Advice on getting to know Wilco?

oktacoma

So, I've been told by too many people that I need to become familiar with Wilco because they are phenomenal. I looked at their discography and it is extensive so my question is where should I start? Any suggestions are welcomed.

dont_go_on_me

Kicking Television - Live In Chicago

DaytimeDilemma

There are like two sides two Wilco. Their early stuff - A.M., Being There, and Summerteeth.

And their later more experiemental stuff - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born.



I actually think a very good Wilco starting point would be with their newest album, Sky Blue Sky. It's accessible, but rocks pretty hard and Nels Cline rips it on lead guitar.


Then maybe I'd go Summerteeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost Is Born, Being There, and A.M.


Even thought A.M. I think is my all time favorite.

intodeep

Kicking Television Live in Chicago

It is like telling someone to check out live on two legs for pearl jam.

It gives you a little taste of all their albums except sky blue sky because that came out after it.

soclose

I'll third the Kicking Television suggestion. I personally started with Kicking Television because 1.) It was brand new at the time, and 2.) I couldn't pick one album to start with. It's very light on material outside of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born (I think AM was completely ignored), but it's still a great introduction.

You may also want to search the message pit since there's been a mini flood of Wilco talk lately. You'll probably get some more ideas from those threads.

rhinomagic

DaytimeDilemma wrote:

There are like two sides two Wilco. Their early stuff - A.M., Being There, and Summerteeth.

And their later more experiemental stuff - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born.


...

It's hard for me to group Summerteeth with the two albums before it. I think it belongs in the middle w/ YHF and Ghost because it is so vastly different from A.M. and Being There--like comparing country to pop/rock in some cases. I would, however, put the Mermaid Avenue recordings in with the first two albums. Then the third pairing I would make would include Kicking Television and Sky Blue Sky.

The live show is what makes Wilco so captivating to me. I would suggest to the OP to download some bootlegs as you go through the band's catalogue, too. That'll help you understand some of their progression.

Don't try to do it all at once. It may take several months to digest mass quantities of Wilco.

.

oktacoma

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I will start with Kicking Television. When I first got into My Morning Jacket, I started with their live album, Okonokos, and I think that was a wise move. So, I like the idea of starting with Wilco's live album. Thanks again!

Hatfield

oktacoma wrote:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I will start with Kicking Television. When I first got into My Morning Jacket, I started with their live album, Okonokos, and I think that was a wise move. So, I like the idea of starting with Wilco's live album. Thanks again!

I would start with Summer Teeth and AGIB. You are going to love Sky Blue Sky when you get to it. Any joe should be able to pick up that album and say, "I really like this".
Give AGIB 5 listens. Sitdown with Spiders(Kid Smoke) and feel what they are doing...At Least That's What You Said has the best Neil Young solo ever. He hits all the wrong notes at just the right time revealing a sense of melody that few can create. It is a spectacular album if you have the patience to listen...Hummingbird and Theologians will be favorites.

Have fun.

Get_Right

Dig the wilco, one of the best bands out there right now.

I would get these, probably in this order.

summerteeth (really the first record where the band establishes its identity)
yankee
sky
ghost
being there
AM
mermaid ave

As far as live shows go, they are available all over the net and better than kicking television IMHO

the charlottesville show from 10/20/07 is great as is the 2/16/08 show in Chicago

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=510502

Tek Money

I can't really rank Wilco albums. Because they each have a unique sound.

I think the live album is a good choice. Also, watching 'I am trying to break your heart' couldn't hurt either.

Man_Of_The_Hour

I think Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a good place to start. All songs on there are good or great.

Also, there is usually a live show or two to stream on their website.

http://wilcoworld.net/roadcase/index_main.php

cc10106

i'd go with Kicking Television or Yankee Hotel Foxtrot first. if you approve of those, whichever direction you then go in, you'll prob like it.

Yellow Ledbelly

I would suggest offering to take them out for a drink and maybe a movie

oktacoma

I went out and bought Summerteeth and Kicking Television today. I've listened to the first four songs on summerteeth so far and it sounds pretty good. Looking forward to a long day of Wilco.

civ_eng_girl

i bought Sky Blue Sky not too long ago... also after being told by a million people that I needed to hear Wilco.

i gotta say, i didn't love it immediately. I have to give it another few goes....

GreenTeaDisease

oktacoma wrote:

So, I've been told by too many people that I need to become familiar with Wilco because they are phenomenal. I looked at their discography and it is extensive so my question is where should I start? Any suggestions are welcomed.

why do people always describe wilco as "phenomenal"???

just as a note CEG, the people who describe wilco as "phenomenal" to me know nothing about/have barely a passing interest in music.

soclose

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

why do people always describe wilco as "phenomenal"???

just as a note CEG, the people who describe wilco as "phenomenal" to me know nothing about/have barely a passing interest in music.

Care to expand on that thought? Why wouldn't fans describe Wilco as phenomenal? Or are you just trying to pick a fight?;)

To the original poster: Good choices on your first purchases. Those are the very two albums I started out with (though I got to know the live album really well before hearing ST for the first time).

GreenTeaDisease

soclose wrote:

Care to expand on that thought? Why wouldn't fans describe Wilco as phenomenal? Or are you just trying to pick a fight?;)

To the original poster: Good choices on your first purchases. Those are the very two albums I started out with (though I got to know the live album really well before hearing ST for the first time).

no I mean the exact word "phenomenal."

soclose

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

no I mean the exact word "phenomenal."

I think I understand what you mean now. I had no idea this was the most common adjective to describe Wilco. Not a word I use . . . ever.:)

GreenTeaDisease

soclose wrote:

I think I understand what you mean now. I had no idea this was the most common adjective to describe Wilco. Not a word I use . . . ever.:)

yeah, me either.

Get_Right

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

yeah, me either.

well
they are one of the few bands whose music ranges from country, to alt, to light rock, to hard rock, to folk

and live you get the whole package
and Tweedys lyrics often hit right to the heart

I am listening to

"how to fight lonliness" from summer teeth

it is one of the most beautiful songs Ive ever heard

EDIT: Oh yeah
they also have three of the best musicians out there right now
Nels Cline-lead
Glenn Kotchke-drums AMAZING
and tweedy-singer songwriter

Abookamongstthemany

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

DaytimeDilemma

Wilco is phenomical/fantastical.


Best. Band. Out right now.

Tek Money

DaytimeDilemma wrote:

Wilco is phenomical/fantastical.


Best. Band. Out right now.

QFT.

rhinomagic

phenomical.

You said it!

.

gusturtle

to appreciate how far they've come musically, listen to the following in order:
being there
summerteeth
yankee
ghost is born
sky blue sky