I disagree with the argument that asserts or claims that Via Chicago is hopelessly optimistic. When in fact, the entire album is at the opposite end of the charged spectrum.
Our hero loves his significant other so much that even after their seperation, he cares so much that he could and would live through the death of this significant other. He doesn't even mind the significant other's blood raining over him. He doesn't mind watching his lover die: that says a lot about the amount of love he had for this significant other. And the other euphemisms spliced onto dark pop just makes this more interesting, and perhaps the centerpiece of Summer Teeth. "And a cracked door moon says I haven't gone too far" just goes on to explain that he won't be satisfied after burying him/her (most likely her) in a fireworks display. In fact, he's even apathetic to the falsely accussed.
And as you listen to this song, you hear a guitar weeping and wailing through the saddest days of Summer Teeth.
Via Chicago works in a similar way with Radiohead's Fake Plastic Trees. Both of these songs address something extremely depressing but tackle it with an anthemic response. In other words, the songs answer comes from the fact that these songwriters are sharing their experiences with others, learning and finding out about each other and realizing that they're not the only ones in this type of situation. And that all of them are still... "search for a home" no matter which city you prefer to reside.
So perhaps, one could argue that Wilco plays Via Chicago in such a depressing tune in order to send an optimistic message.
@augurus I thought it might be about a significant other as well (which I kinda liked). But the more I listen, the more I'm convinced that it's about killing the ego. The creative process requires empathy. The more you kill your ego, the more your art connects with people. In the song, home represents that place of no ego, just connection. I think that's why he mentions him "watching a man like him run down a busy street." That's The "I" he's trying to separate himself from.
@augurus I thought it might be about a significant other as well (which I kinda liked). But the more I listen, the more I'm convinced that it's about killing the ego. The creative process requires empathy. The more you kill your ego, the more your art connects with people. In the song, home represents that place of no ego, just connection. I think that's why he mentions him "watching a man like him run down a busy street." That's The "I" he's trying to separate himself from.
I disagree with the argument that asserts or claims that Via Chicago is hopelessly optimistic. When in fact, the entire album is at the opposite end of the charged spectrum.
Our hero loves his significant other so much that even after their seperation, he cares so much that he could and would live through the death of this significant other. He doesn't even mind the significant other's blood raining over him. He doesn't mind watching his lover die: that says a lot about the amount of love he had for this significant other. And the other euphemisms spliced onto dark pop just makes this more interesting, and perhaps the centerpiece of Summer Teeth. "And a cracked door moon says I haven't gone too far" just goes on to explain that he won't be satisfied after burying him/her (most likely her) in a fireworks display. In fact, he's even apathetic to the falsely accussed.
And as you listen to this song, you hear a guitar weeping and wailing through the saddest days of Summer Teeth.
Via Chicago works in a similar way with Radiohead's Fake Plastic Trees. Both of these songs address something extremely depressing but tackle it with an anthemic response. In other words, the songs answer comes from the fact that these songwriters are sharing their experiences with others, learning and finding out about each other and realizing that they're not the only ones in this type of situation. And that all of them are still... "search for a home" no matter which city you prefer to reside.
So perhaps, one could argue that Wilco plays Via Chicago in such a depressing tune in order to send an optimistic message.
@augurus I thought it might be about a significant other as well (which I kinda liked). But the more I listen, the more I'm convinced that it's about killing the ego. The creative process requires empathy. The more you kill your ego, the more your art connects with people. In the song, home represents that place of no ego, just connection. I think that's why he mentions him "watching a man like him run down a busy street." That's The "I" he's trying to separate himself from.
@augurus I thought it might be about a significant other as well (which I kinda liked). But the more I listen, the more I'm convinced that it's about killing the ego. The creative process requires empathy. The more you kill your ego, the more your art connects with people. In the song, home represents that place of no ego, just connection. I think that's why he mentions him "watching a man like him run down a busy street." That's The "I" he's trying to separate himself from.