A Magazine Called Sunset

This is a very pretty song, especially at the beginning - I'm surprised no one's commented yet.

I haven't actually dissected it for all its worth, but I must say, the first stanza alone kills me. I've interpreted it as Jeff strongly associating these objects with somebody he once loved, and on looking at them, he's instantly reminded of his past feelings.

Other related lines are Oh I'm a future fallout standing / In the present erase our phantom - very clever wordplay here - by 'fallout' I suspect he means literally falling out of love, which he hopes to achieve in the near future, though he currently remains haunted by the phantom of his past relationship.

Admittedly, I don't exactly get the second and third stanzas, so I might be wrong. All the same, I have trouble listening to this song, because I'll start thinking about my ex-girlfriend.

It's curious to see Tweedy's use of otherworldly imagery. In this song, he wants to "erase our phantom". In 'War on War', he admits that whoever he's talking to could "be my demon". And then he ends up as a "cherry ghost" in 'Theologians'. There are other examples that I can't remember at the moment.

I first heard this song while watching the (brilliant) documentary "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart." During this song, the director shows a series of scenes between Jeff Tweedy and his children. I can't help but think that his kids are one of his many "inspirations" after seeing that.

I always thought it was about writing the "perfect" song. just a magazine and a tape machine he calls it a riddle an inspiration that will lead him to a new sensation a little guy he can call his own

wellllll i don't have a lot to contribute buttt i do live in the Northwest and the magazine he's talking about is a magazine that talks about all these really cool/secretive places in the Northwest to visit.

so maybe that has something to do with the maps across the pillow line

maybe he's getting a little adventerous with a lover? idk

I most (if not all) of his songs are about Sue.

I think that "Me ever forget this impossible longing for you" is about Jeff being on the road and away from Sue (his wife).

*I think that (if not all) etc.

I also associate this song with the process of songwriting and writing in general. Especially the line "I'll stay in the riddle and watch your books cave in" indicates every serious artist's struggle to decipher a little piece of the enigma called being human, the books can't help him (cave in), he has to stay in the riddle and fit the pieces together himself. Luckily he's got a map out of his maze namely his muse. "Oh I'm a future fallout standing In the present erase our phantom" signifies for me the immortality of his work when his phantom (physical presence)'s long been erased.

"There's a magazine called Sunset And a tape machine that won't let Me ever forget this impossible longing for you", and this is a free interpretation, talks about the impossibility to ever completely connect with your lover intimately ("impossible" longing), the tape machine are demo's for songs he's recording and the magazine could possibly be a photo album or diary, two things that remind him of her.