Hints (acoustic demo)

Faustian Bargains + request for song and book suggestions

Chit-Chat Check-In #109 • Transcript

Hello, this is your Captain speaking. Today I’m sharing an early version of “Hints,” a song that ended up on Cruel Country. I wish it had lost some of its resonance by now, but it doesn’t seem to be heading that way anytime soon.

We haven’t done this in a while, but I would love to hear recommendations or ideas about songs I could cover. I like it when we all throw out ideas and I get to pick from them and learn a song, sometimes one that I’m not as familiar with. And how about some book recommendations in the comments as well? That seems like a good idea at this point in our nation’s history.

Currently, I’m reading a book about the history of the Faustian Bargain, Devil’s Contract. It’s a pretty old story, and maybe there’s some comfort in that, and how it usually ends up. Because, spoiler alert, it doesn’t go well.

OxO—Jeffy

If you’re unfamiliar, you owe it to yourself to look up medieval marital duels. Art credit: possibly Hans Talhoffer.

Me doing an impression of AI me. Credit: Crystal Myers.

This Week in Wilco, Etc.

2003 / January 27: Loose Fur’s eponymous album is released on Drag City.

2023 / January 31: Jeff shares a cover of “Venus” by Television on Starship Casual in honor of Tom Verlaine’s passing.

2020 / January 31: Daniel Johnston’s album Chicago 2017 is released on dBpm. It features new recordings from Johnston’s 2017 US tour with Jeff Tweedy, Liam Kazar, James Elkington, Spencer Tweedy, and Darin Gray. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the album benefit the Hi, How Are You Project to promote open dialogue around mental health.

Hints (acoustic demo)