Customer Reviews

Loose Fur

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The vocals, songwriting, and guitar of Jeff Tweedy. The drums and percussion of Glen Kotche. And the vocals, guitar, and songwriting of Jim O'Rourke.
That should be review enough. That should tell you: buy this!
If it's not, let me just tell you that if you're a Wilco fan, you've heard Loose Fur before. On "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." On that Wilco album there's a moment in--I believe it's the song "Poor Places," where Wilco becomes Loose Fur. Jeff Tweedy and Glen Kotche are in both bands, and Jim O'Rourke has produced (and contributed to) two Wilco albums, and it just happened that way.
And, not to insult any other members of Wilco (John, you rock!), but sometimes that three's all you need.
This is a stripped down, more experimental Wilco, with a hearty dose of Jim O'Rourke thrown in. Its jams are about as good as "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" on Wilco's "A Ghost is Born" album, its lyrics are heartfelt and unique ("You were wrong to believe...in me," "If I said I loved you, I was talking to myself.), and it is always interesting and fun to listen to.
The songs include a word-sample from Wilco's "Heavy Metal Drummer," a long shambling chain of lalalalala's reminscent of Bob Dylan's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" soundtrack, wild mercury drums that sound as if Kotche just threw his sticks into a clothesdryer and recorded them, and some excellent experimental noise rock.
I highly recommend this to any Wilco fans that were with it enough to make the transition with Wilco from "Summerteeth" to "Yankee Hotel" and from "Yankee Hotel" to "A Ghost is Born." This may take a few listens to get used to, but you may discover it's a classic.
I know I did.

Maybe calling Loose Fur a supergroup is a bit reaching, especially since none of its participants, aside from maybe Jeff Tweedy, has actually helmed a major act in the traditional sense. In other words, Traveling Wilburys this ain't...which is probably a good thing, if truth be known. Yet like the Wilburys, there is a casual nay "loose" quality to the six songs on this album that are nothing if not charming and well arranged, with the three Tweedy sung compositions being the highlights.

What's more intriguing about this album is in hearing the stylistic seeds of what would become Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. As such, a song on the Loose Fur debut like "Laminated Cat" hails from an earlier YHF outtake called "Not For The Season," and while the Loose Fur debut was released in 2003, it was recorded in the summer of 2000 and, in fact, corresponds somewhat with the YHF sessions; to the point that both Jim O'Rourke and Glenn Kotche from the Loose Fur trio would end up replacing members of Wilco, with O'Rourke taking on a significant role as co-producer of YHF. Adding to the cross-pollenation, as producer and remixer, O'Rourke removed many of the previous contributions of other Wilco members so that several YHF songs would only feature the music of Tweedy, Kotche, and himself, i.e. Loose Fur.

All in all, though, this album stands on its own. Fun, interesting, and well worth the price of admission. But for those who hanker for the wonder that is Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, this album stands as both a precursory and taster for what was already cooking in Jeff Tweedy's brain in the warmer months of 2000.

This album does not quite stand up to Wilco and O'Rourke's previous works, nor does it aspire to. This album feels first and foremost like a side project. And that's what's great about it. It sounds as if these lads bunkered up in a studio and just had some good fun. Some say it's a logical progression from YHF, but I think that's too simplistic. It's not an evolution, it's an outlet of where these guys are.

The record is really good and full of beautiful moments created by 3 musicians who have proven themselves to be adept in doing such. This record seems to be for Wilco fans who like bands like Sonic Youth and Broken Social Scene in addition to other alt. country stalwarts. Or if they like Jim O'Rourke's work at all, they will enjoy this disc. Its quite good, but the songs do meander slightly. It slightly presages some of the more guitar-dense passages of AGiB, such as the instrumental coda on "At Least That's What She Said" or the entirety of "Spiders," although AGiB is much more song -oriented, with the solos seemingly apart of the song structure itself, while here Tweedy and O'Rourke appear to be putting a greater emphasis on improvisation and spontaneous creativy. Anyway, hope my thoughts helped.

I am pleasantly surprised at how great this CD is. As a Wilco fan, I was expecting an experimental side project similar to Tweedy's Chelsea Walls collection. But, the reality is that most of the songs will catch onto you fairly quickly, particularly the first two tunes - although the third is a little too out there. I can't speak for those familiar with O'Rourke's and Kotche's previous solo work, but if you're a Tweedy/Wilco fan - completist or casual - you'll definitely enjoy this one while you wait for the Wilco film DVD or next full Wilco project.

Jim O'rourke, Glenn Kotche and Jeff Tweedy en masse equal one beautiful album. The six tracks make this effort deceiving; it appears to be more like an ep than a full-blown record. Don't be tricked though, this cd has all that and then some. From the sweet mechanical melody of the opener Laminated Cat, to the last note of the gorgeous Chinese Apple, this record takes you across the ocean, valleys and plains, the mountains and the moon. My favorite songs on here are the ominous So Long, and the wonderful closer, Chinese Apple. I highly recommend this disc to any fans of Wilco or Jim O'rourke.

Many have complained that the Loose Fur EP was not worth the wait. What wait? There was not much hype promoting this album, aside from a few mentions that they "might record" from the band themselves. Yes, it did take three years to finally assemble and create this record. Yes, it is more experimental than a Wilco record. Yes, two of the three Jeff Tweedy songs are selections he's been playing for three years at his acoustic shows. So what? This record is produced with all of brilliance of "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", the songs are wonderful (Yes! Even the Jim O'Rourke songs), and if you put your complaints aside and listen without a bias, you'll find the Loose Fur debut to be a treasure. Now shut up and listen.

AND you love the Thrill Jockey bands AND you dig noise experimentation a la the Velvet Underground via Sonic Youth,,,you shall be enthralled with this record. It is YHF's wake-n-bake weekend cousin...all strummy and percussion everywhere. Jim O'rourke adds a fine tune and some good vocals, but Tweedy's songs are great and the instrumental passages weave like a snake and seem to never end. The whole thing is very chill, with all of the best elements of a great Tweedy or Wilco or Sea & Cake record rolled up and smoked.....

Yes! This album is well worth the two year wait that some of us incurred since seeing the trio perform for noisepop 200 at Double Door. Although the album lacks a couple of the great songs of that performance, namely a superb O'Rourke explosion and a great C+W cover, "Rock, Salt and Nails," it also adds some excellent new material. "Elegant Transaction" is perhaps O'Rourkes best Beatles-60s style song since "Halfway to a Threeway." And anyone who follows Jeff Tweedy will be happy to see realized "Good Chinese Apple" for the final cut. Bookended with two great Jeff songs and filled with the custard of O'rourke and Kotche, this great doughnut of an album will blow you away.

okay..im a fussy bugger..most so called great bands of the last 30 years, simply bore me stupid...but wilco are the one exception,i love all their albums in a major way..the same way i love dylan and neil young..i also highy recommend most of the jim orourke albums..insignificence and eureka and bad timing are lost masterpeices..but The LOOSE FUR album is simply a total masterpeice..in 20 years it will be one of those BURIED TREASURES, that magazines like mojo will be writing about..as great as yankee foxtrot..and some of tweedy,s best songs...buy this reocrd