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Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 9:52 am
by 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?

Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 9:58 am
by D.o.S.
That demo he did of the 16 second delay?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POolx0icXwY[/youtube]
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:15 am
by 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.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:53 am
by voerking
dubkitty wrote: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.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 12:30 pm
by Chankgeez
I think he did some of his best playing with Carla Bozulich.
You should go listen to him live with a good band.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 12:46 pm
by D.o.S.
i.e. not Wilco.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 7:30 pm
by gnomethrone
Geraldine Fibbers were so good.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:48 pm
by SPACERITUAL
Dude no in right there with you wilco is lame as fuck 100%
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 11:44 pm
by Dark Barn
Just think about how much worse Wilco would be without Nels Cline.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:32 am
by Hyphen Nation
rustywire wrote: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.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 8:37 am
by Chankgeez
Hey, nobody said that pseudo-alternative/borderline mainstream chicks don't grow up to be soccer moms too.

Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 8:57 am
by 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.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 9:37 am
by 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

Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 9:44 am
by Jwar
I don't get it either. I don't hear anything special from my listenings.
Re: Why Nels Cline?
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 9:59 am
by 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]