We {HEART}.... New Albums

If you've been around here long enough, you know that we love love love the band Wilco (Exhibit A, Exhibit B). Their new album releases later this summer but it was leaked online a few weeks ago. It knocked our socks off. Even Zoe sings along to a couple songs already. But don't worry, Jeff; we'll buy the real deal in August. Because we love you! And if you're reading this (and why wouldn't you be?) please add a tour stop in Utah. Please! We love you!

I should also use this post to plug Wilco's new movie - Ashes of American Flags. We saw it last weekend and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's not as amazing as I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, but really, what is?


We also love Golden Shoulders. They have a new album out and played a show in Provo to promote it. It was great fun to hang out with some friends and listen to awesome music. At this point I should mention that we also {HEART} neighbors who are willing to swap babysitting!




If you were as bummed as we were when Grandaddy called it quits after their last album, then Jason Lytle's first solo album Yours Truly, The Commuter is just what you've been looking for. It has some very catchy songs and the same quirky Grandaddy sound we all love.



A little while back The Decemberists had a new release as well. The Hazards of Love. It is an experience. Each song leads to the next and together, the individual tracks create a lyrical story. This is definitely one that you do not want to put on shuffle. Some of their work is hit or miss for us, but this new album is pretty enjoyable all around. There's only one exception, but that's just because I'm pretty strongly opposed to the subject matter (there's a song about a widower who plans and then carries out the gruesome murders of his children. Sorry James, I draw the line there). But we're not ones to be deterred by one questionable song, especially when the rest of the album is pretty fantastic. 'Tis better to have listened and skipped a song, than never to have hit play at all.

Lastly, but in no way least of all, James has been toiling ever so diligently on his newest album, Here Nor There. With school finished and the frenzy of organizing a new ward subsiding, James has found the time, energy, and - most important of all - motivation to get back into the recording studio (our office). He's been making a lot of progress and occasionally chronicles it here. Check it out and show him the love!

"It's An Open Invitation to Make Noise With Your Face"

If you haven't noticed, James and I love music. We are particularly fond of the Wilco variety. We especially like hearing live music, and yesterday we were able to be passionate about both at the same time. Translation: Wilco played Salt Lake and we were totally there! They had been touring for quite some time, but without ever stopping close enough to us. In April I had made up my mind that we would drive to San Francisco and shell out $300 each for festival tickets since they were making an appearance. A few weeks later they announced a show in Salt Lake. I got my hopes up. Then tickets for the show sold out in a matter of hours, without us obtaining any. I know! I scoured the internet pretty much daily until about 2 weeks ago extra tickets started popping up and we nabbed some. James' boss kindly offered to watch Zoe for us so I dropped her off and away we went.

The show was amazing. Wilco never disappoints - as a side note, it was very fitting that they came so close to our anniversary as we danced to Far, Far Away at our reception and we saw them in concert four years ago, shortly after we were married. Anyway, the show was at Red Butte Gardens and Fleet Foxes opened for them. It was the perfect night.

When Wilco started their set we made our way to the front and were literally yards from the band. I loved every second. They played a great set, taking a lot of music off of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born, which are my favorite albums. Don't get me wrong, I love Sky Blue Sky, their newest material, but I was glad that the show didn't consist entirely of that album with only a few other things thrown in here and there. They didn't play our song, but they really didn't play any of their slower stuff. It was pretty much a rock show from beginning to end. They did play my all-time favorite (and all-around most perfect song) Jesus, Etc. and that was great. The title of this post is what Jeff Tweedy said when he told everyone to sing along with the song. That man is some kind of entertainer. I just love to watch him...

The only downer of the evening was that security was pretty on top of things as far as taking pictures and recording the show. We saw several concert-goers get a stern reprimand for doing such and the guards were always on the lookout. So I only got a couple seconds of footage here and there and a few not-so-great shots.

The whole evening was just great. Too great. Today I don't feel like it really happened. Especially since it is 9:00 and Zoe is still asleep. I must be in some alternate universe.

Music Snobs Anonymous: WILCO

If you think we're fond of The Arcade Fire, just get us started on Wilco. Depending on the day (and the hour therein) Wilco is by far my favorite band. They played on Saturday Night Live last night, though both James and I were disappointed by their song selection. Their latest album, Sky Blue Sky, is phenomenal but the two songs they chose to play were not among our favorites. Not that the songs aren't good, but we just couldn't figure out why they didn't choose their best songs for live television. Oh well.

Anyway, Wilco is a Chicago-based band that has been around for a while. Though each of their many albums is completely unique in sound, there is a cohesiveness that I love. Sometimes their music is categorized as Alternative Country and that often fits, with beats, lyrics, and even instruments that would fit right in at the Grand Ole Opry. Their soul-piercing electric guitar solos, however, probably wouldn't. The following song I would consider my favorite, if I was forced to pick just one. More than being my favorite song of theirs, I believe this song is as close to musical perfection as has ever been created. The song is "Jesus, etc." off their album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The video is actually from a documentary about the production of that album titled I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. Like I said, music snob. If anyone is in love with Wilco as utterly as we are and want to borrow the movie let us know.



Some other favorite songs include:

From Mermaid Avenue Vol. 1 (under the name Billy Bragg and Wilco)

• California Stars
• Hesitating Beauty

From Being There

• Far, Far Away (our wedding song)
• Someday Soon
• Someone Else's Song
• Kingpin

From Summerteeth

• She's a Jar
• Pieholden Suite
• Via Chicago

The entire album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (I am not exaggerating)

From A Ghost Is Born

• At Least That's What You Said
• Hummingbird
• Company In My Back
• Theologians
• The Late Greats

From Sky Blue Sky

• Either Way
• You Are My Face
• Sky Blue Sky
• What Light

OK, so that's quite a list, but believe me, I am being very selective. I love all their stuff but it is so different. These guys are also great live and I was so sad that Salt Lake wasn't on their tour this year. I am still hoping they surprise us all and do a show that we can attend. I'm not above begging.