Hi everybody, I'll de-lurk for the first time in forever to say: I just saw Jeff Tweedy play solo acoustic at Lounge Axe in Chicago last Sunday. It was an important night, and it helped me make a decision...I think I like Son Volt better than Wilco now. Before, I liked them equally. Son Volt always sounded great to me in the Fall and Winter, and Wilco was my Summer and Spring preference, but I liked 'em the same. I haven't heard "Summerteeth" yet, and I don't own "Wide Swing Tremelo" either, but judging from what Jeff played off of the new Wilco album, it didn't do much for me. Yeah, Brian Wilson pop is cool and whatever, but Jeff's new music has taken on a "labored" feeling to it. Like too many chords, too trippy lyrics, too deliberately in-your-face ideas like that song about killing his wife last night. And then his inter-song banter about Jay, drugs, and his wife...it's like he's got all sorts of baggage in his music now. It's like he's got something to prove. There's none of the effortlessness that made "Casino Queen" or "I got you" or "Acuff-Rose" or "Far far away" or "New Madrid" so delightful. Now it's like work work work work. So I guess I can say I now prefer Son Volt. I always felt like Jay would be making his music whether I was listening or not...but these days Jeff's songs sorta depend on me hearing them. You know? I like the thought that Jay doesn't need us. I guess it's like "If Jeff sang in a forest and there was nobody there to hear him, would he make a sound?" .....I'm thinking the answer would be "No". But if it was Jay and nobody was there to hear him, he'd still sound great. -Jonathan R
