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Friday, April 10, 2009

Film Wilco Movie #2

Posted by Brian Cook on Fri, Apr 10, 2009 at 1:23 PM

I would love to argue over which Wilco album marks the pinnacle of their creative energy. Was it the heavily layered orchestral pop of Summerteeth? The deconstructed melancholy of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot? The hauntingly sparse A Ghost Is Born? The Steely Dan-esque Sky Blue Sky? Really, the debate could go on forever. But there really isn’t much of a debate when it comes to their live performance. Wilco is currently at the top of their game. I mean, have you seen Nels Cline play guitar? Jesus Christ…

The Northwest Film Forum is screening Wilco’s new concert film Ashes of American Flags tonight and tomorrow at 8pm. An added bonus: the film is directed by Burn To Shine directors Cristoph Green and Brendan Canty (also of Fugazi). In the meantime, check out this clip from their show at Marymoore Park back in 2007, and be sure to at least watch til the 1:45 mark.

Comments (8) RSS

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let's ask the Milwaukee Brewers which Wilco album is tops: http://tinyurl.com/crbk62 (stay with it... Wilco-related hilarity comes soon enough)

Posted by drake on April 10, 2009 at 2:25 PM

Holy crap.

Posted by croydonfacelift on April 10, 2009 at 2:26 PM

"steely dan-esque"
i love wilco, but this is a little generous methinks.

Posted by erik on April 10, 2009 at 3:05 PM

@3 perhaps. though truth be told, i'm not much of a Steely Dan fan.

Posted by brian cook on April 10, 2009 at 3:20 PM

Steely Dan sucks in so many ways; comparing the genius of Wilco to them is an affront to all that is holy.

Posted by cowboy on April 10, 2009 at 3:36 PM

The Steely Dan comparison is one that is repeated over and over again by lazy journalists about Sky Blue Sky, based solely on the electric piano part from one song that nicks the melody from "Any Major Dude Will Tell You". There is nothing else on that album that sounds even remotely like Steely Dan.

Oh, and Wilco's best is still Being There.

Posted by Mr_Friendly on April 10, 2009 at 4:32 PM

@6 Being There is pretty great. i just never sit through it in it's entirety. Disc 2 is better than Disc 1, in my opinion, so i usually opt for that half.

color me a lazy journalist. i've never read any reviews of Sky Blue Sky, so i had no idea anyone else made Steely Dan comparisons. i think it's Cline's jazz-influenced fills and their unconventional chord arrangements this time around that prompts the comparison more so than a specific borrowed melody.

Posted by brian cook on April 10, 2009 at 5:02 PM

I saw Wilco in Alaska this summer, and they killed. They played nearly every song I've ever heard by them, and encored for like 45 minutes. It was excellent.

Posted by marsgirl on April 10, 2009 at 10:10 PM