Wilco Handshake Drugs, Nels Cline solo

[funkyfreshguitar]

If people were to actually consider the meaning of the song, this kind of eccentric soloing might appear to be more appropriate.

[chevyimpala1936]

another stupide guitarist in this world...!!!! pfff

[chopperdave13]

The only person more intense on his guitar is Jonny Greenwood

[emuellerx]

That kicked so much ass.

[NocaMom]

i <3 nels! i saw them at newport and at the orpheum in boston

[smoss469]

He plays like Michael J Fox, that isn't intended as a mean spirited comment.. I just don't know of anyone else who plays with so much shaking. Reminds me of a drug addict going through withdraws.

[johnnyguitar2111]

there must be somthing here that im missing .. but of corurse im from the 60's and back then good or bad things were heard very clear

[sycamoreok]

WHOAH! hell yeah!!!!!!

[sbelville]

I like his precise noodling between the panic attacks! (Disclaimer: I have no clue what I am talking about. I am only a bass player....tongue in cheek)

[ArthurEricBlair]

Guitars having panic attacks,

i like the sound of that.

[phillipislbj]

3:08 I think his guitar actually started smoking ;-)

[ridgley8]

lame! solo? what solo? Wilco shitco....

[danaudio13]

I've never seen a statue of a music critic... Most musicians I know and have played with appreciate the group consciousness Wilco have achieved. Here's an innovative way to critique music: Learn an instrument, Play for 20 years, Write 200 songs, Release 10 albums, Tour the globe, and develop the humility that grows from the energy your music feeds to millions of fans. Then you may be lucky enough to be mentioned in the same sentence as those who have come before you. Peace

[GrowTheCaine]

@danaudio13 agreed

[icewater707]

tweedy = great.....cline = great......two greats dont make a bad they make amazing excellent and badass......cline straight up rocks in this band....if he didnt tweedy wouldve kicked him out already....wilco rocks...their live shows beat anyones

[Soul74]

Here's what I think it comes down to: A bunch of indie rock hipster snobs are clinging to their beloved Wilco of the past like its a security blanket. Tweedy brings in a "muso" who sometimes expresses himself through "technical" guitar playing and now they are all acting like a bunch of poncy hair-dressers. Tweedy was asked if he was "pro guitar solo" and he replied he was "pro music.' I think they got the right player for the job.

[luckyblonde87]

you have to be kidding!!! oh man!!! Nels brings so much to Wilco! I have never felt like he was trying to prove anything, so much as he is passionate about what he does. But hey! We all have different opinions. It's good to see anyone so passionate about music and he's got to have killer endurance in his right arm muscles! Dang! Love love love it~~~~

[khalithistle]

i have to side with the people who dislike nels' contribution to wilco. i love his non-wilco records (esp. interstellar space revisited) but he's never seemed less than awkward when in wilco to me. i agree entirely with whoever said he plays like he's desperately trying to prove something and needs to settle down. some of his stuff is okay (the impossible solo video from this same show is cool) but stuff like this is just plain bad. lazy, aimless sub-neil young stoner shit

[lexo30]

I have to disagree with "lazy, aimless sub-neil young stoner shit": I think he gives them a good boot up the arse, which this particular band sometimes needs.

[Azwethinkweiz667]

lolwut

[MrElationRx]

What the hell just happend? I'd say if it was possible to rape a guitar nels just did it.. Wilco=the shit for life

[OvermanVideo]

A strange and beautiful creature.

[retrodrumhippie]

i just want to add that i have no idea what you're talking about , no "emotional story". nels cline plays so tastefully and with so much emotion. maybe you just need to listen closer because it's definitely there in everything he plays

[fireeyedb0y]

See my remarks above

[Ian3985]

I guess all the shitheads who are replying to nels work don't actually realize that Jeff himself did every bit of guitar work on "A Ghost is Born" note for note, with minimal effects and immense studio production. As he said "the guitar mimics my panic attacks" Now, rather than tough it out making ever sound as a five piece, Tweedy added Cline, filling out the necessary noise that tastefully earmarks each song. Not even close to a solo, as much as it is a fucking sonic masterpiece.

[retrodrumhippie]

first of all nels cline understands melodic dissonance like no other. not to mention he understands the concept of musical space and understands where he fits into that space and how to contribute to a song. secondly since when WASN'T Wilco "rough and sloppy". i've been listening to wilco since day one and they've always had that edge which was paired with beautiful melodies. that's what makes wilco wilco. oh well. different strokes i guess

[fireeyedb0y]

Alright, I agree with the part about the their melodies having had an edge in the past. But where's the melancholy that Jeff usualy embeds in his compositions? Nels Cline and melancholy: not seen any of it. What I've seen of Nels in Wilco is nothing but technical play, or at least not conveying emotions in the scale i'm referring to.

[guitargeorge007]

I'm not sure about that one...Nels' solo on ashes of american flags off of kicking television is one of the more emotive solos i've heard recently.

[fireeyedb0y]

I really don't get why people are so hung up on Nels Cline. I have to agree with some other people here; in that Nels doesn't fit Wilco too well. Although I'm sure he's a technically gifted player, the emotions in his play don't match the intended emotions of some of Wilco's songs I think. It's far too rough and sloppy for what Wilco used to be all about I think. ALTWYS and MOBs for instance. Great cathartic solo's that tell an emotional story. But what story is Nels telling us here exactly?

[achn2b]

Since it's Tweedy who does the solo on ALTWS(with Nels echoing his part in places), perhaps you should re-think your entire assumption?

[fireeyedb0y]

I was actually trying to bring across that ALTWYS and MOBs were good examples of Jeff Tweedy's solo's. I can see why it reads as if I meant to say it was played by Nels in light of the context of the previous sentence. It's those darn maximum characters man! ;-)

[GreatWorkBoard]

Wilco is a great band, but Nels puts them on a whole new level. He doesn't hurt them only makes them better. Stop it.

[9406117]

You opinion is worthless. just so you know.

[fireeyedb0y]

@GreatWorkBoard:

New level? Sure. But not the level I was hoping for, unfortunately. But then again, I'm not too fond of the latest album as a whole anyway. And I definately can't put that all on Nels. Jeff?!! WTF?!! ;-)

@9406117:

Yes, and a very meaningfull and mature opinion you have there mate. I'll take it in to consideration. lol

[DrDoombot]

I think Nels is telling us a story about a dragon wearing diamond armor that fights a giant phoenix and about how their tears the universe in half. Nels' solos add an amazing rough and edgy contrast to Wilco's sweeter melodies. I'm sure Jeff Tweedy would agree with me.

[fireeyedb0y]

Ughhh... I think you just proved my point with this; What in the world would this dragon wearing diamond BS have to do with the melancholy that is usualy manifested in Jeff's arrangements?

[Noseheros]

@fireeyedb0y I think they wanted something different when they hired him, I think he accents their style to make it much more interesting and generally better

[runawayuniverse]

I've been a huge Nels fan for years and have heard a Wilco song or two over the years but never really gave them a good listen until Nels joined the band. Now after checking out their back catalog, I've been kicking myself for never really giving them a chance.

Great tunes .. and Nels > everyone else

[thesuikerlounge]

it's the quizkid - donnie smith... he lost his glasses and is a rockstar! give it up for donnie ;-)

[rorshakks]

nels is great but I've always disliked Wilco

even Tweedy's name is annoying

[lordmeowmeow]

wow

[wilcoast]

I love what nels adds to wilco, but anyone questioning his skill should check out all of the jazz work he's done with the nels cline singers.

[clapton61]

All i have to say, is you are oh so wrong. Nels Cline is one of the best guitarists i've ever heard. I'd like to see you write the impossible germany solo. He's extremely fluent, and hes one of the best guitarists I've ever heard. He was like, in a huge magazine for the best jazz guitarist. He's unbelievable

[duskclan]

he is my fucking cousin and I get back stage passes to his concerts

[Heinekren]

That's awesome. Does the whole family look great in red pants, or is it just Nels?

[Heinekren]

There is no doubt in my mind. This guy is the greatest living guitarist.

[dm1147]

i hope your kidding

[Heinekren]

I hope you're going to school. Learn to spell please.

[korman7]

jay bennett is a fucking weiner ass name. plus he is absolutly terrible. you my not so friend are an aboslute fuckmouth

[dm1147]

nels is good, he has great fingers and good feel. i just feel like he is trying to hard to prove something. he makes it look a lot more complex than it is. take it easy buddy

[jackflank]

Very overrated guitarist. Jay Bennet was so much better. This guy never plays fluidly.He studers like he cant think of what to play. His technique is embarrasing. George Benson must be laughing his butt off.

[dm1147]

completely agree, i think any real wilco fan (or guitarist) would

[SonuvaNietzsche]

Well, what about Jeff Tweedy? The man *is* Wilco and he's the one who brought in Cline. From your comments I'm assuming that you both play guitar... perhaps one of you could post a video of you demonstrating your skill, then I could forward it to Tweedy and you can replace Cline!

[dm1147]

Haha, well im not quite there, but i can still criticize; he's just kinda sloppy, and not very technical. It does take a guitar player to kind of understand. What he did there nice nor is it art. Most guitarists can make noise like that. He isn't creative, he's repetitive; and kind of a spaz.

[SonuvaNietzsche]

Well I *am* a guitarist so, yeah, I kind of understand. As such I have to disagree with pretty much everything you've said, especially the notion that he isn't creative. Plus he's one of the most technically fluid guitarists I've ever seen. Isn't it funny, on that note, that one fellow below saw Wilco and thought Nels was too precise and exact? And why exactly are you checking out videos of him in the first place if you aren't a fan?

[dm1147]

I'm a huge wilco fan have been for years. i just don't think he fits in with them that much. Im not used to the change

[magic231]

dude I'm guitarist and his guitar solos and work in general are by far the most inspiring and original. nebody can just pull out a solo, but to make it your own and doing it every concert is technique and skill far beyond your mindset

[FertoCambel333]

This is a road song,to be listened when you're driving to your destiny in your blue cadillac!!!Definitely a great song!!!

[amishtycoon]

Both Nels Cline and Jeff Tweedy understand and offer us chaos and dissonance that is resolved with soft beauty that is rarely found in this genre of music. Even though they have completely different influences and sound, it remind of me Radiohead and the atmosphere that Johny Greenwood offers.

[Heinekren]

Radiohead and Wilco are the twin giants of contemporary rock.

[wilcoast]

They're definitely the two bands that will still sound new decades from now. Their music will be listed by so many good future music acts as having influenced been the main influences.

[warrenmusic]

agreed

[sinluna]

nels did an excellent job here! some of you just feel the need to be critical...

[walkinjingle]

Handshake Drugs is one of my favorite Wilco songs and this is a great version. The sound on this video and image aren't perfect, but it's a great image nonetheless.

It's a pleasure to see Nels Cline up close doing his thing. He hears shit that not all of us hear.

[raudi77]

Nels really killed on SBS but I can't say that this works for me in the context of Handshake Drugs. :-/

[pinholedstars]

when I saw Wilco in 2006, I thought that Tweedy's playing put him to shame... maybe an off night for Nels, but Tweedy played with way more feel and force--Nels was too exact and precise sounding...

[Soul74]

Oh no, someone who practiced their instrument. I guess they're not cool enough for you.

[pinholedstars]

Wish he had practiced some restraint.

[jaren80]

I've never seen this song without Nels, so I can't comment on how it would have been better, except from the CD...

Either way, both times they played this I noticed tears streaming down my face. I love this song, then Nels tears me up with his solo. I can't help it. It just blows right through me.

[djsosharp]

There are a couple songs where I think his additions are not improvements, but this isn't one of those. I think this is one of their best songs ever and he made it 10x better.

[jessejames1616]

holy shiot

[FATALerror666]

+1 XD

[blurpleheadache]

a keith richards version of josh homme. hey! if u still got it, use it baby. as if the keyboardist is playing to a different song.

[Spiritualized1]

nels sounds good on Sky Blue Sky, but he killed this song. hey nels, next time you are on google, i urge you to try the following search - define:subtle

[mattklt]

Um, most of the guitar solos off of A Ghost Is Born are meant to hit you with an extreme force, as Nels does here.

[Andrewjn15]

hahaha looks like he's having a seizure