Your eyes line up perfectly with the molding in the background- I'm a perfectionist , and Cruel Country is dang near perfect, IMO. I have a different favorite every few weeks. Loving "Empty Condor" right now......The build up is great .....
Exactly my thoughts on this Album. The second LP did relate much more to me than the first one. And i am also missing more instrumental parts and more variation in the songs itself. Especially for a long double album you need more variety like on Being There to find exciting parts that you can structure your own memory of so much tracks. At least the artwork is really beautiful.
i love this album. my arc with the band follows closely what you described as your own experience. i agree with what was said about the title reflecting more Tweedy's assessment of the state of things vs. a musical style. i bet this will grow on you. there are some decent vids on yt from Solid Sound a few weeks back. Wilco is obv phenomenal live and sometimes seeing the live interpretation of the tunes gives a diff perspective on them. Many Worlds looks to be a live powerhouse, love the instrumental jam 2nd half of that tune. appreciate your review
Thanks! It probably will, most Wilco albums do. I think I was spoiled by completely LOVING YHF and More Like the Moon, and then going backwards to Summerteeth and Being There, both incredible classics. I don't think there has been an album they've released since that I've LOVED in the same way upon first hearing, but you are 100% correct about their live performances. To me, the definitive versions of A Ghost Is Born's tracks are found elsewhere, especially on Kicking Television (the live LP). And I have found myself getting really into Wilco (the Album) and The Whole Love in the last few weeks, which I felt kinda MEH toward before.
@@beardsofkentucky right on man, the music is a living breathing art form that can mean different things to us depending on where we are at in life. regardless, Wilco never stands still
Yeah, "Ambulance" is very pretty! I think this album will grow on me over time. RE: vinyl » www.reddit.com/r/wilco/comments/uy6ayw/wheres_the_cruel_country_vinyl/
Really liking this album. By far, the best Wilco album in a long time. It is a subtle album which gains traction with repeated listens. I'm not a huge fan of these long albums coming out this year, but we can always remove the songs we don't like. My albums of the year for 2022 thus far ... 1. Gang of Youth - Angel In Realtime 2. Black Country New Road - Ants From Up There 3. Wilco - Cruel Country 4. Marillion - An Hour Before It's Dark 5. Arcade Fire - We
Just got a few things to note. Wilco is not a mountain jam Allman Brothers type band. They are hardly a jam band at all in many respects. They are dynamic, sometimes even eccentric, but very structured overall. And the title "Cruel Country" is more of a nod to the state of the country we currently live in as it is about any kind of country music, alt or otherwise.
Agreed, they are not really a jam band in the improvisational sense, BUT they have moments where they jam in their own distinct way, which I love. I'm thinking of "Impossible Germany", as well as a lot of their live performances since Nels joined the band. So my point was I would have loved for some of the tracks to be a bit more expansive instrumentally. They do a bit of this here and there. And yes, my understanding of the title is that it has many levels, one being the direct sense that you note. In addition, Wilco's own press for the record notes: "Cruel Country is the band's exploration of the genre they've often been defined by but, until now, never fully embraced." wilcostore.com/products/cruel-country-digital-download
Excellent review and concurs with my thoughts. The first part of the recording has too many mid tempo “dirges” as I would call them, minimal colouring and textural changes and more like a Tweedy solo album. Sometimes I think Jeff overthinks some of this stuff it’s only rock and roll! It’s still a conundrum that the stellar musicians in the band rarely get out of second gear and when they do the songs of the album really take off! Would have been a great single album. I’ve been a huge Wilco fan in the past but unfortunately I’m losing a bit of interest! Still they have a great track record.
Your eyes line up perfectly with the molding in the background- I'm a perfectionist , and Cruel Country is dang near perfect, IMO. I have a different favorite every few weeks. Loving "Empty Condor" right now......The build up is great .....
I expect this one will grow on me with repeated listens...
Exactly my thoughts on this Album. The second LP did relate much more to me than the first one. And i am also missing more instrumental parts and more variation in the songs itself. Especially for a long double album you need more variety like on Being There to find exciting parts that you can structure your own memory of so much tracks. At least the artwork is really beautiful.
No doubt some beautiful artwork! But I expected so much more from another Wilco double album.
i love this album. my arc with the band follows closely what you described as your own experience. i agree with what was said about the title reflecting more Tweedy's assessment of the state of things vs. a musical style. i bet this will grow on you. there are some decent vids on yt from Solid Sound a few weeks back. Wilco is obv phenomenal live and sometimes seeing the live interpretation of the tunes gives a diff perspective on them. Many Worlds looks to be a live powerhouse, love the instrumental jam 2nd half of that tune. appreciate your review
Thanks! It probably will, most Wilco albums do. I think I was spoiled by completely LOVING YHF and More Like the Moon, and then going backwards to Summerteeth and Being There, both incredible classics. I don't think there has been an album they've released since that I've LOVED in the same way upon first hearing, but you are 100% correct about their live performances. To me, the definitive versions of A Ghost Is Born's tracks are found elsewhere, especially on Kicking Television (the live LP). And I have found myself getting really into Wilco (the Album) and The Whole Love in the last few weeks, which I felt kinda MEH toward before.
@@beardsofkentucky right on man, the music is a living breathing art form that can mean different things to us depending on where we are at in life. regardless, Wilco never stands still
@@In_COG_nlto 🙌🤘
Hey thank you for the review. Actually I like this album a lot. "Ambulance" is really cool. Is there a vinyl release ?
Yeah, "Ambulance" is very pretty! I think this album will grow on me over time.
RE: vinyl » www.reddit.com/r/wilco/comments/uy6ayw/wheres_the_cruel_country_vinyl/
Great review!!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Really liking this album. By far, the best Wilco album in a long time. It is a subtle album which gains traction with repeated listens. I'm not a huge fan of these long albums coming out this year, but we can always remove the songs we don't like. My albums of the year for 2022 thus far ... 1. Gang of Youth - Angel In Realtime 2. Black Country New Road - Ants From Up There 3. Wilco - Cruel Country 4. Marillion - An Hour Before It's Dark 5. Arcade Fire - We
Hoping that's the case for me - Wilco's albums do tend to grow on my over time!
Just got a few things to note. Wilco is not a mountain jam Allman Brothers type band. They are hardly a jam band at all in many respects. They are dynamic, sometimes even eccentric, but very structured overall. And the title "Cruel Country" is more of a nod to the state of the country we currently live in as it is about any kind of country music, alt or otherwise.
Agreed, they are not really a jam band in the improvisational sense, BUT they have moments where they jam in their own distinct way, which I love. I'm thinking of "Impossible Germany", as well as a lot of their live performances since Nels joined the band. So my point was I would have loved for some of the tracks to be a bit more expansive instrumentally. They do a bit of this here and there.
And yes, my understanding of the title is that it has many levels, one being the direct sense that you note. In addition, Wilco's own press for the record notes: "Cruel Country is the band's exploration of the genre they've often been defined by but, until now, never fully embraced." wilcostore.com/products/cruel-country-digital-download
Excellent review and concurs with my thoughts. The first part of the recording has too many mid tempo “dirges” as I would call them, minimal colouring and textural
changes and more like a Tweedy solo album. Sometimes I think Jeff overthinks some of this stuff it’s only rock and roll! It’s still a conundrum that the stellar musicians in the band rarely get out of second gear and when they do the songs of the album really take off! Would have been a great single album. I’ve been a huge Wilco fan in the past but unfortunately I’m losing a bit of interest! Still they have a great track record.
Well put! Very much agree with your assessment.