I've been telling people that I'm looking forward to mid-December, when the DVD of Richard Linklater's film "Boyhood" is due to be released. And I'd pre-ordered it, but today I got an email saying that it's been delayed until mid-January.
It's hard to have to wait a month longer to see it again, but I guess I'll just have to bear it. Until then, I can get a bit of a fix by listening to songs featured in the movie, especially "Hero," by Family of the Year, and "Hate It Here," by Wilco. And by watching other Linklater movies!
"I wonder why / we listen to poets," sings Jeff Tweedy in Wilco's "Ashes of American Flags." It's a somewhat odd way of putting it, since mostly poets get read, rather than listened to. But the range of possible meanings is still quite limited: it might refer to poetry readings (where we listen to poets, rather than read them), it might mean "listen to" in the sense of "do as someone tells you to do" (with poets as sources of moral guidance), or it might mean that lyricists who sing their poems are also poets (opening up the "are lyrics poetry?" can of worms). The rest of the lyric might help one decide among these three readings, if that's what one is inclined to do.
When I said that "Art of Almost" seemed primarily "suggestive" and not much more, I meant that the lyrics were so open to interpretation that even such an enumeration of the straightforward readings would not be possible. "Ashes of American Flags" is more than "suggestive," in this sense, because its text is more limiting in its possible interpretations.
Ashes of American Flags
the cash machine is blue and green for a hundred in twenties and a small service fee I could spend three dollars and sixty-three cents on diet coca-cola and unlit cigarettes
I wonder why we listen to poets when nobody gives a fuck how hot and sorrowful this machine begs for luck all my lies are always wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new
I want a good life with a nose for things a fresh wind and bright sky to enjoy my suffering a hole without a key if I break my tongue speaking of tomorrow how will it ever come all my lies are always wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new
I'm down on my hands and knees every time the doorbell rings I shake like a toothache when I hear myself sing all my lies are only wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new
I would like to salute the ashes of American flags and all the falling leaves filling up shopping bags
It's great to hear bands push the envelope of what is expected of them, and that's what Wilco does with "The Art of Almost," the first song on their latest CD, The Whole Love. It sounds to me, in fact, like this song is the best Radiohead song released this year (better than anything on King of Limbs, at least).
If the music of the song is fantastic, the lyrics settle for being suggestive. But most lyrics do (not every songwriter is Conor Oberst, not even Jeff Tweedy).
While searching for the lyrics, I discovered that the Wilco website has all their lyrics, and that you can request songs for concerts. So I requested "Hummingbird" and "Impossible Germany" for Basel. You can even dedicate your requests!
Here's a live video of "The Art of Almost," followed by the lyrics:
The Art of Almost
No! I froze I can’t be so Far away from my wasteland I never know when I might Ambulance Hoist the horns with my own hands Almost Almost
I heard a faint olé True love but I had other ways to hurt myself Like calling I could open up my heart And fall in and I could blame it all on dust The Art of Almost Almost Almost Almost
I’ll hold it up I’ll shake the grail Disobey across the waves Tomorrow I’ll have all the love I could ever ache And I’ll leave almost with you All of almost Almost
Fans of Wilco, as well as those who suffer from migraines (or know those who do), will be interested in Wilco front-man Jeff Tweedy's discussion of his migraines (and depression and panic attacks) on the New York Times blog about migraines.
