[TR24][OF] Wilco - a ghost is born (Official Digital Download) - 2004/2014 (Rock)

MUSICIANS
Jeff Tweedy, vocals (1-12), electric guitar (1, 6, 9, 10), electric lead guitar (2, 3), acoustic baritone 12-string guitar (4, 7), acoustic guitar (6-8, 10, 12), 6-string acoustic bass (11), loops, filters, synths (11)
John Stirratt, bass (1, 3, 6-10, 12), electric guitar (2), background vocals (2, 3 4 5 6), piano (4), electric rhythm guitar (5), acoustic guitar (11), loops, filters, synths (11)
Leroy Bach, piano (1, 6, 8, 12), Korg CX-3 organ (2, 8), bass (4), vibes (7), electric guitar (9), acoustic guitar (10, 11), loops, filters, synths (11)
Glenn Kotche, drums (1-12), hammer dulcimer (8, 11,12), percussion (8), loops, filters, synths (11)
Mikael Jorgensen, synthesizer (1), piano (2-5, 7, 10, 12), RMI Rocksichord (3, 6), Farfisa organ (4, 7, 12), Fenix modular synthesizer (8), stylophone (8), Serge modular synthesizer (11)
Jim O’Rourke, piano (1, 3, 4, 10), bass (2, 5), electric rhythm guitar (3, 6), ARP 2600 (3), acoustic guitar (4, 8), electric lead guitar (5), Korg CX-3 organ (7), loops, filters, synths (11), electric guitar (11) with Frankie Montuoro, hammer dulcimer (5)
Karen Waltuch, viola (5)
Tim Barnes, percussion (6)

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Wilco and Jim O’Rourke
Recorded at Sear Sound, NYC
Engineered by Chris Shaw
Mixed by Jim O’Rourke
Assistant Engineer: T. J. Doherty
Additional Engineering: Jim O’Rourke
Track 8-11 (non-drone section) recorded at SOMA E.M.S., Chicago, engineered by Mikael Jorgensen (Tim Iseler, assistant), with additional recording at Sear Sound, engineered by Jim O’Rourke
Mixed at Sear Sound by Jim O’Rourke
Mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road, London

All songs written by Jeff Tweedy, except tracks 2 also by Jorgensen, 7 also by Kotche, 10 also by Jorgensen/Girard, 11 also by Stirratt/Kotche/Jorgensen/Bach/O’Rourke

A ghost is born is the highly anticipated follow-up to the Chicago band’s 2002 recording,Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The new music, recorded at Sear Sound in New York City and Soma E.M.S. in Chicago, features twelve new tracks by Jeff Tweedy and company. It again features the production collaboration of Wilco and Sonic Youth’s Jim O’Rourke.

A ghost is born merges traditional rock elements of guitars, drums and keyboards with the band’s signature sonic experimentation, resulting in a record that is arguably the band’s most organic and live sounding effort to date. Much of …ghost was tracked live in the studio with co-producer O’Rourke and engineer Chris Shaw (Bob Dylan). It was mastered at London’s Abbey Road.

With „A Ghost Is Born“, Wilco continues in the melancholy and experimental direction of the preceding „Yankee Hotel Foxtrot“. Those intrigued, if not downright fascinated, by Wilco's transformation from a no-frills alt-country group to an unpredictably inventive avant pop ensemble will find plenty to marvel at on this fifth outing. 'At Least That's What You Said' begins the album quietly with Jeff Tweedy's ragged voice singing softly over a gentle piano line, but the song soon gives way to gloriously tattered guitar soloing and full-band backing. 'Hell Is Chrome' follows with Tweedy taking on a surprisingly plaintive vocal tone that hearkens back to 1970s soul ballads, while the nearly 11-minute 'Spiders (Kidsmoke)' glides along on Krautrock-like keyboards and features more fierce guitar work.

This isn't to say that Wilco has abandoned its sense of melody and pop songcraft, it's just that the group has found new ways to express these aspects of its sound. „A Ghost Is Born“ continues Wilco's remarkable streak of innovative albums and upholds their reputation as one of America's most adventurous rock bands.

Wilco is Jeff Tweedy (vocals, guitars), John Stirratt (bass, vocals), Glenn Kotche (drums, percussion), and Mike Jorgensen (keyboards, laptop). Multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach left Wilco at the completion of the …ghost recording sessions and the band has just announced the addition of two new members to its touring line-up: Pat Sansone (John Stirratt’s collaborator in The Autumn Defense) on keyboards, guitars and vocals and Nels Cline on guitars.