A Narration of Melancholic Elation

“Never mind the rain, remember them boys in Spain.” - slogan

Were they bored, sympathetic, or what?

In 1937, one thousand New Yorkers joined thirty-five thousand other volunteers, creating the International Brigade that would help the Spanish Republican Army fight against the Francoists (Nationalists). Though defeated, their legacy is now on display at the Museum of the City of New York until August 12th. The multmedia, memorabilia, and information provided by this exhibit is quite interesting on many levels, but especially because it helps shed light on why Spain mattered to New York.
Many socialists and members of the left-wing intelligentsia around the world felt the plight that the Spaniards were undergoing. They knew of the danger that Mussolini and Hitler presented to Europe and didn’t want that virus of fascism to spread through to Spain as well.

Also exhibited during this spring art season is “Barcelona and Modernity: Gaudí to Dalí,” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This awesome 300 piece showcase presents a transitioning city between 1880-1939, moving from a provincial Catalonian capital to an European artistic haven of the avante-garde. The amount of art produced in Barcelone during this fifty year period is astounding and the names of the artists is truly intimidating: Antoni Gaudi, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, and Salvador Dali.

I never knew Gaudi was such a multi-faceted artisan:

Or that Picasso produced so much fantastic work during his “Blue Period.”

If you are in New York City during the remaining tenure of these exhibits and you are a lover of Spanish history and art, just stroll up Fifth Avenue. Or for a closer look, let’s head to Catalunya and get some cafe con leche at Els Quatre Gats!

Wilco’s forthcoming album, Sky Blue Sky, is set for release May 15th, but was leaked about a month ago via the internet. I first heard a couple tracks on NPR’s All Songs Considered and immediately became excited.

Wilco’s mystique, complexity, and craftsmanship make them a band that I love to keep rediscovering. My appreciation for their songs and records has been growing for years now. As I recently watched a 2005 recording of their performance at Austin City Limits, I was blown away by the electricity they exude onstage. Jeff Tweedy is the heart of the group, but every member adds so much sonic depth and instrumental expertise that I found myself in awe of their live spectacle. Nels Cline was added to the group in 2004 and his avant-garde style & presence on both 04’s A Ghost is Born and 2007’s Sky Blue Sky is a true gift for this ever-expanding group.

Deemed as the “American Radiohead” by some, the comparison is worthy and continues to ring true on the latest.

Every Wilco record is crafted with such meticulous precision and is quite different from the predecessor. Wilco’s musical evolution is complicated to understand and controversial to fans, as their genre labeling is convoluted - Alternative Country, Folk, Experimental, Psychadelic, Indie-Rock. It’s all needless branding since Wilco doesn’t come neatly packaged.

I will continue to quote the words of my friend Gabe McNatt - “Wilco is the music we are going to play for our kids.” I like that label.

The only static entity for this progressive group is Jeff Tweedy’s lyrical gift and voice. Just when you think his voice has gotten more mellow and medicated, the emotion picks up like on the fifth track, “Side with Seeds”. Even when the guitars flare and distortion frolicks, Tweedy is the fulcrum that keeps the tracks tight and pretty.

Though Wilco is not as daring and experimental this time around, I would say that this is a dare in itself. It seems that after years of toying with varying sounds, they found themselves, while still making an entirely different album. I do think they are one of the greatest bands around today and an essential brick in the structure of American popular music today.

More on Wilco’s latest masterpiece to come…