Why Nels Cline?

[dubkitty]

Here's an opinion that'll inflame someone...i just can't get into Nels Cline. i've tried listening to him in multiple contexts, but he just doesn't get to me. in short, he has all the tropes of an experimental guitarist (some of which is lifted 40-year old Fred Frith shit) but none of the heart. nothing he does touches me. what am i missing?

[D.o.S.]

That demo he did of the 16 second delay?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POolx0icXwY[/youtube]

[rustywire]

He's one of those musicians who I acknowledge and appreciate as someone with passion for their craft...while simultaneously being unmoved by their output. Semi-relevant: Wilco fans are uber hipstery Dave Matthews Band fans. Generally, we clash.

[voerking]

Here's an opinion that'll inflame someone...i just can't get into Nels Cline. i've tried listening to him in multiple contexts, but he just doesn't get to me. in short, he has all the tropes of an experimental guitarist (some of which is lifted 40-year old Fred Frith shit) but none of the heart. nothing he does touches me. what am i missing?

i mostly agree with you. he's similar to Henry Kaiser for me, in that he's really into awesome music & can recreate it with gusto, but his own music just never does much for me.

i do like that album of Andrew Hill tunes he did, though.

[Chankgeez]

I think he did some of his best playing with Carla Bozulich.

You should go listen to him live with a good band.

[D.o.S.]

i.e. not Wilco.

[gnomethrone]

Geraldine Fibbers were so good.

[SPACERITUAL]

Dude no in right there with you wilco is lame as fuck 100%

[Dark Barn]

Just think about how much worse Wilco would be without Nels Cline.

[Hyphen Nation]

He's one of those musicians who I acknowledge and appreciate as someone with passion for their craft...while simultaneously being unmoved by their output. Semi-relevant: Wilco fans are uber hipstery Dave Matthews Band fans. Generally, we clash.

All of the above.

Some where in the early 00's Wilco and Flaming Lips became soundtracks for the mini-van carpool.

[Chankgeez]

Hey, nobody said that pseudo-alternative/borderline mainstream chicks don't grow up to be soccer moms too.

[voerking]

i saw the Geraldine Fibbers long ago. they were pretty good. i do remember thinking the guy who kept beating on his guitar with a metal kitchen whisk was kind of annoying, though.

i tend to forget he is/was in these alt-country rock bands. when i think of him, i think of his improv/avant rock stuff.

[DarkAxel]

Nels makes Wilco for me. I generally don't like pre-Nels Wilco records while I like the live recordings of the old songs with him

I think he has great tasteful touch. Unlike fucking Henry Kaiser btw, can't stand that guy Or at least couldn't - didn't bother trying to even remember he exists for years now

He's also comes of as a genuinely nice and pleasant guy and reminds me a bit of my late grandpa in some way while still being a massive nerd and a quirky guy

listen to Sky Blue Sky the record and tell me why that's not good music

[Jwar]

I don't get it either. I don't hear anything special from my listenings.

[rustywire]

Henry Kaiser...talk about polarizing. My introduction to/only impression of him had been that hilariously bad video with Alexander Dumble. Where he comes off as smug and self-important...but worst of all hacky. Nevertheless I could tell he was passionate about music & gear but that vid does him no favors. As did any of the stuff I heard from him through cursory searches.
Then he puts out Seal-A-Rama in 2012; underwater diving footage from Antarctica he captured himself & soundtracked. And everything just made sense. Gave me a new appreciation for the fella, credit due. Plus I saw some home studio gear-demo-interview from around that time where he seemed like a completely different person (25 years can do that to someone!)

Now my fav thing about HK (sans seal-a-rama) is how salty TGP-types get at his collection of *undeserved* Dumble amps

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuOxukR8jzA[/youtube]