Wilco

Being There

Being Jeff Tweddy

Review Score:

(10/10)
From the ashes of Uncle Tupelo beget two wonderful bands, Wilco and Song Volt. When co-founder/co-songwriter/co-lead singer of Uncle Tupelo Jay Farrar left his friend and co-founder Jeff Tweedy with his bass guitar swinging in the breeze, Jeff knew he had to do something. They had been to many the founders of this style of music we now call alt-country or Americana, and now split, both artists were determined to continue to put their own creative stamps on the music world.

Jeff Tweedy started his new band, Wilco, with some of the musicians that were hired as touring members of Uncle Tupelo at the time of its demise. He knew that since Jay had left him, and was most likely going to put together his own band (which he did, Son Volt) he figured he'd better get on it and put something together.

Wilco's first effort, titled A.M, was a smash hit among the alt-country followers. A perfect follow up to Uncle Tupelo's final record, Anodyne. But after riding that style of music he helped form, Jeff felt it was time to move on, to dip more into his early influences of rock and pop music.

Being There is an eclectic collection of songs, chosen from various styles of music, that will tickle your ear drums and cause uncontrollable foot tappin' and knee slappin'. From the first track, Tweedy puts all his chips into the pot and goes for broke. He clearly doesn't want to be stereotyped or labeled as only a country rock or alt-country poster boy. He's got more to offer the world of music, and more to prove to himself.

Misunderstood (track 1) starts out very calm with Tweedy strumming away on his acoustic guitar as if he's making this song up right before turning in for the night. Reflecting on times of old and declaring to his past that he's no longer the man we've known all these years, at least not entirely. Before the song explodes we hear the ex-Uncle Tupelo bass guitar player declaring his place in the world with lines like "I got my name from rock and roll" and "I was saved by rock and roll". And just as you think the song is going to leave you feeling nice an warm inside, Tweedy takes this opportunity to do away with his past and move on to better things, ranting almost maniacally "I'd like to thank you all! For nothing! I'd like to thank you all for nothing at all!!" and on and on until the songs ends just as it began, an older wise man reflecting and ready to move on.

From here on, the songs on this double album range from slow country rock ballads like "Far, Far Away", "Why would you wanna live?" and "The Lonely 1" to folkier tunes like "Someone else's song" to outright rockers and radio-friendly hits like "Outtasite (outtamind)", "Monday" and "I Got you". And plenty of other banjo plucking favorites sure to please Uncle Tupelo fanatics like "Forget the flowers" and "Someday Soon". And an odd, but incredibly fun and creative, second version of the same song, expect with the title and style of music flipped in "Outtamind (Outtasite)". With an intro that has a striking resemblance to a Sesame Street song.

The final track ("Dreamer in my dreams) ends like we hope this band will someday, NEVER! Of course it doesn't go on forever, but you get the sense that given the right amount of tape in the studio, they could have gone for hours. In fact, some of the band members even try to end the songs two or three times, until they realize Tweedy isn't done quite yet. He seems to not want this album to end. And if we're lucky, the same fire and attitude wrapped up in this song with keep the Wilco flame burning for years and years.

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