A Ghost Is Born [Enhanced]

Wilco | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B00020P7TM
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (333 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,303 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > Country > Americana
  • #91 in Music > Rock > Country Rock
  • #95 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > General

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The infectious twang and pop hooks of Wilco's former efforts may be fading fast, but A Ghost Is Born is still a rewarding effort that demands repeated listening. The group's fifth album extends upon the experimentalism of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with angular, blues-soaked guitar riffs ("At Least That's What You Said," "Hell Is Chrome"), a handful of sparse, yet catchy tunes (smack dab in the middle of the disc) that will surely keep college radio stations smiling, and a lengthy track that descends into mere static ("Less Than You Think"). Frontman Jeff Tweedy's songwriting continues to evolve: "Hummingbird" is a dreamy Randy Newman-styled love song; "The Late Greats" is a sly ode to the world of pop tacked onto the end of the album (as if using such a fun song on this understated disc was an afterthought). Meanwhile, producer extraordinaire Jim O'Rourke manages to make the most complicated arrangements here sound minimalist and laid-back. All told, it's another great addition to the Wilco canon. --Jason Verlinde

Product Description

2004 album from the Americana/Alt-Rock band formed by guitarist/songwriter Jeff Tweedy. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great--just put in four or five listens, March 14, 2005

By 

Steven Piraino "Steve Piraino" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Ghost Is Born (Audio CD)

A lot of listeners sound kind of puzzled by this album. Quite frankly, I think these people are lazy.

Its kind of incredible how much fuss is made about how this album is "out there". When I got this thing, I expected something like Amnesiac. Amnesiac this is not. Yes, initially, this album is difficult to wrap your mind around because each song is not constructed around two or three signature hooks. So you can't pay attention for ten seconds, absorb the hook, think "thats cool" and then go back to talking to your girlfriend on the phone. You have to actually pay attention for the duration of the song to get something out of it. However, once you've put in your time and listened to a song four or five times, you can appreciate this album effortlessly and these songs become really cathy and riveting--and fun. Now I can't stop listening. Its a blast.

The arrangements are much simpler than on YHF. Basically, drums, bass, guitar, piano, and some occassional help from a synthesizer. The vocals are mixed up front as they usually are in Wilco. There are a few spots where Tweedy belts, but he's usually soft spoken. If you liked YHF, you'll like this just as much--maybe more. Just put your time in. This is a really good, conventional rock album. The song structures are just a little bit more difficult to master.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This will all be music history one day -- pay attention..., July 9, 2004

By 

"lpno90" (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Ghost Is Born (Audio CD)

I'm not particularly interested in ranking AGIB among previous Wilco releases; let it suffice to say that this record stands on its own two feet, and though some listeners may hint that it wobbles, I have the sinking suspicion that it is meant to wobble. The beauty in this album is the struggle, the thin filament that borders whispers against the screams, experimentation next to tried-and-true progressions. Just listen to the first track, "At Least That's What You Said." The break after the lyrics end, the hint at the guitar solo that merely echoes where the song has gone (seemingly in predictable circles), the following discord that is so forcibly loud (as Tweedy's voice is so soft), and finally Tweedy's solo that just takes off. The song becomes airborne with his guitar and it produces that amazingly sick and sweet feeling in your chest and you just know part of your soul has escaped you and has been carried off.....ahhhh....

Or, perhaps, for further proof of intentional contrast, listen to "Hummingbird" and "Less Than You Think" together. On the former, Tweedy's voice sounds the most familiar, stark and rusty and full of rough road, and the melodic nature of the song meshed with lyrics of wistful and learned remembrance, quite typical of Tweedy productions, is as soothing and soft as the added touches of dulcimer and viola. I can understand the Beatles references to this track, especially because of the strings, the percussion and the harmony. But the brilliance of this `simple' track is, I think, as significant as it is small. Upon Tweedy's final utterance of the word "hummingbird," the vocalization cuts off and doesn't intonate the swing of the melody - instead this is accomplished through the viola and the upswing in the vocals is merely implied (this begins around 2:25, but check in at 2:10 to get the full phrase). This is not what Lennon & McCartney would have done - the vocalization would have echoed the instrumentation at such a critical melodic point. "Less Than You Think" has already been cited as drone and white noise experimentation, etc. This track finds what other reviewers have heeded as a new voice for Tweedy, quite literally. It is more relaxed, more subdued and the song does sort of float in and out of its listener, and it reminds me a bit of Sonic Youth's "Providence" sans the CB conversation. The contrast between these tracks is what makes this album. It's honest. And as much as I loved YHF, it was a shade glossy, as if it was done to say, "Hey, here's our more studio-dependent album. AGIB reminds us of textures, of Tweedy screaming "nothing" so many times in concert while performing "Misunderstood," it's nearly impossible to understand why it doesn't bore you.

If you're searching for a neat package, A Ghost Is Born is clearly not the way to go; however, neither is this band. Wilco is about rough-around-the-edges, dirty, smoky, painful and joyous rock and roll. Musical irony and paradigms may be not be everyone's forte, but Jeff Tweedy is offering us the best we've seen since Bowie, and, some may argue, the last Flaming Lips album.

For those who think Wilco is keeping American rock music alive, a must have. Not for the faint of heart, or those fearful of change.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great... but hold off., March 29, 2005

By 

Michael Aiello "thescientist2" (Calgary, AB Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ghost Is Born (Audio CD)

This album is one of Wilco's best, if not the best. But don't spend twice as much as you need to on this unless you are an avid collector. The bonus tracks can be attained via Wilco's website (www.wilcoworld.net) as a free EP if you own the basic version of the album.
That said... "Panthers" is one of Wilco's most interesting compositions and the live tracks are outstanding (as always). "Kicking Television" is an R.E.M. style rocker that is sure to please most Wilco fans.
But, for most of you, know that you'll get all of this for the same price as the original version of A Ghost is Born.