Album of the Week #50: "Being There" by Wilco

Zapp Brannigan

Not the biggest Wilco fan so I'm gonna let others take up discussion about this album (bubs and lordy)

Don't forget to get ye're vote casts for next week.

Bubs101

Fantastic album and probably the one that best represents the county aspect of Wilco's reputation. Incredibly ambitious, considering this was only their second album and their first album, A.M. bombed in sales. Jeff and co. decided to reduce their cut from Being There so as to keep the double disc format and not have to cut some songs, a decision which still costs them money to this day. It's also the first of the albums which Jay Bennet has a say in (a very good thing).

Musically, it's a massive massive step up from A.M.. When you compare Misunderstood to I Must be High (A.M.'s opener) the difference in class is noticeable instantly and lyrics seem like they're written by somebody else. Casino Queen may be a great song but it ain't exactly thought provoking

Disc 1 is probably the stronger of the two. Misunderstood is a great epic opener with great lyrics and a smashing end (NOTHING...NOTHING...NOTHING etc.). Far far away is a nice enough song but nothing amazing. Monday is one of the most accesible songs on the album (a good thing because the album is generally inaccessible) and the definition of a Wilco "easy rocker". Outtasite is another rocker, albeit another quality one (probably better than monday). Forget the Flowers is a personal favourite. Love the harmonies. Red Eyed and Blue and I Got You must be listened to together and are undoubted higlights of the album. They segue absolutely perfectly together. Hotel Arizona is a great song. Can't say why I love it but I do. Great organ. Say you Miss me is decent and a fitting title to finish the disc.


Disc 2 is slightly more relaxed with alot more emphasis on accoustic guitar. Sunken Treasure is another brilliant opener with great lyrics. Someday Soon is a forgetful track that chugs along. Outtamind appears again this time in accoustic form. To say it sound a little like Sesame Street is an understatement. Someone else's song is a nice little filler with a funny enough injoke ( the song uses the most common chord progression in country music and the lyrics deal with similar subject matter). Kingpin is a great accoustic number. Was I in your Dreams? is a little fillerish but still decent enough. Forgettable. Why Would you Wanna Live? is my favourite song on the album. Nice sounding simple beat progression up to a lovely banjo solo with good-sparing lyrics. For me, this is as close as music can get too perfection on disc. Live, it sounds terrible (and thus they've only played it less than ten times) but on CD it is just produced so well and everthing fits into place. The Lonely 1 is another accoustic number with an emphasis on Tweedy's voice and the lyrics (alot of that on the second disc i.e. Sunken Treasure) and Dreamer in My Dreams is just a kind of drunken barn stomping send off. Certainly out of place and gets alot of criticism but I like it.

For anyone who hasn't heard any of Wilco before this is certainly not the place to start, it's a little daunting at first and hard to get into. Hotel Yankee Foxtrot is really what you want. Once you love that (it's a given ) then get Being There. It's only 10 squid in Tower most of the time.

lordgoat

Bubs101 wrote: »

Fantastic album and probably the one that best represents the county aspect of Wilco's reputation. Incredibly ambitious, considering this was only their second album and their first album, A.M. bombed in sales. Jeff and co. decided to reduce their cut from Being There so as to keep the double disc format and not have to cut some songs, a decision which still costs them money to this day. It's also the first of the albums which Jay Bennet has a say in (a very good thing).

Musically, it's a massive massive step up from A.M.. When you compare Misunderstood to I Must be High (A.M.'s opener) the difference in class is noticeable instantly and lyrics seem like they're written by somebody else. Casino Queen may be a great song but it ain't exactly thought provoking

Disc 1 is probably the stronger of the two. Misunderstood is a great epic opener with great lyrics and a smashing end (NOTHING...NOTHING...NOTHING etc.). Far far away is a nice enough song but nothing amazing. Monday is one of the most accesible songs on the album (a good thing because the album is generally inaccessible) and the definition of a Wilco "easy rocker". Outtasite is another rocker, albeit another quality one (probably better than monday). Forget the Flowers is a personal favourite. Love the harmonies. Red Eyed and Blue and I Got You must be listened to together and are undoubted higlights of the album. They segue absolutely perfectly together. Hotel Arizona is a great song. Can't say why I love it but I do. Great organ. Say you Miss me is decent and a fitting title to finish the disc.


Disc 2 is slightly more relaxed with alot more emphasis on accoustic guitar. Sunken Treasure is another brilliant opener with great lyrics. Someday Soon is a forgetful track that chugs along. Outtamind appears again this time in accoustic form. To say it sound a little like Sesame Street is an understatement. Someone else's song is a nice little filler with a funny enough injoke ( the song uses the most common chord progression in country music and the lyrics deal with similar subject matter). Kingpin is a great accoustic number. Was I in your Dreams? is a little fillerish but still decent enough. Forgettable. Why Would you Wanna Live? is my favourite song on the album. Nice sounding simple beat progression up to a lovely banjo solo with good-sparing lyrics. For me, this is as close as music can get too perfection on disc. Live, it sounds terrible (and thus they've only played it less than ten times) but on CD it is just produced so well and everthing fits into place. The Lonely 1 is another accoustic number with an emphasis on Tweedy's voice and the lyrics (alot of that on the second disc i.e. Sunken Treasure) and Dreamer in My Dreams is just a kind of drunken barn stomping send off. Certainly out of place and gets alot of criticism but I like it.

For anyone who hasn't heard any of Wilco before this is certainly not the place to start, it's a little daunting at first and hard to get into. Hotel Yankee Foxtrot is really what you want. Once you love that (it's a given ) then get Being There. It's only 10 squid in Tower most of the time.

What a comprehensive post. I haven't much to add was you've covered it to a tea.

I do love Dreamer in my dreams though, great to howl along too. Lots of great songs across both disks but not a good starting point for the new fan.

Also it's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - tut tut but i'll forgive ya!

Seriously though, great post.

Bubs101

lordgoat wrote: »

What a comprehensive post. I haven't much to add was you've covered it to a tea.

I do love Dreamer in my dreams though, great to howl along too. Lots of great songs across both disks but not a good starting point for the new fan.

Also it's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - tut tut but i'll forgive ya!

Seriously though, great post.

I always make that mistake for some reason when I don't use the abbreviations. Also, it's tee

sweetie

My all time number one album. Misunderstood is probably my favourite song on it at the moment. Would also recommend picking up summerteeth and YHF for the best Wilco experience. Great post Bubs

chris d

Two amazing opening tracks? On the one album? It can't be done surely?
Yes it can, it's Wilco.

Brilliant record. Imagine this was the first thing Tweedy came up with after Uncle Tupelo, he'd either have been locked up or heralded as the genius he surely is. I love A.M. but it's def got a sense of being rushed out to beat Jay Farrar in the race to release something that's not U.T.

The other Jay, despite being fat & having dreadlocks, is brilliant on this. He knows music.

Pity the Lonely One is sh!t though.

Saw them in Nottingham a few years back and they played Monday, Outtasite & Kingpin. It was unreal.