My name is Rock & Roll Ghost and I am a Wilcoholic. I first got hooked on all things Wilco and Jeff Tweedy late into his previous band, Uncle Tupelo’s time. From there it was AM, then Being There, then the Mermaid Avenue albums with Billy Bragg and so on.
I’ve stayed addicted through the lineup changes, the stylistic changes, the personal and professional “drama”, the Nudie suits, the laptop era and so on. I’ve seen the band perform about a dozen times, but have probably lost count and, thankfully, haven’t gotten hung up on remembering and, also thankfully, haven’t left my family to follow the band wherever they go.
But I am addicted to Wilco. I have absolutely not an ounce of impartiality any longer. I’m probably not even fit to write about their latest, Wilco (the album), quite frankly.
I love it! No, no, I really do! It’s their best album since Sky Blue Sky. Which was their best album since A Ghost Is Born. Which was their best since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Honestly, there’s not a thing Tweedy and/or Wilco can do wrong in my eyes.
I’m a drooling fan addicted to the next thing all of them do. I follow each member’s progress almost as religiously. Pronto, Autumn Defense, Nels Cline Singers, On Fillmore…on and on and on. I await the next Loose Fur album with baited breath. I look forward to the next solo Glenn Kotche release with a fiery desire.
I’m insane and I’ve spread my insanity to my son as well as my oldest friend. Even my wife begrudgingly likes some of Wilco’s material (though she’s still mad at Jeff for not having money to feed his family in that scene from the documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart)…having just admitted that, as some songs of theirs come on her Zune randomly, she thinks to herself how good they sound only to check who it is and getting upset for finding out it was Wilco.
So yeah, Wilco (the album). I’ve been listening to this since it leaked about a couple of months ago. Sometimes in a constant loop. What in particular makes this so great you may ask?
If nothing else, “Bull Black Nova” is a tune that ranks among the band’s best ever. It’s as tight as “Spiders (Kidsmoke)”, as terrifying, though for different reasons, as “She’s a Jar” or “Via Chicago” and nearly as claustrophobic as “Hell Is Chrome”. The song’s crazed, nightmare ride with “blood in the sink” and “blood in the trunk” ends in two tightly coiled shouts. The song’s narrator appears to have done something violent that he can’t recall as he’s calling someone, screaming that they won’t “Pick up”.
Criticisms so far of Wilco’s latest have centered on the band not moving forward enough the last two releases. Never one to be pigeonholed, Tweedy appears to have thrown everyone another curve by not throwing them another wildly divergent curveball. And, while Wilco’s most consistent lineup ever delivers impeccable performances and Tweedy’s lyrics are as poignant and oblique as ever, you can imagine him smiling that he’s still managing to upset people’s expectations. My thought is that he will perhaps go so far out there on the next one that it’ll leave everyone scratching their heads in wonder.
Or not. I don’t personally have a problem with great lyrics matched with music by performers at the top of their game recorded and mixed in sumptuous ways as Wilco (the album) is. I don’t know if Tweedy necessarily needs a foil or if he needs “drama” in his life to make great art. The songs here still resonate and some are among the best the band have ever recorded.
The simple fact of the matter is fans have become accustomed to a “story” to go along with Wilco’s albums. Summerteeth was Jeff and Jay Bennett locking the other members out and riding a wave of neuroses and emotional disorders to a passionate blend of personal turmoil matched with gorgeous pop music; A Ghost Is Born was wrapped in post-Bennett anticipation from fans and Jeff finally taking full control over his demons and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, well, hell, if you don’t know that story you probably aren’t even reading this.
The story this time is that there is no story. Wilco are now a band who record and perform music together. They’re probably bigger than they ever were as a touring band and there’s no doubt that they’ll crack the Top 5 on the Billboard Charts next week with their newest.
Again, it’s about the music and not every album released needs a story to go along with it. I quite enjoy hearing the pop majesty of “Deeper Down” with Nels Cline’s angelic guitar work or Jeff’s delicate vocal matched by Mikael Jorgensen’s Dylan-esque keyboards on “Solitaire” or Cline’s tip of the hat to America (the band) on “I’ll Fight” or the breezy, delicateness of “You & I” featuring special guest Feist without anything coloring my perceptions.
Without a story I am free to enjoy Wilco (the album) on its own terms, discolored only by my own haze of fan worship. Quite frankly, what you think should always matter most when considering any art. And just remember that “Wilco will love you baby” and I will, in turn, continue to love Wilco.
My name is Rock & Roll Ghost and I am now, and forever will be, a Wilcoholic.
all photos credited to Autumn de Wilde.
Hi my name is Frank and I too am a Wilco-holic.
Thanks for being a kindred spirit out there.
My addiction started on the Summerteeth tour and I haven't looked back. I listened to YHF every night for over a year. For me, it takes a while to like each new album as I really get to liking the last one that the shift is hard to make. But I always find the new one just as enjoyable as the previous. If I had to pick a favourite it would be Summerteeth as that was my first love.