Being There

A l b u m w a a a a a a a a a a a a y t o o o o o o o o o l o o o o o o o o o o n g . There are some good nuggets here and some bad. When I told myself that this thing has to fucking be over by now, there were still 4 1/2 songs to go. U g g g g g g h h h h h h h ! I bailed on the last song because it was bed time.

I'm sure there's a time and a place I'll enjoy that album. Yesterday wasn't it.

These are really great songs for those who yearn for a past romance.

Way too long, way too boring.

Guitar-based rock so I ought to like this, but it's utterly uninspiring. Poor songs. Like a college band that's just somehow got access to a recording studio and a producer. So it sounds like a bunch of perfectly competent musicians, playing nondescript songs very well. What on earth made anyone think there were enough adequate songs for a double album? The more I listen, the less I like it. I can go to any number of local pubs and hear songs as good or better than this.

Definitely one of the most important records of the 90s. Not many bands can say they’ve been ripped off by punk, country, and rock bands.

this is my first time listening to Wilco. I've heard their name before, but never listened, this is a great record to be introduced to them by. I even Recommended my friend Kingpin, He diggs it.

Absolutely love this album, possibly one of my all time favourites. Not a bad song here

not horrible bit boring. just basic. nothing special at all

I start to like Wilco the further they get away from the alt country thing. They're starting to step away from that here but it still shows up throughout. I became aware of them around Summerteeth and am more a fan of that album and what came after. They have some songs I really like but I don't love them for a whole album. What I do like about Jeff Tweedy is that he's not necessarily tied to a particular sound and is open to experimentation. The further he leans in on that, generally, the more I like it. Otherwise I think you end up with some very average indie pop/rock. Man, this a long album. This definitely could've used some more editing. The more I listen to this the more Jeff Tweedy's voice and lyrics are starting to grate on me. Definitely better in smaller doses. You know what, I was going to give this album a 3 but the longer this drags on it just feels like a burden.

Loved loved loved it

A nice rock album of easy listening songs. At times it has an Eagles vibe at others something more contemporary. What holds back the album is the incredibly long run time that includes more forgettable songs.

Ok

I never heard this before and really enjoyed this album. It felt like a more modern version of Exile on Main Street, in that you can hear alternative rock, country, folk, and bluesy numbers all back to back (plus “Monday” sounds like it could have actually been on Exile). This album was a great blend of different types of American music and kept me engaged. Plus Hotel Arizona sounds like our song Cracked at the end. I will be checking out more Wilco music.

War toll ist toll bleibt toll

The best Wilco. A near-perfect record.

I know this Wilco album the least, I think because it really hasn't ever grabbed me. Nice listen, but not what represents what I love about them. 7/10 but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt :)

Its not a bad album, but I dont think that its an album that belongs on a list of the thousand greatest albums of all time. 3/5

Didn't really like this one. I'd describe it in one sentence as "the music you expect to hear in a 2010s tv show when they try to make the characters seem cool while they're driving"

Way too long

Enjoyable album with a few standout songs. Overall though, over the course of almost 1 1/2 hours, those songs prove not enough to propell the album to more than 3 stars

Is this the first breakout success for Wilco? I know Misunderstood, I like this one, teenage me would have ate it up. I always viewed Wilco as a band that has a theme of feeling like they are too old/missed the boat and are the old-guard that doesn't quite fit in and is coming to terms with that through their lyrics, kind of like Future Islands and Sun-Kil Moon. I don't know, it's a bit boring to me? It's not bad, just I can't relate (yet).

Another album that I'm not sure how it made this list. It was fine. Nothing memorable or noteworthy, personally. No genre defining, trend breaking, just decent music.

Good God was this not it... just going on and on and on. Weird mesh between country and acoustic nothingness. Oh, did I mention the horrid singing? I wanted to like it but it's just all over the place and it is way too long, to add insult to injury. I had to bail early. 3/10.

Very average album No songs particularly memorable. Flow of the album feels like the band cannot decide on a genre

I can’t will(co) myself to finish this album because it is so disastrously boring. Yet, not sure I can quite give it that number reserved for only the worst of the worst.

I've been on a brutal run with the album generator. I'm not super familiar with Wilco but I'm hoping this will at least be listenable. The title of the album and the album art are pretty boring, and it clocks in at an excessive 1hr 17m. Boring will be fine today. And here I am an hour later to report: boooring. Inoffensive. You might even say mostly harmless. Can't imagine listening to this album again on purpose but I wouldn't leave a party if it came on. 2.5 stars rounding down for length.

I like a few Wilco tracks, but none are on this album

That was boring… Couldn’t get me to finish it.

I like some later Wilco albums but this is very basic and uninspired. Some really bad country tinged stuff towards the end that is bar band quality. No need for a double album at all EDIT: I try not to change the reviews second time around, but felt this was worth re-evaluating. It is, uniformly, *awful*. By the time "Sunken Treasure" rolled up I figured we were at the "bad country tinged stuff" alluded to above, but no - still about 10 more songs of tedium to go, each progressively worse. Lyrics so poor, did they even get a spellcheck? Such a slog, it seems unfair to lump this in with other tedious but at least conscious 2* efforts such as John Spencer. Hence, a well-deserved downgrade cast upon this overfilled bucket of shit

A little bit country, boring lazy vocals ruin the occasional hooking ruff.

General impression: One of the old favorites. Wilco in “rock revue” mode. Detailed review: I remember coming across this CD in like a Barnes & Noble or something back in the day and being intrigued by the positive comments I read, noticing that it had received a five-star rating (from what, who knows). I’d been curious about Wilco after reading about A Ghost is Born and Sky Blue Sky when those came out. Being a greedy CD-buyer, I always felt like double CDs were more worth the money, so I was eager to try this one out. To this day, I think many of these tracks are classics: “Misunderstood,” “Far Far Away,” “Monday,” “Red-Eyed and Blue,” “What’s the World Got In Store,” “Say You Miss Me,” “(Was I) In Your Dreams,” “The Lonely 1”… that’s almost half the album right there. I was thinking, since it’s not in my top 3 Wilco albums, that maybe it would be a 4. Nope, it’s a 5. In fact, maybe it is in my top 3? I’ll have to reevaluate after I listen to Summerteeth. Deeper thoughts (context): really an early sign that Wilco was the real deal and in it for the long haul. Score: 5 Number of albums left to review: 961 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 23 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 17

Love Wilco, hadn’t heard this album. Ended up listening to Wilco and similar bands all day. It was lovely.

I love this. Wilco is always welcome! I wonder if Jeff Tweedy will send me another message on Spotify this year after I spent the whole day listening to this. I do hope there's more Wilco on this list. I'm looking forward to it! Misunderstood, Far, Far Away, and Forget the Flowers are some of my favorites. Not related to this album, but Cruel Country is a cool song

I believe this is my first introduction to Wilco, will be coming back to this group and this album in the future. I don't know how it was missing from my life

Wer will ein abwechslungsreiches Album anhören, der ist hier genau richtig. Verschiedene Musikstile Niveauvoll und Abwechslungsreich arrangiert und produziert. Und es ist Wilco. Und wo Wilco drauf steht bekommt man ein sehr gutes Album.

Nice!

This is the Wilco album that really launched the band. Yes, A.M. was their first record but it was Being There that brought Jeff Tweedy out of Jay Farrar's shadow. Jeff was always the second talent in Uncle Tupelo, though you could see this changing by Anodyne. However, when Farrar left to form Son Volt he got out of the gate quickly with Trace and Wilco really didn't keep up. Tweedy kept evolving as a song writer and by the time he was opening shows with Misunderstood you could feel the tables turning. Being There isn't the best Wilco album but it was the first one that grabbed you by the collar and gave hope that the promise of The Long Cut and New Madrid wasn't a fluke and that more great music was to come.

What a little gem of an album this turned out to be. Hadn't heard of this band before but this album is brilliant. Both musically and vocally sound. Very Tom Pettyesque throughout vocally and echoes of Rod Stewart's Maggie May too I thought. Fab album 👍

**Album Review: Wilco's *Being There*** Wilco’s *Being There*, released in 1996, stands as a pivotal moment in the evolution of both the band and the alternative rock and alt-country scenes of the ‘90s. Clocking in at nearly 77 minutes over two discs, this expansive album marked a bold step forward for Wilco, straddling multiple genres, sounds, and emotional moods. A deep dive into *Being There* reveals a complex tapestry of lyrical introspection, genre experimentation, sonic texture, and thematic exploration that captures the tension between past and future, tradition and innovation, rebellion and nostalgia. ### LYRICS Jeff Tweedy’s lyricism on *Being There* is a significant leap from his earlier work with Uncle Tupelo and even from Wilco’s debut, *A.M.* While *A.M.* was rooted in alt-country's twangy simplicity, *Being There* feels more layered, with Tweedy embracing ambiguity, personal introspection, and emotional abstraction. His lyrics often weave between vulnerability, frustration, and cautious optimism, revealing a deep sense of uncertainty about his place in the world and his role in the music industry. Songs like “Misunderstood” open the album with Tweedy’s cryptic yet emotional reflection on fame and the burdens of expectation. He delivers lines like “I'd like to thank you all for nothing at all” with a sneer that suggests a disillusionment with the machinery of the music industry, which contrasts sharply with his underlying earnestness and yearning for understanding. This duality runs throughout the album, where the tension between hope and frustration is ever-present. In “Far, Far Away,” Tweedy muses on distance—both emotional and physical—with a yearning that feels more resigned than hopeful: “Maybe if I leave, it'll all come back to me.” Themes of alienation and disillusionment bubble up in tracks like “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” and “Sunken Treasure,” both of which channel the conflicted emotions of a man caught between his desires and his reality. The former is a high-energy rocker that outwardly presents a declaration of love and commitment, but underneath, it hints at the hollowness of those promises. Meanwhile, “Sunken Treasure” reflects Tweedy’s introspection on personal worth, with the striking admission: “Music is my savior, and I was maimed by rock and roll.” However, not all the lyrics dwell in the realm of introspection. Some tracks like “Monday” embrace a freewheeling rock ‘n’ roll ethos, channeling a fun, reckless spirit that seems more focused on the immediacy of the moment than the burden of meaning. **Pros**: - Tweedy’s lyrics demonstrate a maturation, balancing personal reflection with universal themes. - The album’s lyrics blend vulnerability, skepticism, and resilience, creating a nuanced emotional landscape. **Cons**: - At times, the cryptic nature of the lyrics can make it hard for listeners to connect with specific emotions or narratives on a personal level. ### MUSIC AND GENRE EXPERIMENTATION *Being There* represents a turning point for Wilco in terms of sound, as the band began to move away from its pure alt-country roots and embraced a broader sonic palette. The album covers an impressive range of styles: alt-country, folk, rock, power-pop, and even noise rock. The opener, “Misunderstood,” sets the tone with its moody, slow-burning introduction that eventually builds into a chaotic crescendo of distorted guitars and piano stabs. This track exemplifies Wilco’s willingness to move beyond the conventions of alt-country, incorporating noise rock and indie experimentation into the mix. The contrast between the song’s quiet introspection and the explosive chorus reflects the push-pull tension at the heart of the album. “Far, Far Away” and “Forget the Flowers” provide more straightforward nods to country and folk music, with pedal steel guitars and acoustic rhythms that anchor these songs in the familiar warmth of Americana. Yet even within these more traditional genres, there’s a sense of restlessness in the arrangements, with Tweedy and the band often adding unexpected flourishes or shifting dynamics. “Monday” and “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” channel a more carefree, rollicking rock ‘n’ roll energy, reminiscent of the Rolling Stones or Faces, showcasing Wilco’s ability to turn out exuberant, straight-ahead rock songs. These tracks add a lighter, more accessible energy to the album, breaking up the heavier emotional and sonic moments. The production on *Being There* is intentionally raw in places, evoking the spirit of a live band performing with loose spontaneity. However, there are moments where the production gets more polished, like the lush string arrangements on “The Lonely 1,” which adds a cinematic sweep to the track’s melancholic core. **Pros**: - The musical diversity is a major strength, with Wilco blending rock, alt-country, and experimental sounds. - The raw, unpolished production gives the album a live, organic feel, which enhances its emotional authenticity. **Cons**: - Some might find the album's genre-hopping disjointed or inconsistent. - The lo-fi production can feel murky or underdeveloped in certain tracks, occasionally sacrificing clarity for spontaneity. ### PRODUCTION Tweedy and co-producer Tom Rothrock took a deliberately rough-edged approach to the production, emphasizing spontaneity and rawness over slickness. The decision to present the album as a double LP gave the band room to explore different sonic textures and ideas, allowing for a wide range of styles and tones across the album. The production is at its most intimate during the album’s quieter, acoustic-driven moments, such as “Red-Eyed and Blue” and “Say You Miss Me,” where Tweedy’s voice feels close and unvarnished, often surrounded by simple, spacious arrangements. These tracks benefit from a minimalistic approach, allowing Tweedy’s lyrics and vocal delivery to take center stage. On the other hand, tracks like “Misunderstood” and “Sunken Treasure” explore more abrasive production techniques, with their noisy crescendos and jagged guitar tones. The intentional use of distortion and feedback adds a sense of urgency and emotional intensity that contrasts sharply with the album's softer moments. There is also a strong sense of nostalgia in the production choices. The warm analog sound of the album, combined with references to classic rock and country, nods to the past while also subverting it. This retro-modern tension can be heard in the way tracks like “The Lonely 1” blend classic balladry with a more modern sense of disillusionment. **Pros**: - The production choices align with the album’s themes of vulnerability and conflict, often enhancing the emotional weight of the songs. - The mix of lo-fi rawness and polished moments creates an engaging dynamic throughout the album. **Cons**: - The inconsistency in production can make the album feel uneven at times. - Some tracks could benefit from more focus, as the rough edges can detract from the overall impact. ### THEMES At its core, *Being There* is an album about transition and the conflicts inherent in change. Tweedy grapples with questions of identity, ambition, and disillusionment, both in his personal life and his role as a musician. The album’s title, *Being There*, suggests a kind of presence in the moment—an insistence on experiencing life as it comes, with all its contradictions and messiness. Fame and the music industry loom large over the album. Tracks like “Misunderstood” and “Sunken Treasure” delve into Tweedy’s ambivalence about his rising success, the expectations placed on him, and the compromises required in the pursuit of fame. In “Misunderstood,” Tweedy rails against those who don’t “get” him, while in “Sunken Treasure,” he acknowledges the ways in which his art and passion have both saved and wounded him. Love and connection are recurring themes as well, though often approached with caution or irony. Songs like “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” offer a seemingly celebratory take on love, but the upbeat music belies a sense of emptiness in the lyrics, as if Tweedy is questioning the sincerity of his own proclamations. There’s also a recurring theme of distance and longing, most explicitly in songs like “Far, Far Away,” where Tweedy reflects on separation—both physical and emotional. This theme is mirrored in the sonic distances between different parts of the album, as the band moves from intimate acoustic moments to explosive rock numbers. **Pros**: - The themes of identity, disillusionment, and longing resonate deeply, offering both personal and universal insights. - Tweedy’s exploration of fame and the music industry feels prescient, especially in the context of the evolving indie rock scene. **Cons**: - The thematic complexity might be too subtle for some listeners, requiring multiple listens to fully unpack. - At times, the album’s sprawling nature can dilute its thematic focus. ### INFLUENCE AND LEGACY *Being There* is often seen as the moment when Wilco began to truly distinguish itself from its alt-country peers and embrace a more adventurous, eclectic approach to music. The album’s willingness to blend genres, experiment with sound, and explore raw emotional terrain had a significant influence on the alt-country and indie rock scenes that followed. This album laid the groundwork for Wilco’s later work, particularly their 2002 masterpiece *Yankee Hotel Foxtrot*, where the band would further push the boundaries of rock and Americana. But *Being There* was also important in shaping the trajectory of alt-country as a genre, proving that artists from that scene could expand their sound and still maintain critical and commercial success. **Pros**: - *Being There* pushed the boundaries of alt-country and helped redefine what was possible within the genre. - Its influence on both indie rock and Americana is profound, inspiring countless artists to explore similar sonic and thematic territory. **Cons**: - Some fans of Wilco’s earlier, more traditional alt-country sound may have found *Being There* too experimental or unfocused. - The album’s length and eclecticism may deter some listeners who prefer more cohesive or concise works. ### CONCLUSION *Being There* is an ambitious, sprawling album that marks Wilco’s transition from alt-country stalwarts to genre-defying experimentalists. With its eclectic mix of rock, country, and indie sounds, the album captures a band in the midst of evolution, wrestling with questions of identity, fame, and purpose. The album’s raw production, lyrical depth, and wide-ranging musical exploration are its greatest strengths, though its sprawling nature and occasional lack of focus may turn off some listeners. Despite this, *Being There* remains a landmark album, not only for Wilco but for the broader alt-country and indie rock movements of the ‘90s.

Heartfelt.

Y e s i t ' s a l o n g (double) a l b u m b u t i t ' s a l s o f i l l e d t o t h e b r i m w i t h g e m s Gems including "Hotel Arizona" and "Outtasite (Outta Mind)"--great cuts which nicely split the difference between indie-rock and classic rock ; or the *Exile On Main Street*-era Rolling Stones homage that "Monday", "I Got You (At The End Of The Century) and closer "Dreamer In My Dream" are ; or nice winks to the late-sixties / early seventies Beach Boys through "Outta Mind (Outta Sight)"--"Outtasite (Outta Mind)" 's alternative version)--and also "Red-Eyed And Blue" ; or delicate and heartbreaking folk ballads "The Lonely 1" and "Someone Else's Song" ; or, finally, admittedly quaint but also quite moody alt-country cuts "Far, Far Away", "Say You Miss Me" and "Someday Soon"--sometimes infused with chamber pop, like "Why Would You Wanna Live"... Besides, the two sonically-rowdy-yet-also-incredibly melancholic tracks opening each disc alone could warrant a place for this double album on the list. The expansive "Misunderstood" and "Sunken Treasure" indeed point the way to the noisier, more abrasive experiments Wilco will be known for at the turn of the next decade (and century)--with band members even swapping their instruments during the course of the first song (and playing on one they were not necessarily used to), so as to create a brutalist wall of sound nicely mirroring the existential torments expressed in the lyrics... and with a similar climactic, tense and dissonant bridge for the second disc's opener, even sadder than "Misunderstood" was. Those two cuts are cinematic, evocative and profound in their intentions. And they give a timeless feel to a record that's otherwise very reverent to the past (probably to a fault at times). This last remark is only a very minor gripe of mine. I have tried to find a bad song in this double album and I have come up rather shorthanded. "Kingpin", right in the middle of the second disc, is an overlong bluesy jam dirge that's too mundane and a little pointless to stand up to the many highlights of *Being There*. But when you want to create a double album, there's always gonna be at least a couple of songs some listeners won't find to their taste, so it goes with the territory here. It is said that Wilco recorded around 30 tracks for this project. I don't always say this for long records, but in this case, I'm glad the self-editing process didn't go too far. Jeff Tweedy was right to give us so much stuff. And the fact that he was adamant the two discs should be sold at half the normal price (thereby paying for the difference out of his pocket) is a testament to his intelligence, and dedication to his art. I have only discovered *Being There* quite recently, through my--also-recent--growing appreciation of Wilco's later LPs *Yankee Foxtrot Hotel*, *A Ghost Is Born* or their latest release *Cousin*. So this is not nostalgia talking here. Before the 21st century, I had never even heard of Wilco were. Yet retrospectively, I now know they're an important band that actually foretold many later developments of indie-pop, indie-rock and even rock in general (for better or for worse). So surely, there must be some room available for at least a couple of albums by them in a list such as this one... h e a r t f e l t t h a n k s t o t h e t o p r e v i e w e r w h o i n s p i r e d m e f o r t h e b e g i n n i n g a n d c o n c l u s i o n o f m y o w n r e v i e w . n e x t t i m e , t r y t o f o c u s m o r e o n t h e a l b u m i t s e l f a n d l e s s o n s o m e t y p o g r a p h i c a l s h e n a n i g a n s s o a s t o g e t n o t i c e d o n t h i s a p p . : ) 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5/10 for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 115 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 387 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 226 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 284

Not as seminal as the reviews would suggest

Mein erstes Mal Wilco. War zuerst abgeschreckt wegen der Länge des Albums, wurde aber positiv überrascht. Entspannter Country Rock 👍

I believe this is my first 5 star rating other than albums I’ve known and loved and rated 5 in my mind (most of the time) before listening. This was lovely throughout, with great melodies, arrangements, lyrics, musicianship and Tweedy’s vocals were just wonderful. Enjoyed this a lot more than Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and this makes me want to listen to more of their stuff (or at least maybe the 35 track deluxe version of this album). Nicely done, gentleman.

I love early Wilco, very good album. The only real issue is perhaps a little long and could have dropped a song or two, minor complaints.

Wilco is excellent. Always. A.M was great and picked a nice path after Uncle Tupelo split. Moving forward without abandoning their alt-country roots.

Another great Wilco album. More upbeat then YHF.

Man, Wilco is pretty awesome, right? This one might be a tad on the long side, find that to be true for most double albums. I still think YHF is my favorite, but this one is way up there, too.

This album is good but it’s not Summerteeth or YHF so. That’s a bummer. But it is still good. Long, but good. It’s honestly like a 4.75

Great album!

4.5 - This was just pure songwriting for me at it's best. So much talent and it was such a ride a long the way. Simple but diverse with a lot of depth

Heard it lots. Awesome to revisit. So many songs I forgot. One of the better double records.

I never knew about Wilco until around 2010. I was not into their style. I loved my music hard back then. Years have softened me, apparently, so now I can enjoy this vibe. "Being There" is a 1996 double album with almost 20 folky songs. "Space" comes to mind as I go through the album. Space as in time: the band takes its time to build on emotions and connect with me, with my current state of mind Space as in physical space while I enjoy the production: how instruments were recorded, the mixing, the pace of each song (look at the previous point above). I like "Being There" 9/10

Alt-country, country rock. I was only a little familiar with Wilco. I had only ever heard YHF before this and it's one of my favorite albums, so I was eager to get into this one, especially since it's a double album. I was definitely not let down by this album. It had what I expected and then some. The overall vibe is much like YHF in that its laden with bittersweet and longing lyrics and vocals. I love the acoustic guitar and piano and love when it breaks out electric ever once in a while. The brass instruments on some of these songs were not expected but were amazing. Incredible songwriting at play on the whole album, so many catchy tunes I could easily see myself singing along to if I knew them a bit better. I think my one gripe with this album is the length. While I believe every song on Being There is fantastic, I don't know if they all needed to be on there. It doesn't feel bloated but it could use a bit of a trim I think. But that's just my opinion after listening once. Overall beautiful album, loved every minute. Will have to revisit for sure. 4.5/5

cool

A perfect alt country album with lots of sonic variation.

Oh I do not like double albums at all. They always feel like such bloated, self-indulgent and unnecessarily protracted outings for the artists. Like they just think their shit is THAT good, straight fire that cannot be contained or condensed. Ugh. Well, I'm happy to report that in this case, I fucking LOVE this double album! I was a bit worried it'd be too long-winding and brooding; one ceaselessly navel-gazing whinge. But there is so much fun to be had here! Lots of uptempo tracks and rocking guitar to get into. This is a great vibe. I knew a little of Wilco before this, but always kept them at arm's length. This is the most accessible they've ever been to me. Really love this album, looping it several times today.

One of the best alt country albums created…thank you tweedy and co

Great album

This is a personal all time favourite. It was my introduction to Wilco all those years ago. Having read some other reviews on here calling it too long and kind of boring makes me pause and think about all the records I said something similar about. That’s the risk with the one listen approach required when doing a challenge like this. For me the album could go on forever and I’d be happy with that. Not a week track in the group.

Absolutely loved this. Every song is a different flavor of country-tinged alt rock, all perfectly executed, from the noisy opener, to the Stones-sounding “Monday”, as well as several great ballads. 5/5 all day!

Great!

love these guys

I am not sure there is an album more vital and crucial to influential on musical tastes than this one. From the moment I heard this when I was 16, it totally altered the trajectory of what I was interested in. It's absolutely part of my DNA at this point.

Every song superbly crafted, every note felt. There is a sense of full presence and musicianship I find hard to express.

4.5

Since 1995, when they released their debut album, AM, Wilco has produced some consistently good music, to much critical acclaim and have even been recognized by the mainstream with Grammy nominations and wins. I would only consider two of Wilco's albums as essential, 2001's classic, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and the epic, Being There. Though it didn't win any Grammys (which is a good thing!) it's jam packed with songs that have become mainstays on the band's live setlists and really highlighted Jeff Tweedy's strong songwriting. I would consider this their most important record showcasing their earlier alt-country rock roots, as well as genres in folk, rock and more experimental sounds that would later evolve Wilco's sound on later records. It's a sprawling record that is considered a double album (priced as a single CD in it's day) and if I had to criticize the album is that it's maybe a tad too long. There's too much good material for a single album, but towards the mid-point of disc two, it drags a bit and runs out of steam. Disc one might be the best 40 minutes of songs in their career!

Full disclosure: this is the first Wilco album I've ever listened to. The long runtime initially concerned me, but a few songs into the first half and I was hooked, especially when the rock influence turned up. The chord progressions? General musicianship? The lyricism? This may be my favorite record that this generator has introduced me to so far.

Had I known Wilco’s track record extended so far beyond “Jesus, Etc” and “California Stars,” I would’ve listened to them years ago. After a once-through of Being There, I realize I need to take a deeper dive into their discography. The opening “Misunderstood” could have been covered by Johnny Cash in the same way he covered “Hurt.” The main difference is the Wilco original is flat-out better than the Nine Inch Nails one. They infuse their own country spin too, especially with “Forget the Flowers” (sitting in a front porch rocking chair overlooking an empty dirt road) and “Someday Soon” (swinging to a lumberjack’s Tennessee flat-top box at White Horse while hints of organ sneak in from outside). “What’s the World Got in Store” sounds a bit like George Harrison, and I can’t help but notice the repetitive lyrics aren’t too far off from Weird Al’s “This Song's Just Six Words Long.” “Someone Else’s Song” channels Harrison’s counterpart Bob Dylan, especially his pre-electric days. The piano of “(Was I) In Your Dreams” is reminiscent of the Stones’ hot streak of records in the late sixties and early seventies, while the piano of “Sunken Treasure” foreshadows Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head. If the fiddler in the finale “Dreamer in My Dreams” had made a deal with the Devil, I bet he would’ve walked away with some gold hardware. Coming into this behemoth I expected a repetitive record that overstays its welcome by 30 minutes, but man, was I wrong. There’s not a single skip, and Wilco showcases a variety of genres from bluegrass to folk to funk. Whether intentionally or not, they put their own spin on the styles of a number of my favorite artists. These guys are quite a bit more than a two-hit wonder.

Quando ho letto "alt-country" ero disperato, come avrei potuto apprezzare un disco Country? Ora lo ho ascoltato, e potrei considerarlo uno dei miei dischi preferiti di sempre. La strumentale e i vocals vengono uniti da una produzione cruda, che, unita ai testi, rendono quest'album da spaventosamente lungo (1h 17m) a più rapido di un lampo, trasformando la testa dell'ascoltatore in uno stupendo vortice di emozioni. Non male per un album country. Fav: tutte lol 5/5

Have loved this band since YHF

nice wilco

Ins E always found this band hits my sweet spot. Like all sweet spots, it's hard to describe. Soothing gentle, perfect for a Friday morning, grooves on, but it's not juts the guitar sound, he has a happy warm voice that does the work. I love the uniqueness of his confusingly happy minor key (or whatever it is he does) vocals and melodies .... I blame California stars.

This is a great album. While some call it uneven, it grabbed me throughout and was overall much more enjoyable than Mermaid Avenue. I enjoyed the more Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (an album I likely won’t be getting for a while) esque songs on here than the more country ones, generally. Overall great, though long.

wil co.

Really great Wilco album, kinda surprised, I thought it might have been unpolished being an early album

Superior rock album from superior rock band. Effortless brilliance.

Jesus, this was beautiful and also kinda ripped my heart out on this gloomy and melancholy day. Will be revisiting for sure.

yup yup yup

Dubbelalbum dat tussen country, punk en psychedelica hangt. Vloeit voort uit moeilijkheden uit frontman Jeff Tweedy's leven, maar hielp Wilco er weer bovenop. Erg sterk en origineel album. leukste nummer: Misunderstood Tweedy nam het besluit het dubbelalbum voor de prijs van een enkele te verkopen, op eigen kosten.

Aivan mahtava levy, aivan mahtava kokonaisuus. Sekoittaa hyvin akustista, folkkia, rokkia, puhdasta rock n' rollia sekä jopa vähän noisea sekaan. Levy sopii loistavasti kesään lenkille tai ajamiseen ja ehdottomasti pitää kuunnella silloin uudestaan. Lisä mainintana vielä Someone else's song joka erehdyttävän paljon kuullostaa TF2 engineerin themeltä. Valvella ollut korvat auki Tämän kaiken ansiosta vaikka levy ei niin pysyvään soittoon jäiskään voi antaa muuta kuin 5 tähteä

Really great album. I was very familiar with wilco but had never listened to this particular album.

Several years ago, I bought Wilco's 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' on CD. I can't remember what led me to buy it (maybe hearing their name a lot?), but I remember really enjoying it on my first listen. Sadly, I never listened to it very often. I think I just wasn't ever in the mood for it once I got past "I am Trying to Break Your Heart." This is now the second Wilco album I've listened to from start to finish (unless you count 'Mermaid Avenue,' which I also loved). I was blown away by how much I liked this album. Jeff Tweedy is an incredibly talented vocalist, and this album really showcases that. I love the jagnly-er songs that are banjo-heavy, and the songs where the banjo takes a back seat, or isn't present at all too (I mean, I think it's not there on certain songs). Instrumentally, I don't think there's much more that I can say, other than I thought the flow of the album really worked, and it was fun to listen to. I did a shallow dive into the Wikipedia article for this album, and read that Tweedy had become a father between recording their first album and this album. As a new father myself, I really identified with the lyrical themes here: self doubt, wondering if you're good enough for your partner, hating yourself for thinking about running away (at least that's how I interpreted some of the songs). But the more you push on, the more some things get easier, while other things get harder. People always talk about how physically hard it is to have a new child, but the emotional and mental challenges are just as big, and I think Tweedy shows how those emotional challenges collide into the other areas of your life. I will definitely be listening to this album again, along with other Wilco albums. My favorite tracks on here were "Monday," "I Got You," and "Outtasite."

Love this album.

I am a huge Wilco fan. This album is not my favorite Wilco album (Summerteeth). Nor does it include my favorite Wilco song (Casino Queen) But it is still a Wilco album. When Jay Bennet was there and they were all kinds of messed up. Good times. Simply put, I love all the Wilco music up to and including Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Everything after that is enjoyed at various levels. Some being not at all. Being There is a bit too long. And all of the songs on this album sound 100 times better when played live. The Lonely 1 is a plaintive song about a fan. Makes me think of the Carpenters’ Superstar. Also, kind of like a Sesame Street version of Eminem’s Stan. Red Eyed and Blue has a cool whistling part that I can sometimes do. I will happily sit with any of you and discuss Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt (and any side projects) ad nauseam. If I remember correctly, Wilco opened for Sheryl Crow at the Mann in support of this album. I do remember that Jeff wore Khaki pants and a light blue Oxford shirt and it made me sad. Uncle Tupelo was truly gone.

Being There where "There" is the halcyon days of the late mid 90s with my girl Jen and this soundtrack and long debates over Uncle Tupelo v Sonvolt v Wilco. What a great double album and what a journey through all kinds of sonic landscapes--- - the hard distortion that leads into Misunderstood and those sweet piano notes with sweet tasting cigarettes - jingle jangly soft harmonica in Far, Far Away - those banjo notes throughout What's the World Got in Store (who else uses the banjo like this with solid rock?!) - Outtasite (Outta Mind) & Outta Mind (Outta Sight) and long conversations with Jen pre Internet about the differences and how I keep the songs straight Every song is a winner on this album and it never feels too long. This album started my love for Wilco and it's just reignited it too.

Voice and vibe of this album reminds me of the Dead actually. Groovy dad rock, as Wilco does

I can’t remember the last time I heard an album with so many excellent songs on it. I love the lyrics - lots of sharp, clever writing. Their sound has a lot of country twang but they can also rock like the Stones (“Monday”) or do Beach Boys-style pop (“Outta Mind (Outta Sight)”). What a great opening line for an album: “When you’re back in your old neighborhood / The cigarettes taste so good / But you’re so misunderstood.” Very impressive to hear an hour-plus album that’s this consistent. Highlights: “Misunderstood,” “Far, Far Away,” “Monday,” “Forget the Flowers,” “Sunken Treasure,” “Someone Else’s Song,” “Dreamer in My Dreams” (those fake-out endings are so good!)

This was really good. I like this band and have only gone through like 20% of their discography but man did I enjoy this one. I've heard some of their records full through and many of their singles on solo plays but actually none of these songs before today/yesterday. There is so much thought put into every detail. Jeff Tweedy is an indie legend and writes so thoughtfully. I feel like for me this is a high 4/5 but I'm realizing that I'm only giving 5/5 to like super legendary albums for me but I think it's time that I round up at times, because the only thing keeping high 4/5 albums from being legendary 5/5's is the passing of time for an album to solidify that status. 5/5 then!

"Being There" is the second studio album from the alternative rock band Wilco. It was self-produced and a double album priced at a single album (which some saw as a marketing move). The album was named after the 1979 movie "Being There" since Wilco saw similarities between this album and the Peter Seller's character Chance. I'll have to re-watch it now. The album was viewed as a dichotomy between alt-country (their previous album "A.M." and Jeff Tweedy's former band Uncle Tupelo) and music more pyschedelic/surreal. I totally agree with that as there are songs that fit both of those categories along with just some straight-forward pop-rock songs. This is a tremendous album. Also, very important was the addition of multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett from the recently disbanded Titanic Love Affair. He would prove vital on this and next few Wilco albums. Wilco announces very loudly their alt-country departure on the first song "Misunderstood." Each band member plays a different instrument than what they typically play. Tribal drums. Guitar feedback. Total chaos. It then goes soft with a piano and alternates between the two throughout. Tweedy is the tortured artist, satiricallly pokes fun at himself and references the break-up of his former band Uncle Tupelo and bandmate Jay Farrar. A great song live. The two singles released "Monday" and "Outtasite (Outta Mind)" are pretty much straight-forward rockers. In one, he talks about making it big but doesn't want to work to do it and in the other someone who is outta site for awhile becomes outta mind. "Hotel Arizona" is very high on my favorite Wilco songs. A song that starts soft with an organ and traditional rock and just builds taking off with some great guitar. An ode to "Hotel California?" Getting use to the rock and roll lifestyle but with self doubt. The second half begins with a gem of a song in "Sunken Treasure." The acoustic guitar strings. Similar to previously mention songs it builds and alternates between soft and loud. The heart and soul of the album. The tortured artist. Great lyrics. We still got some alt-country goin' with "Someday Soon." Steel pedal guitar. A goofy backing vocal chorus almost sounding like Van Halen from back in the day. "Kingpin" also keeps the alt-country vibe going with some acoustic guitar twang. The struggle between being the kingpin of a small town and the lure of the big city. A shout out to Pekin, lllinois. With the underlying organ and beat, I also heard foreshadowing of what was to come on their next album, the wonderful "Summerteeth." "Being There" is my favorite Wilco album. The band separated themselves somewhat from the alt-country scene, Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt and Jay Farrar. The band would continue to transform over the next several albums. I would recommend listening to first four albums in order to see the band grow and transform.

Complex, layered and lovely pop ballads with a hint of country courtesy of the steel guitar.

I love the way Wilco pairs noise with simple folky songwriting. I love Jeff tweedy’s voice and songwriting, this album is right up there with YHF for me.

I loved this. Sad and beautiful. Lyrics are great. Definitely going to listen to again.

Love Wilco

Gorgeous, moving music

Great album. It’s been awhile since I had listened to it and it keeps getting better with time

Really good.

Оч круто, правда невероятно долгий альбом

I got this album on release. A couple of funny things: 1) I thought it was their debut album and 2) I didn’t remember it was double CD. As I said on the last Wilco album we reviewed, their up tempo songs are easy to like and the ballads take a few listens to figure out but once the time is invested they are also pretty good. I think this album has the best up tempo songs they have made. Songs like Outtasight Outta mind, I Got You, the country song Dreamer in my Dreams and my all-time favourite Wilco song Kingpin. Since I’ve listened to this album many times I also really like the ballads such as Misunderstood and Was I in your Dreams. I like every song really. This album highlights the positive influence Jay Bennet had on the band and his parting ways with Jeff was a major loss. This was the best album from the JB era and their best album overall.