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beltmann · Posted: 07.04.2003 6:41 am Post subject: Fountains of Wayne / Wilco

My wife and I just returned from Summerfest, Milwaukee's largest music-games-food festival. There are ten separate music stages; tonight patrons could find the BoDeans (a local favorite, of course), Michelle Branch, George Thorogood, Seether, OAR, Jonny Lang, and countless others.

However, we were interested in only one particular stage, the one that scheduled Fountains of Wayne and Wilco back-to-back. Pretty nifty that a $12 ticket gets you concerts from two critically-hailed bands, plus a 40-minute fireworks show in between, plus the opening acts and mop-up bands in between. I can't stomach crowds--obnoxious behavior gets me down--but this was a marvelous opportunity.

Fountains of Wayne performed for almost exactly an hour, while Wilco's show ran about 90 minutes (including a 2-song encore). For me, the Fountains of Wayne highlight was "Stacy's Mom," but perhaps only because that song creeps out my wife. Her name is Stacy. The band also announced that Rachel Hunter will be in the video for the song. Wilco's performance proved Jeff Tweedy a genuine rock star. Highlights might include a heavy version of "I'm the Man That Loves You," and several others from "Foxtrot." No "Kamera," though.

Both performances confirmed my prior attitudes towards each. Fountains of Wayne are very much of-the-moment, creating smart, fun, but not especially resonant pop. Wilco, on the other hand, are brilliant. Their music will endure, and "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" will probably be remembered as one of the great albums.

Anyone else a Wilco fan?

Eric

Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 07.04.2003 3:21 pm Post subject:

I started getting into Wilco about a year ago. I own Being There, Summer Teeth, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (I still can't pick a favorite yet) and I'll be picking up A.M. soon. Wonderful stuff. I'm just bummed that I didn't start listening to them sooner!

Have you listened to any of Tweedy's former band, Uncle Tupelo? Anodyne is a great country-rock album, but I haven't heard any of their earlier stuff. I also like Jay Farrar's post-Tupelo band, Son Volt, but not nearly as much as I like Wilco.

Sorry to say, I'm not too familiar with Fountains of Wayne.
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beltmann · Posted: 07.04.2003 3:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Michael,

I'm familiar with both Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt, but I'm not really a fan. Too much twang for me, I guess--I don't much like country music. I acknowledge their talent, but neither is of my tastes. Wilco is much tougher to categorize, and much more experimental, which I not only admire but deeply respond to. And I agree that it's tough picking favorites from "Foxtrot." I think it's one of the strongest albums I've ever heard.

I'm surprised you're not into Fountains of Wayne; I know you like Jimmy Eat World a lot, and they share a few sensibilities.

Eric

Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 07.04.2003 3:51 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I'm not much into country either, but I do like Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt.

By the way, have you seen last year's documentary on Wilco, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart? I haven't seen it yet, but it's on my Netflix queue.

I'll have to check out Fountains of Wayne.
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beltmann · Posted: 07.04.2003 5:42 pm Post subject:

I'm probably the guy holding up your Netflix queue... I've had I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART here for awhile, but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. I'm hoping to have time either today or tomorrow, and get it in the mail back to Netflix soon. That particular title my wife also wants to see, so we have to find a time when we both can sit down for it.

How many copies of that one do you think Netflix actually carries? My guess is, not many. Sometimes they drive me nuts with the lack of availability.

Here's an interesting thing: I had THE COURT JESTER in my queue, and it was apparently mailed to me. Four days later it still hadn't arrived--but I received an e-mail stating that it had already been returned by me. Okay--a postal service mix-up, right? But then it happened again, for the exact same title. Weird.

Eric

beltmann · Posted: 07.05.2003 8:40 pm Post subject:

Finally watched I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. For fans of Wilco, it's a good experience, loaded with passionate concert performances and intimate behind-the-scenes footage that showcases the band's commitment to their craft and artistic convictions. I particularly appreciated the insight into Tweedy's personality: passive, low-key, but determined to control his art.

For non-fans, I'm skeptical of the film's appeal. I think the doc accidentally falls into a great subject--the crassness of the corporate music industry--but the information given regarding the band's "Foxtrot" scuffle with Reprise is fairly standard (perhaps because access to the tussle is pretty much limited to talking-head interviews). Fans certainly won't glean new insight into the flap.

My wife compared it to SPELLBOUND and WINGED MIGRATION, using those two as examples of documentaries that are more daring, exciting, and engrossing. As music fans, we both enjoyed the doc, but as discerning filmgoers, we recognized that it is merely decent documentation.

Eric

beltmann · Posted: 07.25.2003 1:28 am Post subject:

Wilco song I can't get out of my head: "Shot in the Arm," from Summer Teeth.

Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 07.25.2003 6:24 am Post subject:

Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 07.28.2003 7:49 pm Post subject:

BTW, I just discovered that you can download Wilco's post-YHF 6-song EP at their website right here:

http://www.wilcoworld.net/enhanced.html

It's free. You just need the code from the back of the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot booklet.

So far, I haven't had any luck. Download errors. If anyone has any luck downloading it, let me know.
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beltmann · Posted: 07.28.2003 9:10 pm Post subject:

I downloaded the bonus EP a while ago. I had trouble when trying to download each track individually, but had no problems when downloading the entire album together. That might work for you.

Eric

beltmann · Posted: 08.24.2003 2:25 am Post subject:

Hey Michael,

Did you ever get the Bonus EP to download properly? What did you think of it?

Eric

beltmann · Posted: 08.24.2003 2:29 am Post subject:

Wilco song I can't get out of my head: "Via Chicago," from Summerteeth.

Fountains of Wayne song I can't get out of my head: "All Kinds of Time," from Welcome Interstate Managers. (Poppier alternative: "Bright Future In Sales," from the same.)

Eric

Michael Scrutchin · Posted: 08.24.2003 2:55 am Post subject:

Never got the EP to download. Just tried again. Nope. :cry:

I bought Welcome Interstate Managers yesterday. I really dig it, but much of it is so damn catchy that I've had a few of the songs bouncing around in my head all day. "Stacy's Mom" is especially annoying in that regard.
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beltmann · Posted: 09.10.2003 10:15 pm Post subject:

I don't usually watch Leno--nice guy, but his humor is just too juvenile for my tastes--but I tuned in last night because Wilco were scheduled to perform. I was pleased that they played "Jesus, etc.," perhaps my favorite track from YHF. Their website says that they plan to head back to the studio soon, to work on their next album.

Michael, did you ever pick up A.M.? Any further thoughts about Fountains of Wayne?

Eric

beltmann · Posted: 11.30.2003 2:11 am Post subject:

Wilco song I can't get out of my head: "I Got You (At the End of the Century)," from Being There.

Eric