I Hope Your Ears Bleed » wilco

Lessons From Late Night

Nathan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:35:09 +0000

Here is the next installment in our series “Lessons From Late Night” where we attempt to school you in the way of good music, through live performances from late night television. This past week, “The Late Show with David Letterman” was really solid. It started off a little rocky with a Kelly Clarkson performing a track off of her new album, “Already Gone.” It may be a just another mediocre break-up ballad from an American Idol winner, but this girl can really sing. But don’t worry it gets better from here.

On Tuesday David had Wilco performing one of my favorites off of their new self-titled album with Feist joining Tweedy on vocals. It was a great performance, that finds the band sounding better than ever.

Wilco & Feist – You And I (Live on Letterman)

Wednesday marked one of the more historic performances in the past year. Paul McCartney returned to the Ed Sullivan Theater where he played atop “The Late Show” marquee, 45 years after his first appearance with the Beatles. I’m not quite sure why they didn’t just wait til the 50th anniversary to do this big shin dig, but it seemed to be a pretty exciting event either way. The streets were packed with screaming fans, and Paul and the band sounded great. Here is “Band on the Run.” Head over to Youtube and search for “Paul McCartney Letterman” if you want to see the rest of the songs he performed.

Paul McCartney – Band On The Run
On Thursday Dave had Grizzly Bear performing “Ready, Able” off of their newest record, Veckatimest, which is becoming one of my favorite albums of the year.

Grizzly Bear – Ready, Able
Friday wasn’t quite as strong as the middle of the week, but it was still a great performance by a band that I have really been getting into lately. I wasn’t a huge fan of this performance. This was definitely not the track I would’ve liked to hear them play. But their new album, Fantasies is really strong and I definitely recommend it.

Metric – Help I’m Alive

Wilco on ACL Tonight

Nathan — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:07:56 +0000

Hello my friends and loyal readers. I realize that if you have the television on tonight that you undoubtably be watching college football all evening. But in case of a blow-out, I thought I would give you all a back-up option. Wilco is going to be playing on the famous Austin City Limits television show on PBS. Should be a great show to watch. I haven’t been able to see them live yet, but I have caught several of their performances on late night television which have each boosted my appreciation for this super talented band. They have been closing a lot of their tours lately with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released.” If they do it again tonight you’ll surely be in for a treat. Here is a preview of what you most likely get to see in the encore.

Wilco and Fleet Foxes – I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan)

Wilco Covers Big Star

Nathan — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:10:00 +0000

I have no idea who Big Star is. But I just recently found this fantastic cover of one of their songs done by Wilco. I can’t really give an opinion on which is better since I’ve only heard the cover, but I am so enamored by the cover that I don’t really have a desire to hear the original. I can’t imagine it being any better than this. But I guess it’s only fair that I give them some credit for writing a great song. Who knows maybe I’ll be writing a whole piece on this mysterious Big Star soon. But until then, enjoy this great cover, by the great people formally known as Wilco.

Wilco – Thirteen (removed 2/13/09)

Remix Wednesday: Wilco + Football + Rap Music = Sweet Fun

Nathan — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:30:34 +0000

Just the other night, myself and a bunch of my co-workers got together for our annual live fantasy football draft, which I have come to look forward to with much anticipation each year. It has proven to be a great time filled with tons of fun, food, fellowship and football statistics. So with opening weekend for NCAA football happening last weekend and the first NFL game being tomorrow night I thought that I would share this great football themed remix with you. Brought to you by the guys over at The Hood Internet here is a mashup of Wilco’s fantastic song Jesus Etc., Kanye West’s Classic, and the infamous 1985 Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl Shuffle.

The Hood Internet – Super Bowl Jesus (removed 2/13/09)

And for those of you that have never heard of the Super Bowl Shuffle you must check out this video. Yes, that is correct back during the year I was born, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, William “Refridgerator” Perry, and the rest of the Chicago Bears football team wrote and performed a rap song on live television.

And it was awesome. Boy, those were the days. Back when they were actually a team and not a bunch of individuals who worked together on Sunday afternoon. I feel like Peyton Manning has done his part with all of his commercials and SNL appearances. But after watching this video again I think that the rest of the NFL really needs to step up their game.

Olympics Playlist

Nathan — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:48:44 +0000

There are a few things that get me to sit on my butt and stare at a television set all day long and not regret doing so. And on that short list along with March Madness and the World Cup, is the Olympics. The Olympics is the most recent addition to this list, because 2004 was the first time I really watched the Olympics. And then I only really watched it because I wanted to spend time with this really hot girl I liked (who I later decided to marry). Anyway I decided that this event was worth of a post. So here is my post in honor of the opening ceremonies for the Olympics.

So China in my opinion really raised the bar when it came to the opening ceremonies. I really enjoyed watching the theatrics of it all. They continued to just wow the crowd and the millions watching all over the world. So in honor of the events that have taken place and are going to be happening for next couple of weeks, I have created a little olympic-style playlist for you all. If you like you can leave a comment and vote for your favorite songs and then maybe I’ll hand out some medals. Anyway. Here is the playlist. Hope your ears bleed.

1. The Neighborhood – China Boy (removed 2/13/09)

2. Counting Crows – Holiday In Spain (removed 2/13/09)

3. Beirut – Postcards From Italy (removed 2/13/09)

4. James Taylor – Mexico (removed 2/13/09)

5. Five Iron Frenzy – Oh, Canada (removed 2/13/09)

6. Wilco – Impossible Germany (removed 2/13/09)

7. Jets to Brazil – Sweet Avenue (removed 2/13/09)

8. The Shins – Australia (removed 2/13/09)

9. Spoon – My Little Japanese Cigarette Case (removed 2/13/09)

10. The Beach Boys – Surfin’ U.S.A. (removed 2/13/09)

Best Albums of 2007

Nathan — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:07:03 +0000

i realize that i am extremely late on this, but i think it’s ok because i just started this a couple months ago. plus i feel like i need this much time to process. had i made this list back in january, a couple of these well-deserving albums would have been left off the list. so here it is.

10 Wilco – Sky Blue Sky

like most great albums this one took a little while to grow on me. but i am glad i gave it the time, because i have definitely found some great gems on this album. if you love wilco already just listen and enjoy. if not i suggest you see them live, it will surely help you to appreciate this album. at least it did for me.

wilco – hate it here (removed 2/13/09)

9 Beirut – Flying Club Cup

balkan music at its best. seriously. if you have never listened to this one man band you are missing out. each track has just gorgeous horn and string arrangements, and condon’s voice accompanies the music so well.

beirut – in the mausoleum (removed 2/13/09)

8 Derek Webb – The Ringing Bell

easily the best christian album of the year. webb continues to write enjoyable pop candy that is not only enjoyable to listen to, but challenges out way of thinking at the same time. i cannot tell you enough how much i love this guy. oh and did i mention he is giving this album away for free?

derek webb – can’t be without you (removed 2/13/09)

7 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

spoon has outdone themselves. by far the best that they have put together thus far. lots of intricate but simple instrumentation if that makes any sense at all. they didn’t try to hard, they have just taken what they do and brought it to the next level

spoon – you got yr cherry bomb (mp3 lost during a site crash 7/23)

6 The National – Boxer

Be patient with this one. It took a while before the national had a regular spot on my playlist, but once it got there it hasn’t left. Most of the songs on this album have very complex but very addicting rhythmic pattern. Give it a chance to entrance, for it surely will.

the national – fake empire (removed 2/13/09)

5 Band of Horses – Cease to Begin

Despite the loss of their co-founder, Mat Brooke, this stellar band not only managed to avoid the sophomore slump, but with their song “No One’s Gonna Love You” they managed to put together what is, in my humble opinion, the greatest song of 2007.

band of horses – no one’s gonna love you (removed 2/13/09)

4 Iron & Wine – The Shephard’s Dog

This is definitely one of those cases where change isn’t so bad. straying from his lo-fi acoustic roots, sam beam churns out another batch of songs that will last us a lifetime. it’s very rhythmic and has a much fuller sound than we’re used to, but it works.

iron & wine – flightless bird, american mouth (removed 2/13/09)

3 Rilo Kiley – Under the Blacklight

These former child stars have never sounded better. Lewis’ voice is as gorgeous as ever and Sennet’s guitar sounds like it has been in the 70′s for a while and came to show us a thing or two. An incredibly catchy album. Anything but a disappointment.

rilo kiley – give a little love (removed 2/13/09)

2 The Once Soundtrack

This incredible soundtrack to one of the best films of the year is a must. Glen Hansard (The Frames) and Marketa Irglova star in and provide the soundtrack to this modern day musical that tells the story of two people whose lives collide just once. Watch the movie and you will surely have to buy the album.

glen hansard & marketa irglova – when your mind’s made up (removed 2/13/09)

1 Feist – The Reminder

Leslie Feist has yet to let me down. I have loved everything that she had done so far. Especially this incredibly catchy album. Easily the record that I listened to the most this past year. It is infectious, once you start you can’t stop. Trust me.

feist – past in present (removed 2/13/09)

Honorable Mention: The Shins – Wincing the Nigh Away, Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests, Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha, Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

well i hope you enjoyed my list. and just to help clarify this list was based on a combo of what i thought was the best musically and lyrically and then also what i simply enjoyed and listened to the most. but still feel free to let me know if there are any albums that you felt should have been on the list. i am sure there are still some great ones that i missed.

also the plan is for this to be the first of many. i am starting a project of creating a list like this for every year dating back to the year i was born (1985). should be fun. until next time…