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intereact!Wilco
Retail Price (not our price): $18.98
Release Date: 2004-06-22
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...
| Disc 1 |
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
The infectious twang and pop hooks of Wilco's former efforts may be fading fast, but A Ghost Is Born is still a rewarding effort that demands repeated listening. The group's fifth album extends upon the experimentalism of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with angular, blues-soaked guitar riffs ("At Least That's What You Said," "Hell Is Chrome"), a handful of sparse, yet catchy tunes (smack dab in the middle of the disc) that will surely keep college radio stations smiling, and a lengthy track that descends into mere static ("Less Than You Think"). Frontman Jeff Tweedy's songwriting continues to evolve: "Hummingbird" is a dreamy Randy Newman-styled love song; "The Late Greats" is a sly ode to the world of pop tacked onto the end of the album (as if using such a fun song on this understated disc was an afterthought). Meanwhile, producer extraordinaire Jim O'Rourke manages to make the most complicated arrangements here sound minimalist and laid-back. All told, it's another great addition to the Wilco canon. --Jason Verlinde
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5
1) Works for me... [Rating: 4 out of 5]
I loved this record immediately. It surprised me, no doubt, as it is a departure from previous stuff. But on the first listen, to the first track, when the noise started, I was thrilled. Any child of the 70's probably misses this kind of guitar playing. And I guess some people who didn't grow up in that decade miss it.I welcome the addition of Nels Cline, have been listening to Sky Blue Sky a lot lately and absolutely love the work they're putting out. It transcends categorization to me--I think it will sound just as good in 20 years. But, as you can see from previous posts, it's not for everyone. Which is totally fine in my book.2) hell is chrome [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Want to understand this album? Listen to the words to Hell is Chrome. Reviewers complaining about droning white noise, words that don't make sense, "incompetently played" guitar solos ---- It's all spelled out for you in Hell is Chrome. If you don't understand it then you need to choose something easier to listen to. Something that makes sense immediately. Something that doesn't challenge you. Something that doesn't make you wonder. Something that doesn't make you think. Please enjoy your own chrome plated hell. This album is a masterpiece. It's simple, beautiful, thoughtful, and thought-provoking. Yes, even Less Than You Think - all 15 minutes of it. Maybe if you actually _listen_ to the intro of that song, you can at least try to understand why there are 12 minutes of noise. There isn't a single piece on this album that isn't exactly the way it's supposed to be. Good job, Wilco.3) (Catchy line) [Rating: 4 out of 5]
Yeah, just as pretty much everyone else has said, this one is a creeper. It took me awhile to really get into their groove on this record. The goods are there, I guess it depends on how you listen to it. What really made me go back a give this record another try was hearing their live album. Theologians, Company in my Back and Hand Shake drugs are really great songs.4) stop the noise!! [Rating: 4 out of 5]
I love this CD but the 'noise' at the end of some of the songs really takes so much away from the overall groove. I've recommended and have played a few of the tracks for friends and always mention--'the end of this track is a disaster and will grate on your nerves!' When I play the CD I always skip -to-the-next song when the distorted mess comes up. So much potential in the CD itself. Hopefully WILCO will become enlightened and lose the nails on chalkboard endings.5) Kind of hard to warm up to... [Rating: 3 out of 5]
I am not what you would call a die hard Wilco fan. I do like their music though. While I have only had "a ghost is born" for a few days, I must agree with the reviewers that feel let-down the by the noise-making on this CD. Noise-making has its place, but usually (here included) it just doesn't bring me pleasure. Instead, it requires patience to listen until the end of a few of the tracks. A previous review makes the analogy between this CD and the art of Andy Warhol. But I think that Tweedy works to create great meaning and emotion, while Warhol strove to vacate art of those attributes while meditating on fame. A better comparison would be bad Abstract Expressionism from the 50's, the kind of visual noise that must have seemed smart at the time, but also kind that no one wants to view any more. Not to over emphasize the "noise" thing. It only happens on some of the songs, and several of the songs on the CD are pretty good. However, it just feels like Tweedy is putting some distance between himself and his earlier work, and his fans. So, like "Kid A" (love Radiohead, still can't stand Kid A) it could constitute a reaction, a break from the past. I just don't want to pay to hear a reaction. The Grammy awards given to this CD should have be a yellow flag. Grammy winning CD's are rarely the best an artist has to offer. Often, Grammys are a belated nod to talent or driven by sales. However, I will keep listening - the CD is subtle and perhaps I just need time to appreciate it.