is that it’s more of the same from them–and that’s a damn good thing. More great solos, more great Jeff Tweedy vocals, more jangly guitars, more pumping basslines, more awesomeness. Believe the hype….Some of the tracks have been leaked on the net, and one has been provided by Wilco’s official website…Make sure to pre-order when the option becomes available.
Listen to “What Light” (4/5).
Listen to “Impossible Germany” (4.8/5)

2) If I’m ever going to have a party, I am definitely inviting this guy: It’s just like a mini mall.

3) Notice some changes on the left. I’ve included some upcoming chicago shows via chicago.tourfilter.com. It’s by no means comprehensive..the website is not so good as it relies on the user (me) to put down all the artists that I like, and I just haven’t been on top of it as much [thanks to Chris for this correction]. However, if I haven’t already told you, check out iConcertCal. It’s [expletive] awesome, and you’ll never miss a show, because it works with the artists in your iTunes as opposed to a 3rd party source.
Also take notice of the link to my last.fm so you can really see what I’m listening to now (Impossible Germany actually). Kinda creepy but fun.

4) Also be sure to check out: I Find Art in Gibberish. A fan of the CSV is a friend of the CSV, so be sure to read his weblog.

And with that, toodles. Wish me luck with finals–Organic Chemistry’s got nothing on me.