"One and a Half Stars" is structured like a folk song that builds towards a big chorus, maybe a sing-along; but, although I like those noises near the end that chime in like a choir of bullfrogs, a climax never really arrives. Perhaps that is supposed to be reflective of the lyrics. Despite some growing sense of urgency--or maybe anxiety--about wanting to get up and make a change, in the end he realizes, "I can't escape my domain/ I won't escape my domain." So then "Quiet Amplifier" returns to a low, quiet place. Wishing and hoping, waiting and praying, that he could overcome his shyness or fears to connect with people, that he could live a different kind of life. I can relate to that, but it is kind of odd for a songwriter of his position to be expressing this in an evidently autobiographical song. You know, his amplifier isn't really quiet, is it? "I wish your world was mine/ I wouldn't mind feelin' fine... If only your world was mine/ Shy little stars must shine/ Shy little flower on the vine." Is he writing about himself? His teenage self? Is he trying to imagine the feelings of someone in his audience? This would've made a fine bridge between high points on Ghost and some other Wilco albums. I don't know about the idea that it's a return to Experimental Wilco or a resurrection of the band as full contributors, though. There is a little bit of noise effects near the end, but mainly the musicians still are there to provide washes of coloring to disguise the lack of movement in the song (every verse is an identical melody beginning with a refrain, there is no chorus or bridge, and the rhythm holds steady until cutting out in the last minute). The most experimental aspect of it is the minimalist form of the song itself. Again, the music seems to reflect the feelings of someone who is feeling stuck, lost, and alone, which suits the lyrics. In the context of the album, we're four songs in and I'm still wondering when they're going to break out of this mode. All four songs, you may notice, have been variations on the same theme: a disconnected, discontented narrator who feels like nothing ever changes. I don't dislike the track on its own, but this feels like a long time to set the stage for an Ode to Joy.
I think this is what the whole album is about, and how to live life in the aftermath of that realization.
Everyone Hides (And click here for the track without the breaks in audio from the music video.) One of the singles released from the album, 'Everyone Hides' is downright jaunty coming at this point in the album. Catchy, pleasant, friendly... it's a super likeable track. I mentioned yesterday how much I love it sequenced coming out of the storm of 'Quiet Amplifier' with those opening happy little chords feeling like sun peeking through the clouds. The band is great all through this song. Wonderful Nels soloing in two different places, I love those sassy string swells and Glenn is a driving force as he is across the whole album. The lyrics are great too, touching on the idea that we all wear masks (not literal, though we are wearing those too now!) all through our lives, essentially playing a different version of ourselves depending on whose company we are in. But this isn't presented in a super heavy way. More like a universal truth. If you're selling yourself on a vision A dream of who you are An idea of how it should be And a wish upon a star Remember Remember It can't be denied Oh, oh Everyone hides This was an obvious choice for a single and a really great song that furthers the sound evolution of the album as a whole. It's a folk rock song, essentially, and a darn good one. The music video is a lot of fun too, showing the band playing hide and seek all across Chicago with some great 'Wilco spots' featured.
Everyone Hides: okay, finally. Here we go, something that says New Wilco and that the band is a part of (other than swatches of color). I can just imagine the sigh of relief from Glenn as he’s unleashed and permitted to play some drums. Jeff gives us a bit of the old magic Tweedy vocals and everything is back on track. The first of the Ode songs to make “the List.” (I’ve pre-selected the nominees and listened to the dry run yesterday and am quite happy. Five songs might have a chance and they all begin from this point in the album).
I’d really like to dive into Wilco’s live recordings. Listened to a deep dive from one of my favorite podcasts, a phish-based Beyond the Pond, who mentioned talked very favorably about the band. Any way to listen to live shows other than the limited amount available on Spotify or YouTube? Wilco does not seem to be available on Relisten.
Hundreds of Wilco live shows are available for purchase on nugs.net and on Wilco's official website. Wilco concert live downloads and online music streaming Roadcase As for free shows, that I do not know.
What's this doing here? An actual pop song with a beat? Maybe it was a contractual obligation? Whatever the case, finally something that isn't plodding! I was struck by the number of guitars on the wall you can see in the shots from The Loft. I wonder how many were actually used on this album. Maybe four or five? Unless the derivations in twinkling and ghostly whining we barely hear in the distant background of most tracks was accomplished by Nels feeding notes into effects boxes from over a dozen different guitars. I would guess the most used instrument on the album is Glenn's hand shaker!
I insist. Musically, Side 1 is all about solo Jeff gradually being rejoined by the band. At first (tracks 1, 2, 3), he hush-sings and deadstrings-strums absentmindedly, like it’s still WARM, while they slowly come back to life around him. On the fourth track, Quiet Amplifier, he acknowledges them for the first time, by changing his own singing style, like he’s feeling their power and presence. And finally, they play like the Wilco we all know and (wholly) love on Everyone Hides, not coincidentally a song that was indeed solo (well, duo) when it first appeared on the St Vincent soundtrack, five years before. I much prefer the Wilco version, faster, groovier (Glenn & John !) and Jeff singing an octave higher (but not too high) in his Dawned on Me/Born Alone voice. But it only strengthens my point that it’s all about Tweedy welcoming Wilco back into his world. The fantastic video tells this exact same story with great humor and self-derision. Jeff is left alone with his laziness and inertia, he orders asian food, eats in front of the TV (note the noodles in the beard), dozes off while the other members scatter in many Chicago (and Wilco) famous spots. There’s some nice Wilco trivia in their hide and seek game (Pat going to see the movie Being There, Glenn hiding in the Marina Towers and I'm sure many more) and ultimately, when Jeff wakes up, it’s him that has to rejoin the band, playing on the roof like their own version of Let it Be. It’s a nice throwback to the Kicking Television times (he was in rehab while John led rehearsals for the tour to come) and a very funny visual and narrative commentary to what’s going on musically on the record.
“Everyone Hides”- A song that was first recorded around the time of the Sukierae album. I knew @Fortuleo would be right on it! They must have felt they needed another pop single to introduce the record. For this reason, I don’t think it really fits on this record. It sounds more like a Schmilco song. Not that I think that’s a bad thing, but it clearly has a different feel than the rest of the album. I totally understand why they included it. It has a much wider Wilco appeal than a song like “Bright Leaves”. I do prefer this band version over the original with Jeff’s lower vocal. I’m glad Wilco decided to record it. Was it recorded earlier than the rest of Ode to Joy? It does fool people into thinking this is what Ode To Joy is going to sound like. Maybe that’s part of the reason some fans think the start of the record is boring? I don’t agree with that. It’s a good song but I prefer the songs before it. 4/5
Everyone Hides is a great pop song. The video is hilarious. It’s an improvement over the Sukierae demo. But I must admit that if they need to revisit old material to fill out the album, I’m a bit worried. With Love is the King out now, we essentially have 5 solo records and 3 Wilco records since Whole Love (counting Sukierae as two). This doesn’t make me optimistic about the ongoing future of the band.
A nice little pop gem of a song. I like the arpeggiated guitar in the background, Jeff's higher vocal complete with "oh oh"s, John's bass line, the mini-bridge, Glenn's drumming, and the short climax at the end. I like the lyrics too because people wearing a "mask" is something I think about a lot. Great tune.
Sorry, that's not my area of expertise. I'm not much of a live listener. I'm a studio person. I can heartily recommend Kicking Television as one of the best live albums of the past 20 years. Others in the thread may have recs.
Thanks for the heads up. I didn’t click on the video earlier. As usual, the video is creative, humorous and all-around terrific. And it’s a band. 23+ new songs so there’s plenty of material to draw from. Now that so many are getting used to whispery, ambient New Wilco they’ll probably put out a Being There type raw rocker. Just because.
Wilco's at work recording a new record, with each member working in their own home studio. That will be an interesting experiment. Jeff has spoken about the need to include more upbeat numbers so we can have a celebratory experience when we all come together again. "Everyone Hides": a Tweedy track that the band wanted a crack at. So far as I'm aware, the only Tweedy/Jeff solo track to be recorded by each group. And a welcome pop ditty at this point in the album. I think it's well sequenced overall, but I can understand why others might think it's a slog.
Thread guide Introduction and Uncle Tupelo Mar 1995 AM I Must Be High Casino Queen Box Full Of Letters Shouldn't Be Ashamed Pick Up The Change I Thought I Held You That's Not The Issue It's Just That Simple - live Should've Been In Love - live 1995 Passenger Side - live 1996 Dash 7 - live 2010 Blue Eyed Soul Too Far Apart Outtakes Oct 1996 Being There Misunderstood Far Far Away Monday Outtasite (outta mind) Forget The Flowers Red Eyed and Blue I Got You What's The World Got In Store Hotel Arizona Say You Miss Me Sunken Treasure Someday Soon Outta Mind (Outtasite) Someone Else's Song Kingpin (Was I) In Your Dreams Why Would You Wanna Live The Lonely 1 Dreamer In My Dreams Blasting Fonda (outtake?) Live 1996 - televised version Snow Job 97 June 1998 Mermaid Ave (with Billy Bragg) California Stars Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key Birds And Ships Hoodoo Voodoo She Came Along to Me At My Window Sad And Lonely Ingrid Bergman Christ For President I Guess I Planted One By One Eisler On The Go Hesitating Beauty Another Man's Done Gone The Unwelcome Guest March 1999 Summerteeth I Can't Stand It She's A Jar A Shot In The Arm We're Just Friends I'm Always In Love Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway (Again) Pieholden Suite How To Fight Lonliness Via Chicago ELT My Darling When You Wake Up Feeling Old Summer Teeth In A Future Age Candyfloss Interview 1999 May 2000 Mermaid Ave vol 2 Airline To Heaven My Flying Saucer Feed Of Man Hot Rod Hotel I Was Born Secret Of The Sea Stetson Kennedy Remembering the Mountain Bed Blood Of The Lamb Against Th' Law All You Fascists Joe Dimaggio Done It Again Meanest Man Black Wind Blowing Someday, Some Morning, Sometime Mermaid Ave vol 3 Loose Fur Laminated Cat Sept 2001 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot I Am Trying To Break Your Heart Kamera Radio Cure War On War Jesus Etc Ashes Of American Flags Heavy Metal Drummer I'm The Man Who Loves You - live b-side Pot Kettle Black Poor Places Reservations b-side The Good Part Blasting Fonda The Minus 5 2003 More Like The Moon ep Camera Handshake drugs Woodgrain A Magazine Called Sunset Bob Dylan's 49th Beard More Like The Moon June 2004 A Ghost Is Born (inc. Kicking Tv versions) At Least That's What You Said Hell Is Chrome Spiders Muzzle Of Bees Hummingbird Handshake Drugs Wishful thinking Company In My Back I'm A Wheel Theologians Less Than You Think The Late Greats Nov 2005 Kicking Television + some b-sides and oddities March 2006 Loose Fur Born Again In The USA May 2007 Sky Blue Sky Either Way You Are My Face Impossible Germany Sky Blue Sky Side With The Seeds Shake It Off Please Be Patient With Me Hate It Here Leave Me (Like You Found Me) Walken What Light On and On And On Extra Tracks Tweedy Interview The Sun Came Out - 7 Worlds Collide June 2009 Wilco (The Album ) Wilco (The Song) Deeper Down One Wing Bull Black Nova You And I You Never Know Country Disappeared Solitaire I'll Fight Sonny Feeling Everlasting Everything Dark Neon Sept 2001 The Whole Love Art Of Almost I Might Sunloathe Dawned On Me Black Moon Born Alone Open Mind Capitol City Standing O Rising Red Lung The Whole Love One Sunday Morning I Love My Label + extras Sometimes It Happens Sept 2014 Tweedy Sukierae Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood High As Hello World Away Diamond Light pt1 Wait For Love Low Key Pigeons Slow Love Nobody Dies Anymore I'll Sing It Flowering Desert Bell Honey Combed New Moon Down From Above Where My Love Fake Fur Coat Hazel I'll Never Know Aug 2015 Star Wars EKG More Random Name Generator You Satellite Taste The Ceiling Pickled Ginger Where Do I Begin Cold Slope King Of You Magnetized Sept 2016 Schmilco Normal American Kids If I Ever Was A Child Cry All Day Common Sense Nope Someone To Lose Happiness Quarters Locator Shrug And Destroy We Aren't The World Just Say Goodbye June 2017 Together At Last - Jeff Tweedy Dawned On Me Nov 2017 Mavis Staples - If All I Was Was Black Nov 2018 Warm - Jeff Tweedy Bombs Above Some Birds Don't Forget How Hard It Is For A Desert To Die Lets Go Rain From Far Away I Know What It's Like Having Been Is No Way to Be The Red Brick Warm How Will I Find You? Apr 2019 Warmer - Jeff Tweedy Orphan Family Ghost And Then You Cut It In Half Ten Sentences Sick Server Empty Head Landscape Ultra Orange Room Evergreen Guaranteed Oct 2019 Ode To Joy Bright Leaves Before Us One And A Half Stars Quiet Amplifier Everyone Hides
"Everyone Hides" is very much a Wilco track in sound and feel. It's good. I've seen some references to this being a solo Tweedy track that was repurposed by the band. Was a solo version ever released? Did we cover it and I'm forgetting?
By happenstance, Mark just updated the index so I can see that we did not cover this previously. At least, officially.
@Fortuleo mentioned, and it was discussed on the last day of Sukierae, that it was a Tweedy track released on the St. Vincent movie soundtrack.
I'm sorry, but I just don't hear it. I think he's still hush-singing like he doesn't want to wake the household on "Quiet Amplifier," actually. He's still doing it on "Everyone Hides," too, but at least there is a poppy melody and an upbeat rhythmic propulsion to it. This one and the next track remind me of Andrew Bird, probably because of the pizzicato strings. There's also some element of Smashing Pumpkins here, while very much in line with recent Tweedy singles like "Low Key" and "Some Birds." It would be nice to hear the band really open it up and let fly, but this fits the tone of the album and provides some welcome change of pace. Here's Wilco performing "Everyone Hides" on the Colbert show last year:
