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A Ghost Is Born
 
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A Ghost Is Born [Enhanced]

Wilco | Format: Audio CD
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
Price: £9.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
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Frequently Bought Together

A Ghost Is Born + Yankee Hotel Foxtrot + Summerteeth
Price For All Three: £23.78

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  • In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Yankee Hotel Foxtrot ~ Wilco Audio CD £9.80

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  • Summerteeth ~ Wilco Audio CD £3.99

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Product details

  • Audio CD (21 Jun 2004)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: Enhanced
  • Label: Nonesuch
  • ASIN: B00020P7TM
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 23,421 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Samples
Song Title Time Price
Listen  1. At Least That's What You Said 5:31£0.69
Listen  2. Hell Is Chrome 4:34£0.69
Listen  3. Spiders (Kidsmoke)10:42Album Only
Listen  4. Muzzle Of Bees 4:52£0.69
Listen  5. Hummingbird 3:07£0.69
Listen  6. Handshake Drugs 6:03£0.69
Listen  7. Wishful Thinking 4:38£0.69
Listen  8. Company In My Back 3:43£0.69
Listen  9. I'm A Wheel 2:34£0.69
Listen10. Theologians 3:32£0.69
Listen11. Less Than You Think15:01Album Only
Listen12. The Late Greats 2:31£0.69

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

On A Ghost Is Born, Wilco singer, songwriter and supreme commander Jeff Tweedy leads his former alt.country colleagues on another journey towards the leftfield, with Sonic Youth's Jim O'Rourke once again handling co-production duties. But in many ways, it represents a slight backstep from the direction hinted at on its acclaimed successor Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. This is by no means a bad thing. Like Lambchop's best work, it's an album that's full of clever experimentalism and understated studio trickery, yet one where Wilco's very human and very organic core is highlighted, most likely because of Tweedy's dusty past with alt.country mavericks Uncle Tupelo. To Wilco's credit, the songs on A Ghost Is Born never suffer from over-production or wilful contrivance. Even on a 10-minute epic such as "Spiders", they manage to keep the listener's interest with a simple, driving rhythm and gradual layers of guitars, before the song bursts forth in the fourth minute. It's an extended jam, sure, but it's never dull--a remarkable feat in itself. In fact, A Ghost Is Born harks back to Wilco's altogether excellent second album, Being There, an innovative and original take on country rock and pop. That alone puts it up with the best of their work. --Robert Burrow

BBC Review

While Wilco's follow up to the plaudit-winning Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is, on all levels, a worthy successor, it may leave many of the band's newer fans a little non-plussed. For, while YHF was a case study in electronic intricacy, A Ghost Is Born has far more to do with the broader picture. As with its predecessor, the album comes with a tale or two of woe and disruption (more line-up changes and Jeff Tweedy's spell in rehab), but overall this is far more downhome stuff - witty and lighter on its feet.

While certain tracks on YHF only revealed their glories in the quiet moments where small sounds shifted and unravelled in front of your ears, Ghost attempts to give you a more focussed audio verite. This could explain why, on the two tracks that extend beyond the five minute mark, they really stretch out, for nigh on quarter of an hour each. It's as though Tweedy and pals have shifted their faith from craftsmanship to the power of repetition. ''Spiders'' can't help but remind you of the motorik experimentation of Neu! crossed with the freeform guitar of Tom Verlaine.

In fact it's guitars that are the album's touchstone. Tweedy, describing his style herein as: 'inspired amateurism' is being typically modest. His Neil Young-like tone and frenzied fretboard manglings make the perfect subversive backdrop to the traditional song formats the band work within. One can only guess at how good this will sound when combined with new member Nels Cline's even further-out extemporisations.

The band never forget their Americana roots, however. A song like ''Muzzle Of Bees'' can still remind one of wide open spaces (but still undercut with brooding electric menace) and, when it comes to tracks like ''Hummingbird'' and ''Company In My Back'', there's no denying that Tweedy still has an almost Beatlesque eye for a tune.

Overall this isn't really a step on from YHF; more of a step back and to the side as the band (and producer Jim O'Rourke) try to capture their live sound in a studio setting. Yet lest this be seen as being a bad thing, remind yourself of how good they were back in the days of Being There. Tweedy and co. are just doing what comes naturally, in a natural way again. Long may they continue... --Chris Jones

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can appreciate that people may feel disappointed with this album. It takes a different approach to previous albums, gone are the samples and electronica of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, replaced instead with layers of echoing guitar distortion. This is not entirely uncharted territory for Wilco reminiscent of songs like Being There's Misunderstood or Summerteeth's via Chicago. It may be difficult the first time through but after three weeks listening I now love the dirge of Less Than You Think and the disco/prog rock love child Spiders as much as the melodic folk of Hummingbird or classic rocker The Late Greats. If you are looking to buy your first Wilco record this would not be the place to start: you would be far better off buying 2001's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. However, if you are already a convert or a fan of Jim O'Rouke's work you will find this a very rewarding album. I'd even go as far as saying it is my favourite album of 2004 so far.

Another reason to buy this album not mentioned in the other reviews is that if you have an internet connection stick it in your CD-ROM drive to listen to a complete streaming concert recorded live at the Vic Theatre, Chicago. The set list is:

via Chicago
The Late Greats
Company in My Back
Hummingbird
Radio Cure
At Least That's What You Said
Hell Is Chrome
I am trying to break your heart
Kamera
Handshake Drugs
Wishful Thinking
Shot in the arm
War on war
Muzzle of Bees
Jesus, etc.
Poor places
Spiders
I'm the man who loves you
I'm a wheel
Kicking television (previously unreleased song)
Heavy metal drummer
California Stars
Passenger Side
The lonely 1
Misunderstood

If like me you have trouble playing this concert, download the newest version of Quicktime from apple.com.

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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Lifting the spirits! 23 Jun 2004
Format:Audio CD
I was turned on to Wilco when a review described 1999's Summer Teeth as a 'bar room Sergeant Pepper'. A big shiny record, taking the passion of Elvis Costello and the Byrds jangle to another place. Better still, 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, whose story is brilliantly told on 'I am trying to make a film' (DVD), where producer Jim O'Rourke replaces the previous sheen with interference, unsettling arrangements and heart-breaking honesty, culminating in what was up till then, the best music Tweedy & co had put out.

YHF raised my expectations to impossible levels, but 'A ghost is born' takes us to a new place where the influence of O'Rourke is present, but takes second place to a more organic, engaging sound where musical conventions are stripped down and re-worked with warmth, passion and some good humour. Spiders (Kidsmoke) is ten minuteslong, but you're disappointed when it finishes. Muzzle of Bees is otherworldy, but engaging and melodic. 'I'm a wheel' recalls Heavy Metal Drummer from YHF and 'the late greats' mixes Neil Young & Crazy Horse's 'Home grown' with Tweedy's experimental vision. You would even forgive them for the 12 minutes of drone contained within 'Less than you think' such is the power of this record.

It's many years since I listened to a record for the first time and knew I'd got a hold of a classic. 'A ghost is born' lifts the spirits and should be used by all right thinking parents to turn their kids on to something genuinely inspiring. Five stars, no question, probably one of the best ten records I've ever heard.

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Despite what the other reviewer has said, Wilco can hardly be accused of ripping off their fans. This new 2cd version of the album has 5 extra tracks, but as anyone who knows this band can tell you, the band has offered a lot of downloads from their website, so Wilco are clearly not to be lumped in with other acts who do rip off fans!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not one of their best
I recently listened to this album again, wondering why it had lain languishing in my CD rack for so long unplayed. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Progressive Panda
Toughest Wilco album to get into......
This album was my first taste of Wilco, after buying this along with the lastest (Wilco the album). I am slowly (very slowly) coming round to it now after 6 weeks. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. Jonathan Robin Oxley
Utterly dreadful!
What can one say? Some Wilco CDs are great. This is not one of them. I guess all artists need to get things out of their system sometimes - I hope that having done so, Wilco can... Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2009 by Sigrid
over and out
Ok context first. I came to the band via Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt. I expected something different as Farrar and Tweedy would presumably still be together, but I was still hopeful of... Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2009 by Gizmophobic
Fantastic Pure & Simple
Most bands would struggle to beat an album like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot but Wilco potentially go one better here.

Simple musical bliss!
Published on 14 Mar 2009 by Mr. Al Price
A Four Star Classic
Following up the truly magnificent `Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' was never going to be easy, but with `A Ghost Is Born' Wilco has managed to produce a record of equal impact if not of... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2008 by D. Newton
A Four Star Classic
Following up the truly magnificent `Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' was never going to be easy, but with `A Ghost Is Born' Wilco has managed to produce a record of equal impact if not of... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2008 by D. Newton
Ghost in the machine (8/10)
All the acrimony surrounding the release of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, in which Wilco left Warner/Reprise to resist attempts to make the record more commericially viable, seems bizarre... Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2008 by Demob Happy
krautrock americana
This album shows how well Wilco mix melody and tunefulness witha more experimental side. 'At least that's what you said' has got to be one of the best opening tracks of all time,... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2008 by T. Ackerman
A real 'Grower'
The follow up to `Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' was always going to have a hard time of it and, unsurprisingly, this record has come in for a lot of stick for not being YHF. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2007 by M. J. Lowe
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