Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Blir mere og mere glad i Wilco etter hvert som jeg blir mere og mere gubbe. Denne plata har jeg ikke hørt så alt for mye på men noen veldig veldig gode spor som åpningssporet og Sunken Treasure men også mange sånn passe bra. Fire av fem stjerner eller en 8.3 ish på en 10’er skala
Being There, fra tida da jeg trodde det fortsatt var mest inn å være skuffa og vonbroten for at Uncle Tupelo sprakk og derfor boikotte både Wilco og Son Volt, har jeg så vidt jeg kan huske ikke hørt før. Er det ikke Summerteeth og Yankee Hotel Foxtrot som er mesterverkene likevel altså? Jo, det tror jeg kanskje det er. Ikke så mye å ramle av stolen av på Being There. Men ser vi nevner mange ulike låter som beste låt. Det er vel et slags kvalitetstegn. Selv merket jeg meg mest ved "Forget the Flowers".
Wilco - Being There Dette er nok kanskje det meste eg har kost meg med ei plate av Wilco. For min del, og dette gjeld til og med under den konserten på Øyafestivalen “alle” elska sånn, er denne musikken fin, men sanstundes anonym. Songane er like og glir inn i kvarandre, og dette fenomenet blir ikkje akkurat mindre av at det er nitten låtar fordelt på ein time og eit kvarter. Viss Gram Parsons hadde vore vokalist i The Replacement så hadde kanskje resultatet blitt som dette? Truleg hadde songane truffe meg litt betre og. 6/10
A lovely time
I feel like this after a lot of double albums. The album feels bloated. Some of the signs are brilliant, others were quite good in the background, and there were some that felt incomplete which leaves the album feeling somehwhat disjointed.
Wilco really should have had more mainstream radio play back in the day.
5/9
This might be my favorite Wilco album. It's either this or Summerteeth. It's a far more ambitious album to the at time unfairly maligned A.M., bringing in a far more diverse set of songwriting influences and a far broader sonic palate. It's bringing horns, organ, using quite a lot of dissonance at a couple moments in the album, but also embracing something closer to folk music at times. The album also hints at the brighter pop sounds that will be featured on Summerteeth. Bringing in Jay Bennett into the band clearly created a lot of interpersonal issues but at the aesthetic level, he was a really significant collaborator and contributed a lot to opening up the sound of the band. The result is a really fantastic and dynamic album.
Me gustó el disco. No se me hizo pesado y lo veo como una buena mezcla de rock alternativo si se quiere con folk. El ambiente singer-songwriter que tiene sumado a lo experimental que tiene un pequeño aire de psicodélico lo hace una escucha interesante. Conclusión. Buen disco, buenas letras, interesante propuesta, no se me hizo pesado para lo largo que es 4/5.
Stort potensial
Meh
decent alt-country/americana record
An album that proves the debut wasn’t a fluke and showed the band had potential that was fulfilled. Monday and Outta Sight Outta Mind are standouts on a double album that doesn’t drag.
Like it 3/5
Really love this. It’s been awhile. Jeff Tweedy has such a way of breaking the fourth wall of a song. Always grabs me unaware. 4 Boolean: True
Strong 3, cool blend of genres, seems like a chill band
Fuck yesh another Wilco album, fantastic songwriting and a vibe that is extremely ‘Wilco’ ish. Is a double album nessessary, 9/10 times the answer is no. Here it’s a maybe. Dragged a bit but overall v nice v cool v Wilco 3.5/5.0 Best Song: Hotel Arizona
I like it, its not outstanding but its an enjoyable listen
Feels like a demo that never got any much needed production love. Didn't like it when it came out, but was hoping time and distance would change my mind. Fairly non-descript songs. Lyrics are a bit too Moon, June, Spoon (and not in a charming way) for my tastes. Song arrangements seem a bit too vanilla (even for 1996). Songs often overstay their welcome. And, I cannot stand his voice. So, of course the British critic loves this album. I hear songs with more personality and love from local bands at open mic night.
Not great. Not bad. Just kind of there.
one of the greats
Enjoyable but a bit long. 3.5/5
eu gostava pra caralho desse em 2018 na realidade eu gosto bastante de wilco, esse não é meu favorito mas tem muito valor no meu s2
wilco eh uma banda que eu nunca prestei mta atenção não, na real. não curtia alt country até 2? anos atras... eh bão, hein. variadinho e bem feito. só eh um pouquinho longo demais, mas nada que atrapalhe não. pica demais!!
I mean its pleasant, i guess it is important to someone.
LA VERDAD QUE ME gusto, el primer tema dije ui q paja se viene un disco paja me sonaba wilco pero la verdad que ni sabia a lo que me metia, y me gusto, alguno mas que otros pero bien. seria un 3,5 la verdad, PORQUE NO HAY MEDIOS ACA!!
It was alr
Ще один Wilco) Слуханемо Бейбі)
I do enjoy some of Wilco's material, especially beginning on their Indie Rock classic Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. So, their earlier, more Americana-infused work do not appeal to me that much. This album is very long, and its main problem is explained perfectly by its title. Nothing really jumps out at me. The album only exceeds at "being there". Key tracks: Misunderstood Monday Hotel Arizona
I kept forgetting it was playing.
This one is a bit hard for me, I liked some of it, but the more country sounding ones aren't for me.
Sounds like the soundtrack for every early 2000s coming of age movie.
Was enjoying it, then disc 2 wasn’t as much my jam. Some songs make me want to give it a 4 but I’m rounding overall down 3.5 to a 3
I mean it sure sounded like Wilco
The first song (Misunderstood) is already taking me on a journey, descending through hell to beauty and then back to the fight. I'm enjoying this whole groove, it has country roots, but seems far ranging and feels like a band really enjoying itself while making art. Great stuff and interesting lyrics. Well, if the album was just the first disk, I would be teetering between a 4 and a 5 star rating. Hope the second disk is as good. This side seems to lean more heavily into the country twang, unfortunately. The music and lyrics are still really interesting.
This was not the strongest Wilco album. It felt like a bit of a weak tea compared to other offerings. I didn't dislike it but the tracks felt like they lacked a range even within the track.
How did I make it through the 90s and never hear Wilco? 5/5
[2/5] country alt rock. i got excited when i saw the name of a brilliant former british retailer. i should really like this and there are some good moments, but then those moments turn into minutes and what feels like hours. far too long for what i got out of it. disc 1 was manageable but disc 2 was a great challenge to my attention span. mysterious lyrics; the audience are not privy to any detail or substance, which detracts from the experience in the case of this album. 2.5 // saved by the ending. track notes: 1. sawing into a guitar followed by sulking 2. yearning and thirsting for the chicago tonguepunch 3. giving mr burns casino but out in the sticks 4. feels too short for a song where i want to hear him out 5. twango ice blast 6. stoned in the antarctic or something 7. feels like an old school beatles song. pranked like catbells 8. nice melody but lowkey sounds like a manipulator 9. spooky vampire tune 10. soppy slow one, rhymes hard with hard, languagemaxxing 11. autumn energy but sentimental. trying to destroy mountains 12. average british conversation 13. another bouncy old school feeling 14. vague and mysterious lyrics, time for bro to own up and give us a single crumb of detail 15. wobbly life 16. idk were you? just talk to her 17. folk march plus a nice banjo 18. deep and sensitive, quite enjoyable 19. why couldn’t you let it loose like this earlier!!
When I first heard this album years ago I bounced right off of it. Thought it was okay but too long. Wilco really clicked for me with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born. Relistening to this now thought I've really come around to it more. This album is really damn good.
bleh
Boring, unimaginative, droll
I couldn't remember that I had gotten another Wilco. That should tell you a thing or two about how beige this album is.
Never listened to a lot of Wilco. I honestly couldn't tell you what songs were theirs or not. Still can't after listening to this. Maybe I'm not in the mindset, maybe it really is just a boring album, maybe, just maybe, I'm not depressed enough to enjoy it or I'm of the wrong generation to "get" it. Some songs were fine, I could see myself enjoying them at a music festival afternoon set. It's just overly long. If they put all the man and guitar songs to one album kept all the full band stuff I think it would be stronger. The tunes that brought in the band and you could tell they had a good time recording it I enjoyed. Also the Outta Mind intro was stolen from Sesame Street. Sometimes a double album should be two separate albums! Just because they were recorded at the same time doesn't mean they belong together!
No Yankee hotel foxtrot but it was alright
Pleasant and easy background music but jfc this was so long
boring and long. dont care about the hipster lore
Está bueno, pero es de fondo
It’s good in a way that I can put this on when I don’t know what else to play. Like The War on Drugs or maybe even Placebo.
Reminded me of Richmond Fontaine, although it should probably be the other way round.
It's no Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (this list spoiled the crap out of me by making that my introduction to this band), but it's still decent, albeit a full LP too long. It reminds me a lot of a Drive-By Truckers album, but a little more experimental. I loved the higher-energy songs like Monday but some of the lower-energy ones really started failing to hold my attention in the latter half, but an hours-long ride down I-95 was not helping me keep my focus on the album. I could imagine I'd like it more if I relistened to it, but for right now it's okay.
boring
I really enjoyed this one. Marking a 4 to encourage a return listen. 4/5
There’s a world in which I became a Wilco fan in college and love this record dearly, but we’re in a slightly adjacent timeline where that didn’t happen.
Pleasantly surprised to see this album here. Wilco is a band I will always have a spot in my heart for, and this record furthered my interest in them several years ago. Warm and evocative and sweet and sentimental and so brutally real in the way only Tweedy knows how to conjure. Far more alt-country than something like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as well, and I have a deeper appreciation for that sound now thankfully.
Noisier than expected - the slowest and loudest songs are the best! Favourite tracks: Misunderstood, Red Eyed And Blue, Hotel Arizona
I didn't listen to all of it but it was fine
It's a lot to take in.
𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 is an Americana classic: restless, melodic, and packed with excellent songs. Wilco move naturally between country rock, folk, and noisier detours, giving the album both warmth and unpredictability. Unfortunately, it is also a classic double album in the less flattering sense: there is simply too much of it. A tighter version might have been exceptional, but even in its overlong form, the best moments are hard to resist.
All the good will they gained from Forget the Flowers, they drained with the rest of the nearly four hours.
Some of this was quite listenable. I suspect that many double albums it may have been better as a single
An album far too long for its own good Fave track: Far, far away
Wilco are a great band. I haven’t fully got into them yet, but I could see it happening quite easily. The second album in a row that demanded a full listen even though I said I have a few I need to get through. But this is a good thing. 3.5/5
Too much country in here for my taste. 2
No better than average, but no worse either. Two stars…
As beige as the cover
Love this album so much. Each song feels like it's about me on a very plausible alternate timeline if not the current one. Wilco's internal midwestern reserve would balk at this, but it really changed how I listened to music, and set me on a path to becoming a musician a decade later. It's an all-timer.
So many bangers on this ambitious, soulful, career-defining album. Tweedy & Co. flex their musical muscles by demonstrating an aptitude with a wide variety of styles, fused with excellent, introspective songwriting and an ability to spread out on an extended jam (as on my favorite track, “Hotel Arizona”). “Kingpin” sounds like a Lucinda Williams song. Overall, a revelation from a band whose more straightforward alt-country debut I liked a lot already, and I’m glad to have a chance to listen to it for the first time in years.
Not my thing but I recognize the chops. Too long, though.
Undulating btwn interesting and boring, but arrives much better when actually listening than diring intitial skipping through the numbers.
Meh
It's just so boring. So so boring.
A lot of songs on this double album, so more chances to impress me as well as disappoint me. I was prepared to like this thanks to my previous limited experience with Wilco, and overall, it is more impressing than it is disappointing, which is good when I am basically being asked to listen to two albums back-to-back. The tracks are pretty varied, as is the instrumentation, so that keeps my interest up. It reminds me a little of Hudson Bell although not as grandiose. A strong 3 stars, maybe even 4 stars for this. On reflection, this is definitely one for the Listen Again pile, so a four star rating for me.
I have very similar, but stronger, feelings towards this album as I did for the last Wilco album. For example, I didn’t really care for the vocals, like he doesn’t have a bad voice, it just does nothing for me. And much like the last Wilco album I really appreciated the quality of the instrumentals and production. But again I didn’t really love this album. I felt like it went further in the direction I didn’t care for, but I can acknowledge that this does have a good amount of variety on the album. But I just didn’t love or hate this album. This will be one of the first few albums I’ll forget when this list is said and done. Hopefully there will be more Wilco in the future, but also hopefully something I can connect with more.
Fine
Run of the mill indie rock with an alt country tinge. A step down from Uncle Tupelo, and Wilco before they really became Wilco.
Boring af
4/10
Another album that I think I would love if it was stuck in my car CD player back in the day. It was good, but just in this setting, I found it too long. I think it could be a great one disc album, I felt like the experimental tracks were few and far between.
Ikkje så fælt som frykta, men likte da ikkje heller. For langt
DNF. Too long to be this homogenous.
some good tracks but I don’t see the overall vision
Not sure the hipster POV on country music was necessary but this was still decent. Very laid-back vibes.
Way too long. Not even good, just L O O O O N G.
Pretty solid easy americana type listening.
After Yankee Hotel this one was disappointing. Mostly noodling with a few guitars and unmotivated singing.
It’s got some good country like tracks. Sadly it can’t hold the picture together for a double album
Dull. Not just because it's long, but because it's really, really dull. Just occasionally a track threatens to break out into a good rock tune, but then it reverts to monotonous, or at best pedestrian. As I type this, I'm listening to Kingpin, which absolutely exemplifies my point. It's not a surprise that by far the most played track is one that harks back to the country genesis of many of the performers.
I am trying hard to resist the urge to write off albums before I’ve started them based on length (why so many double disks??), genre or release period. There were times where I enjoyed this one but felt that the good songs were too few and far between. Could have distilled down into a more wholly enjoyable body of work.
A Pixies, Radiohead, Bright Eyes, Weakerthans mashup. Really enjoyed this. Risks being slightly forgettable, but one I intend to return to.
See album jäi mulle kaugeks. Ta on jube keskpärane, selline mittemidagiütlev. Selline, et kui keegi oma laulaks lõkke ääres oleks kodune, aga spotifyst kuulama ei hakka. Kuulasin kudumise taustaks ühel mõtlikul reedel.
Cool sound. Loved some of the slower songs and really admire how experimental they are with genres.
Favorite songs from CD1: Misunderstood; Far,Far Away & Say You Miss Me Favorite songs from CD2: Sunken Treasure, The Lonely 1 2.5
Didn't love this one at first. Not my favourite Wilco album. It's grown on me over the years. Enough that I'm gonna give it a proper 4. Album could still stand to be shorter, but it's still great.
Making a double album as your second studio album is a choice. At least the group sold it for the price of a single album! This is a pretty eclectic album from a musical/stylistic standpoint. I know that Wilco sort of started as a country/alt-country group, and that still spans a large chunk of "Being There". However, there is a bit of contemporary psychedelia thrown in with more surreal theming. Geoff Tweedy was stressed and the best way to cope was to channel that into music!
banque el country, no me volvió loco
Enjoyed this pretty much all the way through - have loved so much of what they've put out after this, but never went back to the earliest albums to explore.
Typical, predictable but enjoyable indie rock. I like this record better than their Hotel Yankee Foxtrot album. This is a good album because it is what you expect to hear when listening to Wilco! Nothing strange, no new recording techniques, just what you come to expect from wilco. Being predictable and being typical is not a bad thing sometimes. I enjoy this record more than I thought I would.
Ended up really liking this. I had heard of them. Hadn't really checked them out before. It's a little on the long side. But it's varied enough to keep it interesting.
I really enjoyed parts of the album, but there were also many bits on this 2-disc album that were less memorable
***A good easy listening album
Great album. Writing and musicianship are wonderful. Americana at its best. I didn't listen to Wilco before Nels Cline was in the group. I missed out on this iteration of Wilco. Love it, love it, love it!
4.4
Still don't get it. Just some Country record, nothing special to it.
This album might be Misunderstood, but Someday Soon it will be more widely understood.
way too short, could use three to four more songs
own
Im just not sure that I like Wilco that much. This album is too long. I was listening to it while running and had to change it with 3 songs left. It's just kinda boring.
A surprisingly good album. Not great by any stretch, but all in all I liked it a lot.
not gonna lie, a little nervous going into this one seeing how many thought it was just wayyy too long and wayy too boring but one of my favorite bands is smashingpumpkins so im no stranger to an insanelylong album. I enjoy a lot of different genres and this album seems to incorporate a bunch of variety pretty nicely. I can excuse an hour ling tracklist if i can jam out to most of it
No private session used for Spotify. This slice of Americana was pleasant and enjoyable, at 77 minutes not sure when I will revisit it, though. Maybe sitting around a fire in the morning, or possibly late at night.
Nice music, but to soft and boring to me. Sorry.
Wilco at their pop-rock best. Not much here can be considered filler, which is impressive for a double album.
Not really my cup of tea, but some very nice songs. Good stuff
6/10 I’ve heard of Wilco plenty of times over the years, but never really bothered to delve into their work. The “alternative country” type tags typically conjure up the image of a bunch of indie hipsters with banjos and slide guitars that doesn’t really appeal to my sensibilities. Imagine my surprise when this album turned out to be far more than just a hipsterish appropriation of country music. There’s some real range to this, with tracks touching on country, blues, pop-rock, grunge and more. Jeff Tweedy is a pretty skilled songwriter and is able to take many ideas from that melting pot of influences to create a roving, evolving track list that manages to evoke a broad range of emotions, all the while feeling pretty tonally consistent. There’s a pretty good vibe that underpins the record as a whole, and it feels incredibly honest and open in its composition and delivery in a way I wasn’t really expecting. There’s nothing overly performative here, just a band that are trying to tell their stories in an engaging and heartfelt way. The performances from the band were great across the board. They’re a tight outfit and there are plenty of opportunities for each member to shine, from some excellent guitar work on tracks like Far, Far Away and Kingpin to the piano work on (Was I ) In Your Dreams. They’re also capable of building great, to-tapping grooves, with Kingpin being a particular standout again. The biggest letdown about this album is its length. There are a few too many songs that sort of bumble along in a slightly middling way, rarely ever actually coming across badly, but also hardly leaping out of the speakers. If there had been a little more brutality in the editing room, it feels like so me of those songs would have shined a little more, but the occasional 2-3 track runs of slightly weaker efforts did inject an unwanted sense of ennui here and there across the record. Which is a shame, really, because there’s an awful lot to like about this album, and a 40-50 minute cut would probably have grabbed hold of me with much more force than the slightly bloated release that we got. Safe to say I won’t be dipping in to the 5 disc deluxe version any time soon. But I may well pop back and give this one another go here and there. Misunderstood - I quite like the depth and weight of the building noise and feedback over the rumbling beat that opens this before it drops out into something clean and pretty. There’s a nice bit of grit that floats around in the production but doesn’t dominate, adding depth. It’s a simple piece of songwriting, but I really like it. It feels like it has an emotional honesty to it that appeals and the way it builds back into a darker, weightier production in places gives it good range. I’m less keen on the clashing, hectic bit towards the end, mind. Far, Far Away - There are some really nice chord changes in this, as well as some interesting changes of rhythmic flow. It’s quite twee, but the production has a modern twist to it that I think helps it along. It’s calm and relaxed, but has an engaging swagger to it too. There’s some lovely guitar playing in there, and I think Jeff Tweedy’s vocal delivery is really nice. Monday - Rebel, Rebel! Ok, apart from sounding quite a bit like the Bowie classic, this is pretty good. Nice riffs, a bit of grit and range, and some fun use of horns. I mean, it’s not anything particularly groundbreaking, but it’s well written, well executed stuff that’s got me bobbing along enjoying myself. Good pop-edged rock. Outtasite (Outta Mind) - There’s something of a Weezer edge to this and it runs on nicely from the last track. The groove of the guitar riffs against the drum beat work nicely and it’s got a nice, full production. Again, it’s just very well executed pop-rock that, while not spectacular, is pretty damn good, keeps you engaged and then doesn’t outstay its welcome. Forget The Flowers - Back to something more pure country now, but it’s not too clichéd and performatively “yee-haw”, particularly from the vocal, which helps it along. The clean modern production makes it sound quite fresh and, while it doesn’t completely connect with me melodically, I think the vibe is solid enough to keep me engaged. Red-Eyed And Blue - Now for something more stripped back. It’s well written, and changes tone nicely at about half way through. Again, it feels open and honest in both compositional and vocal terms. It’s not overly complex, but it’s very well balanced and the vibe and atmosphere are good. I Got You (At The End Of The Century) - There’s decent range to this album. This is a heavier pop-rock track now, but it’s got excellent vocal hooks through the chorus and some great guitar riffs that punch with the drums really nicely. This is the most 90s rock sounding track on the record and almost leans towards having a touch of the poppier end of grunge to it too. Pretty decent stuff. What's The World Got In Store - This kind of roams along in a way that’s not completely focused, but still has a bit of charm to it. It does border on being a touch twee and cheesy, but just about sticks the right side of that line. It’s another that is decent enough, but isn’t completely catching fire for me. But still not bad. Hotel Arizona - There are some nice rhythmic moments in this, as well as some interesting pieces of production through the transitions, but it’s a bit of a forgettable track that doesn’t completely connect with me, despite having a decent enough vibe. As an album track, I think it’s ok, but one would question it’s value on an album that clocks in at over an hour and a quarter. Say You Miss Me - This is quite a pleasant soft-rock number that’s got a nice blend of rhythms across the instrumentation that gives it a decent momentum. It’s perhaps a little on the beige side though and, honestly, I prefer the stuff that seems a bit more uniquely Wilco than this, which sounds like it could have come from any number of 90s bands really. Sunken Treasure - The vibe of this is so warm and cozy to begin with. It has a slight spikiness around the edges, but that works really well for it. It’s got a strong pulse, but the harmonic wash that weaves around that rhythmic core is where the magic lies here. The melodic work is simple, but effective and there’s something about the delivery that evokes more of that sensation of honesty. The noisy, discordant production in the middle adds more weight to this too, before washing back out into the stripped back sound to finish. Pretty nice. Someday Soon - Another more straight country effort now. The backing vocals are very nice and it’s definitely enhanced by the modern production choices, giving it good atmosphere and a full sound. It’s melodically straightforward and pleasant. Just a nice, if unspectacular track. Outta Mind (Outta Sight) - This is a little bit too plodding rhythmically for me. The slight swagger to the vocal delivery is pretty nice, but ultimately, this is a bit on the bland, repetitive side. Nice to have a call back to a previous track, but the album is quite bloated. Someone Else's Song - Something stripped back now and it’s got an evocative, wistful sadness to it. The guitar playing is pretty and the vocal is very nicely delivered. Good stuff. Kingpin - The groove to this is delicious, as is the weight of the production. The guitar playing is excellent and the swing and swagger of it all is so engaging. Solid riffs all round, an understated but effective vocal performance and buckets of vibe. Quality. (Was I) In Your Dreams - This reminds me of Randy Newman in the way it’s slightly rambling and loose compositionally, but has a strong core around which the rambling happens so it works really well. It’s got a lazy swagger to it that works really well with that roaming style and there’s some really nice work from both the guitar and piano. Another good one. Why Would You Wanna Live - This feels like it’s trying to do something similar to the last one, but then dive off into some country. It feels a little to staccato in the rhythm in places, which pulls the lazy swagger away from it. There are some really nice bits in here, including the piano work, the simple yet effective bass and the vocal delivery, but it doesn’t quite connect for me. The Lonely 1 - Another pretty, stripped back song now. It’s got more of that honesty and openness to it, with the imperfect vocal helping to ground it and juxtaposing nicely against the very clean, precise and sparse backing. It’s not complex or spectacular, but it nails the vibe and is melodically and tonally satisfying. Very nice. Dreamer In My Dreams - Why not close with a rockabilly country track? It’s not bad, and sounds like the band are having good fun with their performances, but it’s a fairly standard country rocker that doesn’t particularly add anything new or unique to the mix. It’s well executed though, so one can’t complain too much. This kind of thing is no doubt brilliant in a live context, but maybe a bit less effective on record. I don’t dislike it, but I’d also say it doesn’t completely fit with the rest of the album and feels a bit superfluous on an over long record.
This is my first Wilco album on this list. I don't count Mermaid Avenue since it was an album with Billy Bragg. Having been more familiar with Wilco's later work, I have heard Being There prior to today but am not as familiar with these songs as I am other Wilco albums. There is a sense of desperation in some of these songs. I don't know if this is due to Jeff Tweedy going through something in his personal life, the sales of AM bringing him down or just he got a better feel for his songwriting. The songs are more concise and well-written than what was on AM and don't feel as confident as his later works. Perhaps success brought that confidence later on. This is a classic in the alt-country/alt-punk/alt-rock genre and worthy of being heard. It is a long album. Yes, it is. Could Wilco have cut some parts and not lost the general gist of what makes the album so great? Yes, they could have. Still a great album. My favorite songs: Misunderstood Far, Far Away Outtasite (Outta Mind) Forget the Flowers I Got You (At the End of the Century) What's the World Got in Store Say You Miss Me Someday Soon Outta Mind (Outta Sight) (Was I) In Your Dreams Why Would You Wanna Live The Lonely 1
Não acho ruim, mas country realmente não me pega.
Musically this album was more than expected. I expected something crisp and talented, but also pretty low key. Instead there was a wider range of sounds here, folk, rock, indie, and (handle with care) a bit of country. But because the emphasis changes from song to song, you move from (more) indie to (more) rock to (more) folk. It is nicely varied in sound and tempo, and fits together well. It also seems lyrically interesting, though I typically don’t catch as much on my first go round. Seemed like it might have dipped near the end of this long album. They apparently had something to prove, and proved it, and proved it long before they extended this into a double album.
I used to say that apart from Johnny Cash, the best country artists are Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Well, add Wilco. Many people who down-rate this album talk about it being boring or long or not a rocker. To me, however, this is the perfect blend of alternative rock and country, and jazz and more. It is filled with life's resonant moments through the lens of different genres with honesty and insight.
Ok. I am ostensibly a Wilco fan, but my fandom starts at Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I swear I've listened to at least a good chunk of this album before. Here's what happened. I got used to the version of "Misunderstood " on "Kicking Television" and when I heard the version on this I got mad. Because it's, pretty much objectively, not as good. Sorry. And I wasn't huge on "AM" or "Summerteeth" either. But maybe that was because of "Misunderstood" too. I don't know. I'm really questioning things right now. Like, I'm going through a lot. "Being There" is really good. Like, it rivals YHF. Why didn't I know this? And, perhaps more importantly, what else don't I know? My life is a lie.
I liked the sound and the variety of the album, very nostalgic for my teen years and thinking I had a lot of feelings.
Wilco's a fine enough band n all but i'm so fucking sick of hearing people go "hey, there's good country music out there! like Wilco!" Being There is like eating wings without ranch/bleu cheese. fine enough if you don't know any better, but missing a key part. the further Tweedy drifts towards indie rock, the less flavorful the music gets. that doesn't necessarily make it bad, but this really didn't do a ton for me already and it's like 76 minutes. deserves to be one of the 1001? tee bee aitch you could take this one off, but i do want to note that it's more deserving than the one with Billy Bragg
ziemlich stark. 3.90 sterne
Loved loved loved
Boring
I really like this version of Wilco, before they became the (hipster) people’s band.
Nunca fui muy Wilco, dice que tienes que ir a un concierto para convertirte a su religión. Este disco me ha gustado en general y me he guardado: Outtasite y Red-Eyed and Blue.
Americna folk that’s well played and his voice is quite good . It’s just a little too dull for 2 songs Let alone 20. “I was mamed by This album “ Will certainly offer value for money with 3 or more different sounds in just the first 4 songs … it’s just a pity none of them are overly interesting
Too long for its own good. Has some moments, but a lot of filler.
Not as good as 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' (their best album by a mile) 'Being There' is nonetheless a solid album that shows Wilco at near the top of their game. It's just not a perfect five-star album and that's OK.
A pretty good album, I liked Far Away and Someday Soon the most.
Wilco’s alt country album Being There doesn’t quite make it there. Lead writer seems like he brooding, sullen, and lonely. Top track is Monday which shows up early. Musically the album is well played, but it runs long and the songs get very similar by the hour and a quarter finish. I appreciate the double album at the going rate of a standard LP, but I think it’s why this one makes The 1001 Must Hear List. (2.25*s) Still a little too country for me…
Being There is alright. Little boring but a good finish with the last 5 songs. Wilco may be a better listen on headphones cause I wrapped the album up after my commute in the office with them on. The album was a bit too laid back and folky. Band members are good on their instruments though with nice banjo/bongo accompaniments throughout. Decent listen but not a must in my book...2.3 stars.
It's been 640 albums since we had an entry from Wilco, who I had heard of but didn't know any songs from on the previous go around. Nice to revisit an artist 2+ years later after getting through more than half of this list. Feelings toward Wilco in the wake of this appear to line up with the first entry. I don't remember the specifics of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot but recall the light alt-folk-rock vibes that worked for a single listen. Not a bad album to chill out to on an afternoon if the mood is right. This one seems to have a little more emotional investment as some of the topics come off as pretty personal to the lead singer. All in all I found Being There to be another decent indie album. As usual 75 minutes is too long, and the album would have been better served if cut down a bit but still not a bad listen. Slightly better than average and won't be mad if more Wilco shows up. I don't think I'll go out of my way to hear more Wilco but also wouldn't turn them off if I ran into it in the wild. 2.54 stars
Not as good as the tango foxtrot one and very sad but good
When I initially saw the runtime, I was a little concerned. Surprisingly, I didn't feel like this album dragged or had much filler. Solid sounds overall. A little slow for my taste at times, but still enjoyable.
3/5: This album sounded like Walmart Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to me with a little more experimenation. There were some interesting chords and sounds for some of the songs, but there weren't any songs that I thought were amazing or really caught me ear. The songs all felt very solid though, and there was never a point where this felt like top 1000 album material. I read some of the positive reviews and if this album inspired a lot of different musicians from different genres than that is understandable. "Why Would You Wanna Live" was probably my favorite track. I might give this a second listen at some point and change my mind.
A poor start with this album but it did grow on me.
I'm not sure how to classify this. It seems to be a blend of country and rock with hints of classic 60s influence. Good musicianship and generally easy listening. Not cutting edge but I enjoyed it.
good but its just a bit long innit
Never heard of album or band. Indie ish cover so again low expectations. 1 hour 20, I’m bailing after 40 if it sucks. Cool opening. Really cool what he’s doing w the guitar. Good piano and singing but this is very sad boy. It’s not horrible just way too slow for me. I like it a lot more when it kicks up in the back half. More whiny indie nonsense on far far away. It’s well written just agin not what I’m looking for. I like the western vibes though that shows some range. Another cool change of pace in Monday. Still some county aspects but much more rock poppy. Fun song. Outtasite is fine. Another generic 90s pop rock song. Nothing special so far and I’ve made it through both singles. Not good. Back to country with forget the flowers. Weird back and forth going on. Good writing on this one. Fun song but still not moving the needle. Anddd back to sad boy indie on red eyed and blue. Don’t like it. Too slow. Mid production. Good musical solo. And now 80s rock vibe with I got you. You have to respect the range and variety of songs so far. Still tho, no bangers. Hate the clapping in I got you. And right back to country with what’s the world. Forgettable song aside from the awesome organ solo. Not really a fan of either hotel Arizona or say you miss me. Both too whiny and indie for me. Good piano on Miss me though. I can tell you now this album isn’t getting a high score, but part of me doesn’t want to quit cuz I actually really like how it jumps between styles. The issue is none of the songs are very good. Meeting break. But quick comment. Maybe if their albums didn’t suck indie bands wouldn’t be independent? I’ve been told their indie to “stick it to the man” but to me it seems like they just weren’t talented enough to get a record deal, but just narcissistic enough to still think their album is good enough to release. Unless you’re one of like 5 bands, it ain’t. Keep it to yourselves and your friends who will say anything you release is good. With all that being said, obviously it doesn’t really apply to Wilco as eventually they did get a real record deal. Style of music still isn’t that good. It should’ve stayed in the 90s/early 2000s. Ok back to the album. Sunken treasure is pretty cool I guess. Good production, nothing special with vocals or lyrics. Didn’t need 6 mins of that. Back to country with someday soon. I like the country songs much better which says something because I don’t like country. Really nice guitar on this one. Outta mind sucks. Way too indie alt. Just the exact type of song I hate. And more whiny alt music with someone else’s song. Country sadness. Still doesn’t hit. I’m done, I’ve made it about an hour and it’s just not getting any better. Again, I respect the range but it’s two genres I don’t really like. JAA. 2.4/5.
Never heard them before but thought they were a middle of the road indie rock band Heard first song and really didnt like it. However as this turned into an Eagles,RollingvStones and Willie Nelson mash up i grew to love it. Think if it had of been a single lp it would have been an easy 5
Not a bad album, just too long. 3 stars.
Easy listening - Wilco is very nostalgic for me. Favorite was red eyed and blue
I really enjoyed this one
It gives the vibes of a high school student in a Midwestern suburbs in the 2000s. A bit of melancholy, a bit of innocence and regret, and it has a certain charm that I can't describe. And that's why I love this. I did not expect me to like it, but I want to check out this band's other projects
Every single song on this album is amazing.
I have never liked Wilco that much mainly stemming from both the kind of people who like Wilco and because I think that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is super overrated. This album grew on me the more I listened. I think that it is too long, but the musicianship and variety kept me engaged. I remain in the Jay Farrar camp re Uncle Tupelo, but this is a solid well made album.
Wilco is a great band and they rarely put put a bad song. Most songs are similar and if you like one you will like them all. Its a mellow album of pop folk rockish that is very soothing and comforting to meditete and relax.
No matter how much I listen to them, I cannot get into Wilco. Their music is so incredibly bland to me. I can tell they're good musicians. The songs are probably totally fine. But I have never enjoyed listening to them. It's not offensive, but I would never choose to listen to them. Almost took off a star for the last track ending with a totally disgusting, phlegmy cough.
It’s no Yankee Foxtrot, but still pretty good
Surprisingly a great album, didn’t kimono would enjoy it as much as I did!
Was it necessary for this to be this long. A couple of songs were nice, but most of it was a bit sluggish to go through.
Best Song: Far, Far Away I've actually listened to this before. If I'm being honest, the last time I listened I liked it more than this time. After listening to so many albums, this just seems kind of vanilla. It's standard rock n' roll with very little standouts. It isn't bad and it isn't good, it's just middle of the road. I'm not really sure why this is included outside of 1996 wasn't a time for this kind of music - if you weren't grunge, hip-hop, or nu-metal you weren't really a part of the culture so maybe they felt good old rock n' roll should be mentioned. I don't get it and I won't listen again. 3/5.
CEST LONG 3-/5
I was not familiar with this band but the more I hear this band the more I like them.
the lonely 1 wow what an amazing song the rest is okay i suppose
I like Wilco! Wish I could rate this a 3.5
Quite a few good songs on this with a few dead spots. Good variey and a mix of genres.
Rating:★★★
Very up and down in terms of energy. Not sure if I like it as a whole but there are nice moments
Recht klassischer Gitarrenrock. Damals vielleicht interessant, aus heutiger Sicht ziemlich überholt
The album that introduced me to Jeff and the gang back in the early 2000s. Am all time favorite
very much not for me
I’ve liked this one since it came out. It’s obviously too long, but the vibe and songs are great.
tippe at albumet blir bedre og bedre jo flere gang man høre på det, villa gitt 4.5
Litt for cøntry for å få 5
Misunderstood Monday Outtasite (Outta Mind)
Interesting sound, sort of country and classic rock with a personal and modern touch. Some really good songs but definitely not enough to justify the long runtime
3.75
Not my cup of tea
Overall, it’s fine but it didn’t set the heather alight. Favourite track: (Was I) In Your Dreams
Having somehow never listened to much Wilco despite them being big in my formative years, I wasn't sure what to expect. It started slow and I was worried it would be another meandering album of 90s sad boy rock. It's certainly got its fair share of that, and it definitely meanders, but into some sick-ass funky country rock that I really loved. So Wilco, I apologize, I wasn't really familiar with your game.
I don't know why Wikipedia classified this album as country-rock. They sound a lot like the Stones, this is rock n roll. A very good rock n roll album. 4 stars.
I liked this a lot, Wilco are a band I should definitely explore more as a big fan of this sort of indie. I liked the country touches.
Too long
Some of the guitar and other string instruments sound so tender at times. While I feel it was a bit too long and some songs blended together too much, I would say I enjoyed a lot of this album. The Lonely 1 has to be one of my favorite tracks. It all makes me wonder what they were writing about.
Wilco is just so lovely and like a softer, more agreeable version of Stephen Malkmus to me (sorry Stephen I also love your work.) This album in particular was very dreamy and had beautiful, tender points. Kingpin and The Lonely1 were highlights.
Very good album top to bottom. At times he reminded a bit of the singers from the Eels. I like them both. Some songs hit different than others but there were a few that truly made me "feel" the song. Those were my favorites and include Misunderstood, Red-Eyed and Blue, Sunken Treasure Was I in Your Dreams and The Lonely 1. Album was a bit long long, but I really didn't mind. Overall a very good album I will probably throw on at work. A very good background music at work album. This guy was just near me and now I'm sorry I didn't take the time to see him on concert. He has a few other songs I enjoy, not on this album. While this was more deep with a pop sound, you can definitely hear the country influence. Very good and will revisit. 4
4 I’ve gotta say, the more Wilco I listen to, the more I find myself really enjoying their music. Even in the case of this particular album, if you had asked me what I thought about it initially, I probably would have told you that it’s a mostly enjoyable, but bloated experience, and yet, with every subsequent listen, that 77-minute runtime grew to feel shorter and shorter. There are some songs here for sure that present themselves more noticeably than others, with the opener, Misunderstood, being one in particular that grabbed me almost immediately. Jeff Tweedy has a lot of well-written, relatable tunes, but this one might take the cake. Hell, I dare say the buildup of the track elevates it even above I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. The Side 2 opener, Sunken Treasure, scratches much of that same itch as well, but with more of a tender approach than an angsty one. They sort of feel like two sides of the same coin in that way, to the point where the latter even provides a sense of denouement regarding the narrator’s questioning love of rock and roll - and it results in one of the most powerful moments of the album (one Jeff supposedly improvised, but I don’t think that makes it any less impactful). While the two songs started as and continue to remain my personal favorites from the album, there’s still a lot of charm throughout if you open yourself up to what all there is to offer - and it’s quite a bit. The biggest reason why I think the 77-minute runtime actually works is because no two songs really sound the same, not even Outtasite (Outta Mind) and Outta Mind (Outta Sight), though thematically similar. This was not the kind of album that I expected to tackle so many genres, but it genuinely does them all well, and while it does heavily tend to skew acoustic, even then it can’t seem to make up its mind if it’s more country-leaning, folk-leaning, Americana-leaning, or simply the kind of thing you might hear from your drunk buddy at the campfire (honestly, a Wonderwall cover would not have felt out of place here). Some might call it inconsistent in that way, but I think Jeff’s songwriting and the overall themes that comprise them manage to tie the whole package together effectively. I mean, I’m not someone who’s normally prone to turning up to Hank Williams/Woody’s Roundup-type shit, but I could see myself doing it with this here, so do with that what you will. So, yeah, as of this writing, this is probably my favorite Wilco album, but I also think this has made it clear that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Mermaid Avenue are overdue for reassessment.
Folky Striaght fwd Rock - heartache themes
The first song started out so menacing then swicthes to a guitar peaceful melody with melenchoic lyrics like damn what a switch up The Lonely 1 instrumental with the violins was a blessing to my ears Nah dreamer in my dreams part when the singer coughed, you good bro?
I really should love Wilco, but I do not. I really enjoyed the more relaxed, acoustic, country/Americana style songs, while the electric rockers just missed the mark for me. Wilco comes off sounding like a much worse version of the Black Crowes on those tracks. Overall it's too long and it isn't great. It can only be a very generous - THREE STARS
Pocas bandas son tan importantes para mí como Wilco y pocos discos son tan seminales para mí como "Being There", la primera de muchas obras maestras de la legendaria banda midwestern liderada por el Jeff Tweedy, quien es, según mi opinión, uno de los mejores compositores vivos. No soy fanático de los discos largos, pero cuando cada canción te entrega tanto como las pistas de "Being There", es imposible no querer más y más; básicamente, me encantaría que este disco nunca se acabara. Una mezcla perfecta entre country, indie y rock. Me arriesgaría a que es la vez en que estos tres géneros mejor han convivido en un LP. Desde las eufóricas Outtasite (Outta Mind), Monday, I Got You (At the End of the Century), pasando por las baladas como Misunderstood, Forget the Flowers, Dreamer in My Dreams, y más, Tweedy y la primera iteración de Wilco te entregan una bandeja gigante de texturas, sonidos y paisajes acompañados de la preciosa poesía del compositor y su característica voz, aguda pero rasposa. Sencillamente uno de los discos que se sienta tranquilamente en el panteón de lo mejor que puede entregar Estados Unidos. Pistas recomendadas TODAS (pero especialmente las que nombré en la reseña de arriba)
there are some good parts on this album but i guess that's something that's gotta happen when you make the album 1623 hours long
3 5
eh, its fine, not a huge fan
This shit was ass
I don't mind a bit of Wilco and it sort of makes a nice change of pace and sound on this list.
Det er meget sjovt! Der er nogle fede syre-rock ting iblandt, og nogle sjove akkorder der virkelig vækker mig som lytter. Synes virkelig om Jeff Tweedys sangskrivning og vokal faktisk. Det er meget trygt at lytte til. og så spiller bandet bare virkelig fedt! Der er ingen der rigtig spiller over sig, de gør bare alle sammen lige det som sangen har brug for. Meget mindre country end jeg lige troede om Wilco, men det er vist også meningen på det her album! Til gengæld er det nok de mere country agtige ting jeg bedst kan lide. I hvert fald når jeg kigger på mine highlights Det bliver nok til en kneben 4,5/5 Highlights: "Forget The Flowers" "Misunderstood" "Far, Far Away" "What's The World Got In Store"
it was ok, a couple of songs stood out. very chill.
I think I finally get Wilco. I just had to find the right album.
This left me completed cold. I don’t hear anything on here that doesn’t feel like it is heavily in debt to something else better. And his voice is not great. Unremarkable. And far, far too long
Good album, especially for the time. Dig the introspective lyrics for the most part. That being said, it’s too long and I think I’m too old to relate at this point. Very light 3
My kinda shit. My girlfriend said she wasn’t fussed about Wilco, I said how can she not like Wilco? She exclaimed that’s the most guy who dresses like I do thing to say.
I’ve never listened to this until now, despite being a Wilco fan. Thought it was great and definitely overlooked, I’d never even heard it mentioned before in any ‘class records’ conversations. Its definitely Wilco, which I like, but also more stripped back than I’m used to. Very good, and will add it to my regular listening lists. 4.5
This definitely landed with me quicker than foxtrot, there's some absolute belters on this record. Really like the more stripped back acousticish stuff. Far far away, sunken treasure and the lonely 1 in particular are brilliant. Admittedly there is a country undertone to a lot of this that I'm never going to be a huge fan of, though it's delivered about as well as it could be. Overall, 4.5 but more a 4, though I'm going to go back and listen to more Wilco now.
Wilco are maybe my favourite "new" band from the list. Okay, tied with The National. Not quite as good as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, they really developed their sound. Hotel Arizona is probably my the strongest on the album. Listened a few times, blurred together, but made me feel happy and sad all at the same time. The drummer is underrated, he does a few unexpected things every now and then. Lovely business.
Not sure if this just caught me on the right day, but thought that was brilliant. I thought we'd only had the Billy Bragg and Wilco album previously, forgot about Yankee hotel foxtrot. I'll have to go back to that too. Really nice mix of acoustic, indie and county sounding songs. Reminiscent of beck, blind pilot and the shins. Really up my street Listened twice to confirm my suspicions.... It's a 5
I love Wilco, but Christ this album is way too long
Misunderstood - 4/5 Far, Far Away - 3.5/5 Monday - 4/5 Outtasite (Outta Mind) - 4/5 Forget the Flowers - 3.5/5 Red-Eyed and Blue - 3.5/5 I Got You (At the End of the Century) - 4/5 What's the World Got in Store - 3.5/5 Hotel Arizona - 4.5/5 Say You Miss Me - 4/5 Sunken Treasure - 4/5 Someday Soon - 3.5/5 Outta Mind (Outta Sight) - 3.5/5 Someone Else's Song - 3.5/5 Kingpin - 3.5/5 (Was I) In Your Dreams - 3.5/5 Why Would You Wanna Live - 3.5/5 The Lonely 1 - 3.5/5 Dreamer in My Dreams - 4/5 After listening to their more popular album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and feeling a bit underwhelmed by its hype, I was a bit apprehensive seeing this. But it's more Springsteen-rock inspired with the country style I expected from them. It's not that this is a bad album, I think that it might be just a tad too long, but I wouldn't say that any song on here is skippable. I might need to revisit YHF if I somehow like this one a lot better. Overall: 3.5/5 Favorites: Hotel Arizona
New to Wilco. Instantly groaned as I was Being There consisted of two discs. But I enjoyed. See a bit of Ryan Adams, Radiohead and The Replacements. A bit of rocky, country, folky Americana, with guitars front and centre. Disc two goes a bit more melancholic, bluesy, acoustic. Probably one I’ll come back to. Not mind altering stuff, but good.
I love me some sad boy music, but this was duuuuuuuuullllllll. Kinda U2, kinda coldplay and honestly laying near the likes of Elliot Smith and Radiohead. Honestly nowhere close. Idk man, if you wanna make sad man music you're gonna have to go for it way sadder and more pained, this was an absolute slog to get through. The cheek that Smog autoplayed after. This is what you could have been Wilco!!
Ya know what I like these guys and their melancholy indie country twang, good for them!
Some good tunes, but, it just went on and on..... in to nothingness...
It’s nice. Petty-esque with some GD seasoning.
Just a really great Americana…Pop…solid.
No tenía ni el álbum ni a la banda y me sorprendieron para bien. Sólido álbum pero no sale mucho de la caja de ese tipo de música.
Wilco wilco wilco, por qué no ponías esos dos discos a pelear para armar un disco solo con las mejores canciones? Lamentablemente no creo que nunca vuelva a escuchar el álbum entero, seguramente me guarde unas cuantas canciones, pero una lástima especialmente el segundo disco.
1996. Was supposed to be a double album.
Wow i can’t believe i put off Wilco for so long, this was incredible! An Indie rock core (obviously) including ballads and some songs even sound like they came from the 70’s. Now this is a double LP of 80 mins, and as much as i liked just about all of it, i still don’t think it needed to be that long, so it can lose points there for many people. Can’t wait to finally listen to YFH considering how much i liked this. Standouts are Misunderstood, Red-eyed and Blue, sunken treasure and especially Far, Far Away, i love that track.
Is it controversial to say that this is better than Yankee Hotel Foxtrot?
Easy going alt rock vibes all day
Music for landlords: details obscured by caulk and too much beige paint. Forget the Flowers was the first time I felt like these guys knew what kind of music they were playing. A pure country song that was competent, though pretty middle of the road. None of this has been bad, but pretty much all of it is uninspiring to me and is like a whole album of palate cleansers. I don't know if I can eat all of those they're serving here 2.49
I wanted to dismiss this as Dad country/rock, but honestly there's to much intelligence behind the arrangements, the album composition and the playing itself to do that. Is it my genre? Not really. But that doesn't mean I don't find myself tapping my foot to the should-be-generic rockabilly grooves or should-be-too-cheesy lyrics on some of the show numbers. They obviously could get heavy if they wanted to, because some of the intros or lead ins hey really nice and twisted. But then they go into these songs that, if it weren't for the arrangements where they inject it with something unexpected tone or chord progression, or some loose jamming that they sometimes devolve into, would be just typical country rock. But it isn't and I have to respect the effort. Also there are parts that remind me of Radiohead and I'm a sucker for that kind of thing.
I listened to the first track, saw the timeline of the full album track on YouTube, and thought: "Oh crap. Still more than an hour to finish this." The recording quality and use of instruments change so much throughout the album, and I really don't understand this lack of consistency... The style of the songs changes a lot, too. Sometimes it sounds like a boy singing to a Lou Reed song, sometimes like a boy singing to a Rolling Stones song...
Came in expecting rock. Got something quieter, more American, more country-adjacent than the genre label suggested. Wilco sit in a space I don't have much reference for — alt-country, roots rock, whatever the label is — and Being There is a long album to spend in unfamiliar territory. It was fine. Nothing grated, nothing grabbed. Some moments had a nice melancholy to them. As a double album it probably asks for more investment than I could give it cold. The kind of record that might reveal itself over time to someone with the right entry point — I just don't think I'm that person. 3/5 — inoffensive, occasionally warm, ultimately forgettable for me.
Very mixed bag here, lacking coherence. Most of the more alternative rock oriented tracks are quite listenable, but not much really stands out. The country stuff on the other hand... nope. Most of the ballads... yawn. Hotel Arizona was cool. 2.5/5 okay
Almost 5 stars, just too many songs to keep the quality t!-5 high. But loved this.
Lots of good stuff here. Some of the only “country” music I’ve heard that doesn’t make me want to turn off the music immediately. This album could’ve been a 5 if they trimmed off the fat but there is a LOT here and some of it just drags the album experience as a whole down.
I think I liked it. I played it, but nothing stood out that much. I will put this on the list of albums to listen to again. Maybe it just didn’t click.
One of the main reasons for following this list is to discover records I've never heard of or listened to before that I really like. And after 65 albums it's happened!
la verdad al principio me aburrió, sinceramente no la escuche entera
Nothing really memorable here. It was fine, but that’s a bit generous
Not certain why a run of the mill alternative band get to have 4 albums on this list but it just goes to show that each one of us doing this process would come up with a very different list. Nevertheless don’t think many music lovers in 100 or 50 years even will be waxing lyrical about Wilco. Doesn’t mean that this is a bad album but it just doesn’t resonate and is soon forgettable. 2/5 1/5/26
hmm. tweedious.
I just found this so boring
Another thing I've learned through this challenge is that my bias leans towards 2-4 minute songs with a verse-chorus-verse structure. You'd have to make a song that can catch my attention with key changes, instrument solos, hypnotic (not repetitive) musical sections, and/or catchy pop choruses. But sometimes, I don't need pop-adjacent tracks to keep me interested, and it's this album from Wilco that sounds good in theory when I want to immerse myself in the vibes. It sounds a bit like the debut from Dire Straits with less melody and more filler. I'd much prefer if they made it concise as there are only some songs that really stood out to me (i.e. Kingpin, Sunken Treasure, Say You Miss Me, etc.). Thankfully by the second disc I started to like it (3-3.5).
Wilcoooo
Really good
The first couple of songs gave the 90s shimmering chords and grindy fuzz that made me very hopeful. But it just kept going (and I mean going). By the end of it, I'd zoned out. 3 stars.
This album is like hitching a ride home after a snowboarding trip. You get picked up by some dudes who were in the area, but claimed they weren't snowboarding. You strike up a conversation and ask what they were doing. They tell you how they read about Justin Vernon isolating himself in a semi-ramshackled log cabin to write For Emma, Forever Ago. They love that album, so they decided to do something similar, with hopes of writing the New Zealand version of the Last Great American Novel. You ask how it went, and they assure you they have the bones of something amazing. After explaining how they relied on Uber Eats for most of their meals, you wonder if perhaps they have missed the magic that Justin Vernon was capturing. You stop asking questions, and try to enjoy some quiet. Suddenly, a song that the guys really like comes on. Humphrey, riding shotgun, asks you to look around your feet to find his harmonica. You glance down and see it, but instead of handing it to him, you swiftly kick it under the driver's seat.
Disc 1 was great. 5 stars. Disc 1 dropped off a bit and I wouldn't listen to again. 3 stars.
I was hoping for more and didn't get it.
"I am so out of tune with you"
Just can't get into thisl
Fine musically, but too much country influence for my taste.
Like many a double album, this would have been better as a single album. I enjoyed it. 3.5/5
Even as a longtime Wilco fan I guess I kind of underrated this album as a solid early album with perhaps a little too much baby fat on it. But on relisten it’s actually quite an impressive merging of new noisy experimental leanings with the alt-country sound that slowly fades from Wilco in the mid 2000s. Very good!
This is a nice album overall. I don’t really have any major issues with it, but there’s nothing that pulls me back for another listen either. It feels like the kind of record you’d put on while sitting quietly on a front porch, maybe on a Colorado mountain vacation, just taking in the scenery and letting it drift by.
++: Monday, Red-Eyed and Blue, I Got You (At the End of the Century), Hotel Arizona, Say You Miss Me, Sunken Treasure, Someday Soon, Outta Mind (Outta Sight), Kingpin, Why Would You Wanna Live, Dreamer in My Dreams +: Misunderstood, Forget the Flowers, What's the World Got in Store, (Was I) In Your Dreams, The Lonely 1 +-: Far, Far Away, Outtasite (Outta Mind), Someone Else's Song 8,2/10
Enjoyed this one.
Overall pretty good though the unnecessary, excessive strumming/drumming/feedback noise before or after some tracks turned me off to rating it higher. Would be a ‘4’ without that nonsense.
Chill de cojones, muy tranquilo. 4/10
Never took the time to listen to Wilco despite being aware of them. Glad this project gave me the reason to listen to an album of theirs.
Would benefit from continued listening. 3.5
The problem is that there are so many other Wilco albums that I'd pick over this one that aren't on this list....
Musically fire, vocally wet noodle. I want to like Wilco but every album seems like they just aren’t sure who they are.
Rate: 9/10.
Another American Teenage Fanclub!
Incredibly versatile with every song and though it’s not a no skip album, the stand out songs are fantastic and I love to see the creativity flowing throughout this. The sad indie songs to the upbeat rock and country tracks give such a great through line. I do like the simple vocals too that help keep a grounded feel.
I thought I had a decent idea what Wilco are about. Apparently not. It’s Americana that I don’t hate. But I have no desire to choose to listen to.
Ts good
like it
Very enjoyable crossover of country/Americana/grunge.....
One of those bands I admire and wanna get more into but not fully with it yet, double album probably not helpful for that but still a bunch of great tracks on here
Being There, released in 1996 by Wilco, is an album that mixes alt-country roots with experimental tendencies. The ambition is clear: Wilco attempts to combine introspective lyricism with sprawling musical passages. However, the execution is uneven. Tracks like “Misunderstood” and “Far, Far Away” showcase narrative songwriting and a keen sense of melody, but they sit alongside moments that feel overextended or underdeveloped, such as the repetitive stretches in “Shot in the Arm.” The blend of earnest country inflections and experimental elements often results in an indecisive identity. Production favors a raw, rough-hewn sound, which lends authenticity but at times exposes weaknesses in pacing and cohesion. Ultimately, Being There offers glimpses of strong ideas but lacks focus and polish. It is an album of moments rather than fully realized songs. 6.5/10
I've heard a smattering of trashed talked about Wilco in general, but never felt the urge to dive in. The whole point of this list is to expand our listening, and this album certainly did. I found this enjoyable the whole way through. Lots of ups and downs, some great riffs. Nothing too shocking or boring.
Grew on me
It was okay. I didn’t sense anything groundbreaking but it was I suppose very good for the mid nineties. Didn’t hate it, but don’t remember much of it either.
Solid. Too long.
Man I like Wilco.
Man I get really strong early midwestern emo vibes from this. I can count on one hand how many times I've listened to Wilco and I'm a little confused why I havent listened to more over the years. I think I probably wouldn't have enjoyed this as much when I was younger. Pretty good listen, nice vibes, great vocals.
Midwestern western folk music. Surprisingly good! I enjoyed the lyrics and just the overall vibe of this one. Apparently I’ve been sleeping on Wilco
boring but not unbearable
Yes I liked this one. Some nice gentle pop songs and I quite like the vocals. Some of the arrangements were very nice too. Have heard some other stuff by Wilco but not this album. Will definitely check out the back catalogue.
I quite enjoyed this without falling in love with it. I’m familiar with Wilco, having listened to the Woody Guthrie collaborations they did with Billy Bragg back in the day. Do the general sound is familiar. But there was just a bit too much music here. Which seemed to all merge together without much variety or anything standing out. I’m sure that if I listened a few times it might grow on me, but given the length that’s unlikely. So, OK but nothing special.
long album, doesn't feel like a 90s rock one though. liked say you miss me, outta mind (outta sight), and the lonely 1
J'ai passé un bon moment à écouter cet album
Des mélodies ma foi plutôt sympathiques
Album avec du bon et du moins bon, pour ne pas dire bizarre, Je trouve que l’album n’est pas harmonieux et qu’il n’est pas dans la même atmosphère du début à fin Ce n’est pas un 3* par défaut mais c’est un mix entre des bonnes phases qui valent 4 et des moins bonnes qui valent 2
Wilco — Being There (1996) Favorite songs: Misunderstood (6:27) "A powerful opening with a guitar wall of sound and the repeated mantra "I wish I were misunderstood." A track about the frustration and weariness of rock stardom." Sunken Treasure (6:51) "One of the most epic and avant-garde tracks. It starts with a quiet fingerstyle, building into a noise collage. If you like Radiohead or Pixies, that's your choice. " Bottom line: country rock isn't my thing, but there were some songs with viola, which was cool.
Det er vist her Elias Rønnenfelt har sin inspiration fra, lyder 1:1 som noget han kunne have lavet. Jeg har en forestilling om at Anders hader det her, ved ikke hvorfor xD Jeg synes, det var meget fedt, tror det er en svag 3'er igen.
for evigt et af de bands, der bare ikke rigtig hænger fast for mig, selvom jeg prøver. jeg kan godt lide det, jeg synes faktisk, at det er et rigtig smukt album men det er også for langt, og det bliver momentalt for monotont. lidt for meget af det samme går igen, og det betyder, at der ikke stikker noget ud - hverken på godt eller ondt. de mere rockede numre føles som en abstraktion, et forsøg på at bryde ensretningen, mere end sange, der reelt set berettiger deres egen plads på pladen. de føles som et skridt væk fra kernekompetencen numrene gør sig godt - albummet i mindre grad. og det er trods alt albummet som helhed, der bedømmes, ikke delene. 2.8
Yeah, no. I know I’m supposed to love this band, but this is some white boy nonsense. I’m not listening to none of this.
Some singable tunes
A ver. El album no está mal. Pero no entiendo qué le aporta de novedoso a 1997. Las canciones son buenas, está bien y entretiene. No es igualmente un género que me atraiga, u no le veo sentido que sea tan largo. 5/10
(V) One of my favorite Wilco records.
Can totally get why this may be up someone's alley but it's pretty dang good. It is long so if you weren't appreciating it it's definitely a slog. I do think the highs are pretty high but with this many songs it makes it hard to elevate. Love Misunderstood though, especially live. That's the good stuff Look forward to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot at some point in the next 900 days or so.
Part of me feels bad rating this kinda low because I liked most of the individual songs, but it kinda really bled together after a while. Shoutout to dreamer in my dreams though, where he tries something new!
Me gustó
I'm sure there was a time when this would have been a part of my musicall taste but not as much now. It borrows from so many recognizable influences and just becomes sort of a conglomeration of all of stuff thrown at the wall and some of it sticks and some doesn't.
Nice blend of blues, rock, and bluegrass. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Enjoyed the listen but would not return.
Folk rock, classic rock vibes with good songs.
From my memory of this album, I was expecting to give it a 4. But man I forgot how good it was. Misunderstood, Sunken Treasure, Forget the Flowers, there's not a bad song on the album.
The first half of the album was hit or miss for me, but the second half sold me. It also helped me understand why Jeff likes Wilco -- it's sort of a blend of Bright Eyes and Bruce Springsteen.
quite enjoyable!
Oddly, never listened to this Wilco album. Not running back to give it another immediate listen. I have to remind myself of when it came out and not get hung up that it feels long and boring at current.
I quite like Wilco, and it looks like I have been sleeping on this album. It's got some great songs even if it is too long. The steel guitar is great here, it especially stood out on "Kingpin." Favorite track: "Monday"
Better than AM, but not as good as YHF. Wilco is great.
Biggest complaint is its too long and too generic. I love alt rock indie, and this is a solid band/album that fits. Nothing is bad and I can find myself rocking along. It pulls in a lot of 90s vibes and sounds and I can see how this is a progression in the musical world. However, nothing pushes me or feels like it is anything but safe. Maybe chill is just their vibe and they don't have any other setting but I was just waiting for a little more. Still a solid album but my mind was yearning for a little more.
Had this been trimmed to the best 12 songs, it would be an easy 5 for its alt-country genre. On paper, Wilco is indie cool and pretty great, but what has always bothered me about them is that they are too safe. Their songs are verse chorus verse and definitely catchy, but nothing else. Throw in an electric guitar solo, and then move on to a rambling country song. Again, that’s fine, but they don’t light any sort of fire in my soul. I’m still going with a 4 here because the songs are solid, yet the album is just too long.
A little bit of country, a little bit of rock and roll. This album feels like it IS Illinois with its mix of urban and rural influence and general Midwest vibes. Pekin even gets a mention. I really liked it, it just made me feel good. Only complaint is that some of the slow songs on disc 2 got a little long and boring. This could’ve been edited down to one album.
Just far too long. Maybe others will see subtleties that I'm missing, but this record just didn't offer enough variety to just the length. What is there is very good, but eventually too much of a good thing. Would be a four-star record if it was half the length.
I cant belive they thought they were interesting enough to make a double album. Its 76 minute long and it feels like 76 days. The music itself is passable but every song sounds so similar to the other. It gets hard to judge fairly after you think youve heard the same song 5 times... I liked "missunderstood" and "Sunken treasure" was decent.
Certainly, a different sound from their later albums, but still a good one, nonetheless. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I’m above a 5. These are the same guys who did “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”? Are we sure? The guys who sounded like “American Radiohead” are out here doing an alt-country album 5 years earlier & doing a damn good job with it – color me surprised that this is what Wilco’s original style was like, as it’s somehow both way out of left field & right down my alley. I enjoy country music when it’s done well, so this album doing the genre justice as well as it does, while integrating soft portions of the grunge of the mid-90s in a way that doesn’t really too harshly one way or the other feels like a miracle. This sounds like ZZ Top at times, the Rolling Stones at others, Matchbox 20 on occasion, and yet, it’s all pretty cohesive. For Wilco, at least from what I thought I knew of them, I’m just really surprised. I’m also surprised this thing is as consistently energetic as it is; despite so many of the tracks here being lyrically somber or snarky in some way, a lot of these tracks have faster tempos & a really vibrant approach to the soundscape. The guitars are always doing something fun, the percussion knows when to kick into gear, and the supplemental stuff (fiddles/banjos/piano/etc) fits in perfectly. It also knows when to slow down that energy and let the lyricism breathe. These are pretty well written, but Jeff Tweedy’s delivery makes some of the more mundane / repeated lines feel fresh. His voice is an underrated instrument here, and it does show aspects of what he’d REALLY push forward by “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”. Going track by track here would be a fool’s errand – this is a 19-track album, and that’s just too many to cover all at once, especially since I liked all of them. My favorites are probably “Monday”, “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”, “I Got You (At the End of the Century)”, “What's the World Got in Store”, “The Lonely 1” & “Dreamer in My Dreams”. The last one in particular, closing out the album with a suicide song wrapped in a bluegrass bow, is, at the very least, the most fascinating one here to me. Its message is in plain sight, but I didn’t perceive it that way until the very end. I just assumed all that “swinging” was optimistic energy awaiting his son’s birth & the future to come, so I clearly got suckered into the happy vibes of the instrumental. Why exactly is it not a 10 like “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” if I liked every track here & had a number of favorites, then? Frankly, it’s just a bit long. This is 25 minutes longer, and to be totally frank, I don’t think it uses all of its 76 minutes as tightly as it could. For as good as these tracks are individually, there is a slight lack of focus that starts to kick in after “Someday Soon”; not in the writing or delivery, but just in the pacing of the album. It starts to meander a bit, retreading on some themes & instrumental styles that’s definitely noticeable. It didn’t affect me too badly, but it is something that might bite on any future relistens. I don’t know if any tracks NEED to be cut here, since they’re all good, but some of them probably could’ve been trimmed out. It’s not my place to decide which ones though. Regardless, it’s still somewhere above a 5, at least for my tastes; this was super enjoyable, and I think they did a great job. I’m very glad to have heard country Wilco, & I’m very glad this is on the list. P.S.: Whenever we get “Mermaid Avenue”, I’ll be very intrigued to see how they handle Woody Guthrie lyrics. Those are from a totally different generation, and putting those to music in their style feels like it could be very strange. I hope it's good though.
The album was fine, nothing crazy, but not bad either. I started out thinking I wouldn't like it, but it wound up being fine.
A nice listen. surprised that it was OK
Double albums are just so much. almost put it down after the first half. glad I didn't, second half is my favorite. Solid 4 as a single album
First time listening to album. First time I remember listening to Wilco at all. Some good songs, but album is a little too long. While I enjoyed in general No idea why it is a must listen.l, but not bad. 0 songs