Jay Farrar

Dude, why don't you go to the Wilco website, if you like them so much. Jay kicks their ___ anyday. He doesn't have to change for anyone unless it is for himself. Yes, maybe he won't be the most lucrative musician in the world, but I don't think that is his goal. But, I will surely do my part to get the word out on him. It took me a long time to hear his music, even though I've liked Uncle Tupelo for a while now and even liked Tweedy. People just have to listen to him and I think that's all Jay wants, is to play what he wants to play, and there is nothing wrong with that. I have to admit, I like him better on his own than with Uncle Tupelo - but would I like to see a reunion - you bet, and does he sound better with a band (sure). But he sounds great just himself with a harmonica.

My only complaint about jay is that third shift was way to short! after
i listened to it i just wanted more and his solo output well, i'm still playing them every other day i just loved the solo output and i'm looking forward to much more from his solo adventures.. keep it up!
i just thought of a story when i seen the urban cowbow soundtrack cover..my brother found this eight track copy of it and a old eight track player..as he played it the eight track player caught fire and melted the tape! lol

One of the things that I like about musicians like Jay Farrar is that I get the feeling that he doesn't really care what anyone else thinks he should do. I would like to think that he does what seems right for him as an artist and if people like to listen to it then fine, but if they don't then I don't really think that bothers him. Of course I could be totally wrong.......

I'm thinking his next disc should be a dead on covers album and tribute to this...



That should put him back on top.

where on earth do you get hip hop from the TSGS version of damn shame? I think it is an alternate mix, a different look at it, like many artists do. I think it sounds great, and certainly nothing even remotely resembling hip hop.

I don't understand what potential Jay Farrar didnt live up to exactly. What do you mean? He is the founder and song writer of two of the 3 or 4 most important bands in a very important genre of rock-n-roll. That seems like a lot of accomplishment. I think his record sales have nothing to do with accomplishment, they have to do with the limited appeal that REAL, THINKING, GENUINE music has in a main stream market. For fuck's sake the #1 album in the country last week was Ashlee Simpson, so obviously record sales mean nothing to the relevance of music as art.

I think what clarkma5 said hits it right on the head, "he should just do what he feels he wants or needs to do and it's the fans' job to take it or leave it."

And as I said earlier in the post, several songs on the two albums are easily as good as anything he ever wrote or performed with UT or SV.

I am not a Jay Farrar apologist, and I would not like anything he did no matter what. I respect and admire the path he has chosen, and I love the music he creates, be it 1989, 1995 or 2004.

He hasn't missed yet.

Those are the words of people and artists that dont live up to their true potential cause they are too scared to admit that they still have some growing to do or that could learn something more. If he was so true to himself, then he should stop make laughable tracks like that "hiphop" Damn Shame....

clarkma5 wrote:I think this is a ridiculous thread to make...what I've always loved about Farrar is that he does what he does. In some interview or another, he said something like "I never think about owing the fans anything" or something like that, and that is 110% the right way to do it...the second you start pandering to anybody, even your own fans, you lose the authentic-ness. What makes Farrar great is that he's a true artist, and I think he should just do what he feels he wants or needs to do and it's the fans' job to take it or leave it.

Amen.

I think this is a ridiculous thread to make...what I've always loved about Farrar is that he does what he does. In some interview or another, he said something like "I never think about owing the fans anything" or something like that, and that is 110% the right way to do it...the second you start pandering to anybody, even your own fans, you lose the authentic-ness. What makes Farrar great is that he's a true artist, and I think he should just do what he feels he wants or needs to do and it's the fans' job to take it or leave it.

Jay might want to consider buying a General Lee (for sale from the real "BO" in Texas) and blast through the construction barriers of the perpetual worksite and jump the biggest creek in Hazzard county eating a bacon sandwhich with Tanya Harding sittin shotgun on his way to his part time job as a weatherman, dressed like peewee--of course leaving the bad guys in the creek cussing and feeling sorry for themselves.

I think Jay needs to:
1. Smoke Cuban cigars while he sings.
2. Dress like Pee Wee Herman
3. Have an affair with Tonya Harding
4. Get a part-time job on the Weather Channel.
5. Eat more bacon.


That's what I think.
Brian

HAHAHA

ps Tonya is a babe!

If anything I would say that there has been far MORE variety on the two solo albums than with SV or UT.

I also would say that Different Eyes, All Your Might, Heart on the Ground, Cahokian, Feel Free, Voodoo Candle, Make it Allright, and Vitamins among others are easily as good as anything he has ever written.

With Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt Jay Farrar could have easily have just capitalized on the genre and sold out and went the Ryan Adams crap route, but he didn't do that, and I think that makes him MORE of a success that the other way.

Note: I am not saying that records sales = bad music, or obscurity = good music. I am just saying that some artists compromise to become successful and Farrar has always done it is own way, and just continues to get better and better.

A few more pennies.

If that's the way you feel gam, then that's the way you feel and I can appreciate that. But I think most people here will argue strongly when you say that Jay's career has gotten off track. He doesn't sell as many records as he did with Son Volt, especially Trace, but record sales are a small part of the whole deal and don't tell the whole story. I think Farrar has written dozens of recent songs as good or better as the ones you mentioned from 10 years or so back.

Struggling is a relative term. Farrar makes a living as a musician, has a legion of devoted fans, his own label to make his own decisions and that's pretty good. The quality of his work is still outstanding in my opinion and in the opinion of most of us here and that's what important. I've been lucky enough to see him 6 times in the last 14 months or so as he's passed through the NYC area and his live show blows me away every time.

I agree, Son Volt was a great band and a great live band. I only got to see 'em once ('97) but listening to some boots I have reminds of how fantastic they were together. But I think Jay's work since then has been just as good, just a little different. He's shown great variety on the solo albums and the Slaughter Rule soundtrack and in his live shows. I don't get where you say he needs more variety: from WST on, there's tons of variety. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next.

And welcome to the board.

I think most of his songs have become real lackluster and boring to hear. I can't sit through Terroir Blues because of 1) all the filler (read: Space Junk and the 8 tracks or whatever of alternate versions) and 2) the monotony of most of it (see #3 in Gam's post above). I'm hoping he DOES take a step back (albeit not like the Old 97's have done with their new one) and puts out an album of solid material. Sebastopol had it's moments but I still think it was about 8 tracks too long. I want the cream of the crop as well, not 8 or 9 solid tracks and 14 tracks of filler so that just maybe there's something else there.

I'm not asking for Trace #2, but as long is it's not TB #2, things will work out okay.

Appreciate your feedback.
1) I have seen Jay/SV prob 20x (ist time in 96) and i think he is a fantastic musician.
2) My point is that there can be no denying his career has gotten off track for whatever reason. Moonshiner, Sauget Wind, tear stained eye, those were the best songs he ever played/performed in his life. Those are 10 years old folks. The point being: he emerged onto the scene fully formed, and hasnt advanced the way you like to see people advance. It bums me out that he is struggling the way he is and I want to see him rally, because he deserves it.
3) I think Jay's music suffers from a distinct lack of variety....that is why I would love to see him get involved with some other musicians. The guy from flaming lips is fine but it sounds like 2 separate musicians: 1 guy riffing non-stop and the other playing the song. There is a lack of integration there that is troubling.
4) I will never forget seeing SV play the tunes from Trace in Chapel Hill in 96....needless to say, that feeling is not duplicated in current shows.

I think to paraphrase the 70s motto, Jay needs to just "Keep on Keepin on". I think he is as good now as he has ever been, his songwriting and vocals.

I think releasing EPs between albums is a great idea (and that TSGS is cool), I like outakes and B Sides and alternate takes. He did the same with Son Volt and Tupelo didn't he?

I like that he released two live albums this year, cause one is with the Jay/Mark Spencer sound and one is with the Jay/Canyon sound. It is cool to hear both cause they are different.

I think he is making great music, I think his voice sounds incredible, his sonwriting is better than it has ever been. He just needs to keep it up.

I would like to hear an album done by Jay Farrar with a band from start to finish. That would be really cool. Not necessarily Son Volt, but a great Rock Band.

Someone mentioned "Be a great country musician". I have never thought of Jay Farrar as a "country musician". Not in the slightest.

Any way, that is my pennies.