I'm a bona fide Wilco fan who'd probably buy an album of them tuning up in the bath but the new 'Shmilco' is a great addition to their catalogue. Compared to the raucous 'Star Wars' it is largely acoustic, folky and subtle and on first listen deceptively simple but it has a depth revealed over repeat listens. Slightly wistful and nostalgic at times, but not taking itself too seriously. Excellent stuff.
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22355-schmilco/
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 'Skeleton Key' is something else entirely. Written before and after the death of his son this gloomiest of artists had made a record I found pretty engrossing and at times harrowing. Musically very much a Nick Cave and Warren Ellis album (like 'Pushing the Sky Away') with rich and sometimes strange atmospheres it is quite compelling even without the backstory. Not an album for background listening, and probably not one for those uncoverted to Cave's particular style but quite a piece of work. The Guardian describes it as a masterpiece. I know a few here were looking forward to it-be interested to here your reactions
https://www.theguardian.com/mu...love-and-devastation
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/a...22336-skeleton-tree/
Bruce
Posted on: 17 September 2016 by AndyP19
Bruce, great post. I picked up both Wilco and Nick Cave early on the week and your post inspired me to move these up the listening agenda.
Big fan of both and I think these albums are right up there with their finest. The recording quality is outstanding on both particularly on the Nick Cave album. I see it's by a guy called Kevin Paul - there should a law that he engineers all recorded output - why can't every album be like this.
Assume you know of The Autumn Defense and Loose Fur?
Posted on: 17 September 2016 by hungryhalibut
I'm not convinced by this 'not for those unfamiliar with his work' thing. It's a fantastic album, and I think it matters not a jot if people have never heard his stuff before. It would be a real shame if comments on here put people off. It was recorded at a difficult time for the artist, but it was virtually all written before his son's tragic death, and in many ways is little different to Push the Sky Away and some other albums. So give it a go!
Posted on: 17 September 2016 by dis
Cheers Bruce, once again another good post. Will check out the Wilco (always trust Pitchfork, eh)
Anyone heard "Wilco Mike Foxtrot Rare Tracks 09-14"? Can go either way these ones....
Inspired now to listen to "Summerteeth" with some Garage Project stour on a misty old Sunday night..
Posted on: 25 September 2016 by Bruce Woodhouse
Had some holiday at home last week. The last two tracks on the Nick Cave album have become almost addictive listening. Grief and just a hint of final resolution. They may have been written before the death of his son (although not all the tracks were) but the power of the lyrics is suffused with that event.
'They said our Gods would outlive us, but they lied'.
Up there with Bonnie Prince Billy 'Missing One' as a piece of writing about loss. if you have never heard that it is 2 minutes of your time well spent.
Bruce
