Jeff Tweedy Sings It

Stare at your stereo, Put on your headphones before you explode... Wilco - Wilco (The Song)

2014 continues to be a great year for music and I am very excited for Jeff Tweedy's first solo album due September 16 entitled Sukierae.  Here is a tune from that forthcoming album to wet your whistle...

Jeff Tweedy - I'll Sing It     

2013: Concert of the Year

It's the end of the century and I can't think of anything but you, all, all, I, need,  I got you,  I got you, babe... Wilco - I Got You (At the End of the Century)

The concert of the year was the Americanarama Tour at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.  I got to see Wilco & Richard Thompson for the first time, as well as My Morning Jacket for the second time and Bob Dylan for the sixth time.

The high point was Wilco; they played songs from throughout their career from I Got You (At the End of the Century), Hummingbird to It Dawned On Me.  Richard Thompson joined Jeff Tweedy and company for the Fairpoint Convention Song Sloth and Wilco's great California Stars.  They joined My Morning Jacket on their set to play George Harrison's Isn't It a Pity. 

My Morning Jacket's set was high octane with the crescendo of Wordless Chorus, Victory Dance and Gideon.  Front man, Jim James was very animated and entertaining.

Bob Dylan closed the night with a typical Dylan show, highlighted by Charlie Sexton's great guitar work.  Enigmatic as ever.

Wilco Channels the Ghost of Neil Young

I thought it was cute for you to kiss my purple black eye... Wilco - At Least That's What You Said

After Wilco received widespread acclaim for 2002's groundbreaking Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the band followed it up in 2004 with the very underrated A Ghost is Born.  More eclectic and experimental than it's predecessor, but similar in musical approach, the album ranks with their best and earning them the 2005 Grammy for Best Alternative Rock Album.

The opening track, At Least That's What You Said, is a powerfully emotional song.  It appears to be about a couple struggling to save their relationship.  It starts with almost a whisper as Jeff Tweedy sings "When I sat down on the bed next to you, you started to cry".  After the first verse, the Neil Youngish guitar solo kicks in and the song just explodes.




Wilco is on tour right now playing with My Morning Jacket and Bob Dylan in the Americanarama Festival Tour.  They are playing at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH this weekend.

Got Toons If You Want Them

I can’t help it if I fall in love with you again, I’m calling just to let you know it dawned on me... Wilco - Dawned On Me

I saw this Wilco video on Youtube and it reminded me that their are some great connections between rock music and cartoons.  Starting with The Beatles Cartoon through some great toon guests on The Simpsons.

The Corners Best of 2011

I can't help it if I fall in love with you again, I'm calling just to let you know it dawned on me... (Wilco - Dawned On Me)

2011 was a great year for me personally and another fine year in terms of music. As usual, there was music that seemed to come from nowhere: The Decemberists, The High Dials, R.E.M. (sounded a bit like earlier R.E.M.); music from old reliables: Wilco and John Hiatt. I saw some great shows this year: John Prine, Steve Earle, My Morning Jacket, The Avett Brothers and much to my surprise Paul McCartney.

Sadly we lost some artists including the great Clarence Clemons. Bruce Springsteen is planning to release new music and tour in 2012, but it is hard to imagine E Street without the Big Man. The White Stripes and R.E.M. annouced their breakups from their web pages. Music will continue in 2012, but let's look back.

Top 10 CDS of 2011

1. The Decemberists - The King is Dead - The music is classic "folk rock" with a twist of R.E.M. Peter Buck plays on several songs and you can hear the R.E.M. influence.. Highlights include Down By the Water, The Calamity Song, Rox in the Box and This Is Why We Fight. The lyrics are interesting and the CD is solid throughout.

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2. Wilco - The Whole Love - Another outstanding outting from Chicago's best. Jeff Tweedy and company seem more confident and the CD is more even than recent releases Highlights include Dawned On Me, Born Alone, Capitol City, Standing O and The Art of Almost.

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3. R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now - R.E.M.'s comeback album was short live whent the band annouced thier breakup later in the year. This release hearkens back to earlier R.E.M. Highlights include Mine Smell Like Honey, It Happened Today, Uberlin and Oh My Heart.

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4. My Morning Jacket - Circuital - I must admit that after 2008's CD of the year Evil Urges, I was a bit disappointed with Circuital. It's not that it is not a fine record, my expectations were probably too high. Circuital contains several really good songs including Victory Dance, First Light, Circuital and Outta My System.

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5. The High Dials - Anthems For Doomed Youth -Music like this is a breath of fresh air. They don't make music like this anymore or do they? The High Dials play homage to the 60's or 70's but manage to still sound fresh. Plenty of highlights abound, but Teenage Love Made Me Insane, I'm Over You (I Hope It's True), Uruguay and Snowed In should be heard.

6. John Hiatt - Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns
7. Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of this World Alive

8. Old 97's - The Grand Theatre, Vol. 2
9. The Jayhawks - Mockingbird Time
10. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

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Top 10 Songs of 2011

1. The Decemberists - Down By the Water
2. The Decemberists - The Calamity Song
3. Wilco - Dawned On Me
4. R.E.M. - Mine Smell Like Honey
5. The High Dials - Teenage Love Made Me Insane
6. The Decemberists - This is Why We Fight
7. R.E.M. - It Happened Today
8. My Morning Jacket - First Light
9. The Decemberists - Rox in the Box
10. Wilco - Born Alone

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Top Concert 2011

2011 was really a fantastic year in terms of concerts. I saw John Prine, My Morning Jacket, Steve Earle and The Avett Brothers. However, the best concert of the year was hands down (or hands up) Paul McCartney at The Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, OH. Paul was fantastic, sounded and looked great. He ran through classic song after classic, from The Beatles All My Lovin', Blackbird, Elanor Rigby to his great solo stuff from Band On the Run, Mrs. Vanderbilt and Jet. One of the best concerts that I have ever seen period.

Best of 2009

The songs in your head are now on my mind; You put me on pause, I'm trying to rewind and replay... (U2 - No Line on the Horizon)

2009 will go down as a very good year in music for me. There were some fantastic CDs released, some really top notched songs, and I saw several really good shows. Let's start with my top 10 CDs of the year:


1. U2 - No Line on the Horizon - U2 completed the trifecta with their 3rd great album of the 00's. The cd was loaded with classic U2 sounds like the title track, the terrific Unknown Caller, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Breathe, and some new twists: the soulful Moment of Surrender, the dance floor number Magnificent and the dreamy Fez-Being Born.


2. Wilco - Wilco (The Album) - Wilco continued in the vein of Sky Blue Sky and another outstanding batch of new songs; the great tune I'll Fight, the powerful One Wing, the paranoia meltdown of Bull Black Nova, the George Harrisonesque You Never Know to the fun lead off single Wilco (The Song).



3. Bruce Springsteen - Working On a Dream - Bruce and the gang recorded as was described as his White Album. Highlights include the Ennio Morricone influenced The Outlaw Pete, the River-like My Lucky Day, the Byrdsy Life Itself, the Beach Boysesque This Life, the inspiring title track and the sequal to Wild Billy's Circus Story and tribute to Danny The Last Carnival.


4. Rhett Miller - Rhett Miller - One of the suprise cds of the year was Rhett Miller's 3rd cd. After last year's Old 97's fine release of Blame It On Gravity, Rhett came back with another solid CD featuring: one of the best songs of the year Happy Bithday Don't Die, solid songs in Caroline, Like Love, If It's Not Love, the quieter Sometimes and Bonfire.


5. Brendan Benson - My Old Familiar Friend -Brendan Benson fresh off
duites with The Raconteurs recorded a fresh sounding pop CD: the should have been a hit single A Whole Lot Better, Misery, Eye on the Horizon, Garbage Day, Gonowhere with it's Wings era synthesiser, etc.

6. Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey - Now and Then
7. The Smithereens - The Smithereens Play Tommy
8. Steve Earle - Townes
9. Buddy & Julie Miller - Written In Chalk
10. John Fogerty - The Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again

My favorite songs of the year are as follows:

1. U2 - Unknown Caller
2. U2 - Fez Being Born
3. U2 - Magnificent
4. Rhett Miller - Happy Birthday Don't Die
5. Wilco - I'll Fight
6. Wilco - One Wing
7. Brendan Benson - A Whole Lot Better
8. Bruce Springsteen - Life Itself
9. U2 - No Line On the Horizon
10. U2 - Moment of Surrender
11. Brendan Benson - Misery
12. U2 - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
13. Wilco - Bull Black Nova
14. Bruce Springsteen - My Lucky Day
15. Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey - Santa Monica
16. Bruce Springsteen - The Last Carnival
17. Wilco - Wilco (The Song)
18. Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
19. Wilco - You Never Know
20. Buddy & Julie Miller - Memphis Jane

My favorite show of the year was the Kings of Leon in Rupp Arena, Lexinton, KY on 10/10/09.

Best of the 00's

The Corner's artist of the decade is Wilco. Jeff Tweedy and company began the year as the best alternative country band, but was showing hints of things to come. 1999's Summerteeth was full of those experimental sounds that Wilco would be come known for in the 00's. Wilco's releases in this decade include 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, 2004's A Ghost is Born, 2007's Sky Blue Sky and this year's Wilco (The Album). Wilco also was involved in releases like 2000's Mermaid Avenue II with Billy Bragg (included material that didn't make the first volume), Minus 5's 2003 Down With Wilco (Wilco played on the album), a live album 2005's Kicking Television and a couple of EPs. Jeff Tweedy played on the soundtrack to the film Chelsea Walls, on Loose Fur's 2003 Loose Fur and 2007 Born Again in the USA and also Golden Smog's 2007 Another Fine Day. Bassist John Stirratt along with his sister released the terrific Arabella under the name of Laurie and John.

Wilco began the decade with Jay Bennett (multi-instruments) and Leroy Bach (keyboards) along with the core group of Jeff Tweedy (guitar, singer), John Stirratt (bass) and Glen Kotche (drums). They finished the decade with Nels Cline (guitar), Pat Sansone (multi-instruments), Mikael Jorgenson (keyboards) along with the core group. Wilco's constant has always been Jeff Tweedy and John Stirratt. Jeff seems to encourage input from his current band to shape thier ever evolving sound.

1. Wilco - A Ghost is Born (2004)
2. Bruce Springsteen - The Rising (2002)
3. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldier (2006)
4. Wilco - Yankee Foxtrot Hotel (2002)
5. U2 - All That I Can't Leave Behind (2000)
6. U2 - No Line On The Horizon (2009)
7. Minus 5 - Down With Wilco (2003)
8. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (2007)
9. U2 - How To Dismantle An Automic Bomb (2004)
10. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges (2008)

Some other great releases include: Old 97s - Satelite Rides (2001), Bruce Springsteen - Live in New York City (2001), Alejandro Escovedo - A Man Under the Influence (2001), Coldplay - X&Y (2005), The Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (2005), The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music (2003), Wilco - Wilco (The Album) (2009), The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely (2008), The Jayhawks - Smile (2000), Ryan Adams - Gold (2001), Old Crow Medicine Show - Big Iron World (2006), Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day (2003), The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America (2007)

1. Wilco - Theologians (2004)
2. Ryan Adams - Nobody's Girl (2001)
3. Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel (2004)
4. My Morning Jacket - Dondante (2006)
5. U2 - Vertigo (2004)
6. Wilco - At Least That's What She Said (2004)
7. Bruce Springsteen - The Rising (2002)
8. U2 - Kite (2000)
9. Wilco - I Hate It (2007)
10. U2 - City of Blinding Lights (2004)

Other great songs include: Bruce Springsteen - Lonesome Day (2002), U2 - Fez Being Born(2009), The Raconteurs - Steady, As She Goes (2006), Wilco - I'm the Man Who Loves You (2002), The Raconteurs - Rich Kid Blues (2008), U2- Unknown Caller (2009), Wilco - Heavy Metal Drummer (2002), U2 - Magnificent (2009), Loretta Lynn - Portland Oregon (2004), U2 - Walk On (2000), Old 97s - King of All The World (2001)

My best concert of the decade was Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, The Rising Tour, Rupp Arena in Lexington Kentucky on 11/14/02. Part of the enjoyment of this show was the fact that I ended up in the pit right in front of the stage. At one point in the show, Clarence Clemons pointed to me and my friend.

The show was exciting and featured Streets of Fire which hadn't been played since the Darkness Tour in the 70's. The band also played another Darkness favorite Racing in the Streets. The encore was great and included Dancing in the Dark, Glory Days, Born to Run as well as others.

Best of the 00's: Sky Blue Sky

I try to stay busy I do the dishes, I mow the lawn; I try to keep myself occupied even though I know you’re not coming home... (Wilco - Hate It Here)

Wilco had a new line up for 2007's Sky Blue Sky. New band but same results: a terrific new cd. The new configuration featured guitar wiz Nels Cline, multi-insturmentalist Pat Sonsone, keyboardist Mikael Jorgenson, drummer (and fellow University of Kentucky alum) Glen Kotche and the heart of the band, lead singer/guitarist Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt. Sky Blue Sky was a bit more mellower, but this was very much the Wilco guitar album.

Case in point and the top evidence Impossible Germany. Wilco somehow balances this song with a 3 guitar attack.

The title track, Sky Blue Sky, paints a depressing picture of the singers home town: "The drunks were ricocheting; The old buildings downtown empty so long ago, windows broken and dreaming; So happy to leave what was my home"

One of the best tracks is the Big Star influenced Hate It Here: "I try to stay busy, I do the dishes, I mow the lawn; I try to keep myself occupied even though I know you’re not coming home"


Sky Blue Sky was on the top of my playlist all summer in 2007 and one of the best of the 00's.

Best of the 00's: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

I am an American aquarium drinker, I assassin down the avenue... (Wilco - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart)

2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was the cd that put Wilco on the map. You may know the story on how it was recorded and finished; the record company Reprise (a division of Warner Brothers) refused to release it, Wilco aquired the rights and left the label only to have it bought back by Nonesuch Records (another division of Warner Brothers). Jeff Tweedy and Jeff Bennett worked diligently on each song, writing, constructing and recording all the sounds and music only to be fed up with each other in the end; Bennett was then dismissed from the band.

YHF is experimental, loaded with sounds and clever songs. One of which is Jesus, etc. -"Tall buildings shake, Voices escape singing sad sad songs, Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks, bitter melodies turning your orbit around"

Another favorite of mine is Heavy Metal Drummer:

"All I can see is black and white and white and pink with blades of blue that lay between the words I think on a page I was meaning to send to you" from I'm the Man Who Loves You:
YHF includes some of Wilco's finest moments, along with previous mentioned songs Pot Kettle Black, War on War, Kamera and Reservations are fine songs. Wilco the band of the 00's with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot one of the best of the 00's.

Best of the 00's: Down With Wilco

They call me DJ Mini-Mart cause that's where I work... (Minus 5 - Retrieval of You)

My favorite artist of this 00's has been Wilco; along with recording their own exciting music Jeff Tweedy and company occasionally step out and play with other artists. That was the case when Wilco recorded with the Minus 5, Scott McCaughey's project band that features R.E.M.'s super guitarist Peter Buck and Ken Stringfellow of the Posies. The result of their recording sessions was the fantastic Down With Wilco.

Highlights from the cd are plenty, starting with Retrieval of You, the story of a failed music star and the famous girl that he lost - "Everybody knows I fell afoul of fame and you're to blame that I'm what's his name"; the beautiful pop sound of Where Will You Go; the haunting View From Below in which the husband slithers along the floor describing his wife's affair from below; the R.E.M.esque I'm Not Bitter; the fabulous Dear Employer (The Reason I Quit) whose lyrics are a notice to his boss that he is moving on - "Dear employer, I'd like to tell you it's been wonderful, for all these years, but now you know, I've got a new shoe and I'll be wearing it so far from here"; The Town That Lost It's Groove Supply is another winner;


Family Gardner is the lone Jeff Tweey vocal and the highlight of the cd.

I was down with Wilco alot in the 00's.

Best of the 00's: A Ghost is Born

I'm going away where you will look for me; Where I'm going you cannot come; No one's ever gonna take my life from me, I lay it down; A ghost is born... (Wilco - Theolgians)

Wilco followed up their 2002 break through cd Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with 2004’s solid A Ghost is Born. Ghost continued in the experimental direction that was started on Summerteeth and continued on YHF. Ghost is an amazing diverse collection of songs.

The cd opens with a great song, the jaw dropping At Least That’s What You Said; it starts softly, but then the Neil Young style guitar kicks in and the song becomes a powerful tune in the mode of Wilco's great tune Misunderstood.

Spiders (Kidsmoke) is built around a hypnotic rythym that seems to pull you into it's web as Jeff Tweedy tells you about spiders filling out their tax forms; Muzzle of Bees and Hummingbird are those brilliant melodic tunes that Jeff Tweedy writes in his sleep; "His goal is life was to be an echo" from Hummingbird.

Other great songs on the cd include Company in My Back, I'm a Wheel and Theologians; the later is maybe my favorite song of the last decade.

Wilco cds have been in heavy rotation in my players this decade. Ghost is probably my favorite Wilco cd since Being There.

Review: Wilco (The Album)

Tired of being exposed to the cold stare of your stereo? Put on your headphones before you explode; Oh Wilco, Wilco, Wilco will love you baby ... (Wilco - Wilco (The Song))

Wilco is an ever changing band musically. So when Wilco has new album you are not quiet sure what you are going to get and that is a good thing. The same band that brought us the 1996 amercian/alt-country classic Being There also brought us the 2002 alternative/ experimental Yankee Foxtrot Hotel and 2007's mellow guitar attack Sky Blue Sky. Althought part of the change has been a constant shuffle of band members, the constant and the diversity can be attributed to Wilco's gifted singer song writer Jeff Tweedy. As a songwriter Jeff has the gift of melody and is able to come up with hooks that grab you. As a band leader he goes with the strengths of his band; he relied heavily on the late Jay Bennet and Max Johnston early as he does with the current Wilco line up (which is a very tallented bunch).

The latest Wilco album is aptly titled Wilco (The Album). The album's sound is most similar to 2007's Sky Blue Sky. The songs are ballads, upbeat raveups, bouncy pop to rock and the band is solid as ever. Wilco's latest may not be a giant step in a new direction, but what it is, is another very solid set of songs to add to the Wilco legacy.

• Wilco (The Song) is a catchy up beat ditty with a wailing guitar. The lyrics are a sort of tongue-in-cheek joke asking "Do you dabble in depression?" and with the punch line "Wilco will love you baby".
  
• Deeper Down musically is a layered with various and interesting instruments such as bowed piano, lap steel guitar, mellotron cello to name a few; very nice arrangement.
  
• One Wing is one fantastic song with standout drumming by Glenn Kotche and super sonic lead guitar by Nels Cline. The gist of the lyrics are about a failed relationship; "one wing will never fly" and "we can only wave goodbye".
• Bull Black Nova is similar in it's approach as Spiders (Kidsmoke) from A Ghost is Born; the song builds and builds over a relentless hypnotic rhythm. Initially I had no clue what it was about, but after researching a bit, the singer has just killed someone and the body was in the trunk of his Chevy Nova - "Blood in the sink, blood in the trunk" . As the song continues to build, the singer is losing his cool not sure what he should do -"I can’t calm down I can’t think, I keep calling, there’s blood in the trunk" .
• You And I is a quiet romantic duet with Leslie Feist (a Canadian singer songwriter who performs under the name of Feist). The songs inclusion just after the total freak out at the end of Bull Black Nova is no coincidence. Jeff Tweedy's and Feist voices blended very well.
• You Never Know is a great upbeat pop song with 70's/George Harrison flourishes. The song's sentiment is similar to R.E.M.'s It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine); Jeff sings "Every generation thinks it's the end of the world" and "I don't care anymore".
• Country Disappeared is a slow tempo song that may be about the decline of civilization.
• Solitaire is a beautiful introspective song with lyrics "I was cold as gasoline" and "once my life was a game so unfair, it beat me down and kept me there" .
• I'll Fight is a terrific song; Mikael Jorgensen's organ highlights the song. Lyrically it could be the singer is willing to fight and die for a girl or maybe his country; it doesn't really mater
• Sonny Feeling is another upbeat pop song. The bouncy tune belies the dark lyrics.
• Everlasting Everything sounds a little like it could have been written by John Lennon. A slow tune with nice chimes by Glenn.

Commercials: This Notes For You

Ain't singin' for pepsi; ain't singin' for coke; I don't sing for nobody; makes me look like a joke... (Neil Young - This Note's For You)

Music and advertisements have always gone together hand in hand. These days it's pretty common to hear some great music in commercials (or as theme songs to TV shows). For me this is a double edged sword, it either makes me feel like the artist has sold out and it hurts a little or on an occasion or two I don't mind. Recently I have even discovered some pretty good music this way. So I have mixed feelings about the subject.

When the song is from one of my favorite artists or a favorite song, I often take this personal. I feel like I own the song in some ways; that song takes me to a place or time or a moment; it wasn’t written for a cola company or an auto manufacturer; that song was written for me.

I’m sure the controversy has always been around, but I remember back in the 80's The Who enlisted Schlitz beer company to support their farewell tour. Schlitz had a commercial which featured The Who and Schlitz Beer was displayed on their merchandise, etc… Pete Townshend and The Who took a few knocks over their sponsorship.
Schlitz Rocks America - The Who

Sometime after that Eric Clapton rerecorded his song After Midnight so that it could be used in a Michelob beer commercial. This move was looked down upon by some in the media and and some of his fans.
Michelob Beer - Eric Clapton

One of the ads that I did like was with the up and coming Boston, Mass band the Del Fuegos. They were introduced to the public via a Miller Beer commercial. I remember this commercial for the line Rock music is folk music, because it's for folks.
Miller Beer - The Del Fuegos

In 1988 Neil Young along with his Blue Notes released the anti-commercialization of music anthem This Notes For You. Neil took a stand against allowing his music to be used in commercials. I ain't singin' for Pepsi, I ain't singin' for Coke. I always respected Neil for his stance.

I was searching for information for these sites that list the pop songs that have been used in advertisements in the last few years. The number of songs is shocking.
http://www.splendad.com/ads/songs/2009
http://www.splendad.com/ads/songs/2008

On a positive and as I said previously I have discovered some new tunes from commercials;
such as:
Valley Winter Song by Fountains of Wayne in this LL Bean ad.



Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg in an AT & T ad.

Landon Pigg - Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop

The WAND by The Flaming Lips in this Del Inspiron ad.

Remind Me by Rockysopp in one of my favorites ads; the Geico Airport Caveman
and from one of my favorite bands The Kinks, Picture Book in this HP ad.

In 2007 my favorite band Wilco allowed their new music from their then just released Sky Blue Sky album to be used in volkswagon commercials.


Jack White did a wonderful Coke commercial.


This is a complex issue for me. I never want to hear a Springsteen song in an ad. I hate hearing Beatle songs in ads. There are way too may Who songs being used. Maybe it is okay for new young bands to promote their music with these ads. I just don't know.

Jay Bennett: Misunderstood

Take the guitar player for a ride; He ain't never been satisfied; He thinks he owes some kind of debt; Be years before he gets over it...(Wilco -Misunderstood)

The corner is a little darker this week as former Wilco guitar player Jay Bennett passed away. From the Chicago Sun Times.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2009/05/jay_bennett_dead_at_age_45.html

Jay Bennett, a rock musician with deep ties to Chicago best known as a former member of Wilco, died early Sunday morning in downstate Urbana, where he had been running a recording studio, according to a spokesman for his family.

The singer and multi-instrumentalist was 45 years old.

"Early this morning, Jay died in his sleep and an autopsy is being performed," said Edward Burch, a friend and musician who collaborated with Bennett on the 2002 album "The Palace at 4 a.m." "The family is in mourning and is unavailable for comment at this time."

Classic Album Rewind: Wilco - Being There

I've always admired artists that could come up with a enough solid material to put together a double album. Some of my favorite albums are doubles such as The Who's mod rock opera Quadrophenia, The Clash's landmark London Calling, The Beatles White Album, Bruce Springsteen's The River and from the 90's Wilco's Being There.

Jeff Tweedy formed Wilco after parting ways with his fellow Uncle Tupelo band mates Jay Farrar and Mike Heidorn (who formed half of the original Son Volt). Jeff, along with bassist John Stirratt, drummer Ken Coomer and multi-instrumnentalist Max Johnston released their debut CD A.M. in 1995. The reviews of the release were somewhat of a disapointment compared to the favorable reviews that Son Volt's debut Trace had recieved.

With the pressure on to deliver, the band proceeded to record the next album; bringing in several other musicians including Jay Bennet, another very tallented multi-instrumental musician. The recording process produced 19 songs, too many for a single album. So the classic Being There was born. The album title was taken from the Peter Seller's movie of the same name. Disc 1

• Misunderstood - The opening song is one of the most powerful and best songs that Jeff Tweedy has written; very much in the vein of John Lennon. The song builds with tension until by the end Jeff is almost yelling "I want to thank you for nothing".


• Far, Far Away - In this song the singer yearns to see and hold his girl. A beautiful ballad which features electric piano and pedal steel guitar.


• Monday - A fun 70's rocker right out of The Rolling Stones or Big Star playbook shows that the band can rock it out.


• Outtasite (Outta Mind) - Ditto - Another great rocker!


• Forget the Flowers - A little country ditty featuring the banjo and pedal steel guitar


• Red-Eyed and Blue - A great folk sounding song with a clever play on words title featuring guitar and piano; the lyrics are dark, but the music is somehow uplifting.


• I Got You (End of the Century) - Another great rocker along the lines of Big Star.


• What's The World Got In Store - A mid-tempo song featuring the banjo and organ.


• Hotel Arizona - Great tune about being on the verge of making it big. I love the droning guitar and backing vocals.


• Say You Miss Me - This mid-tempo ballad shows the ache of seperation from the singers loved one. The song contains some great background vocals.

[Wilco - Misunderstood (live Lollapolooza)]

[Wilco - Monday]

Disc 2

• Sunken Treasure - Disc 2 begins with the hauntingly-pain soaked Sunken Treasure in which Jeff sings "I am so out of tune with you".


• Someday Soon - A country tune with a more positive message.


• Outta Mind (Outta Site) - A more popier/less rocking version of disc 1's Outtasite (Outta Mind).


• Someone Else's Song - A folk ballad from a long time ago or at least that's what is sounds like.


• Kingpin - A funky little tune with some clever & funny word-play.


• Was I In Your Dreams? - A slow tune in which the singer is questioning his girl on the telephone about missing him.


• Why Would You Wanna Live? - I love the false beginning; Another slow tune with faint echoes of John Lennon


• The Lonely 1 - A lonely folk ballad from the point of view of an over zealous fan of his gutar hero.


• Dreamer in My Dreams - A ragged Faces meet Stones rocker that sounds like the wheel may come off at any moment (which it does in the end, but they just crank it back up). Great ending to a great CD.

[Jeff Tweedy - Sunken Treasure]

[Wilco - I Got You (At The End of the Century)]