Wilco (The Album)

From 1967-1972, The Rolling Stones released Between the Buttons, Flowers, Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main St. Such a run can only be matched by The Beatles, who released their entire catalog in only seven years, and Bob Dylan, whose output from 1963-1969, represents the greatest run ever for a songwriter. Such consistent runs have been few-and-far-between over the past 35+ years. R.E.M. were great for a little over a decade, but a few records during that period (e.g. Green) were bumps in an otherwise perfect ten-year run.

When considering the premiere acts of today, critics and fans alike almost always point to Radiohead. But if you step back and look at the band's recorded material over its 16 years in existence, there are numerous missteps, most notably their 1993 debut Pablo Honey and the 2001 snoozer Amnesiac. Very good band? Sure. Deserving of a slot in the paragraph above? No.

And then's there's Wilco. No, they're not held in the regard that Radiohead are, but when considering their output over their 15 year-career, well, they're the one band in its prime that might be deserving of the company above. Formed in 1994 following the hasty demise of the seminal alt.country outfit Uncle Tupelo, Wilco have now released seven studio records (nine if you count the Mermaid Avenue collaborations with Billy Bragg), and every single one has been met with critical adoration. 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is widely considered their best, but the balance of the catalog holds up alongside this near masterpiece. From the Brian Wilson inspired Summerteeth to the straightforward americana of Sky Blue Sky, Wilco have touched on just about every imaginable sound and direction, and in so doing, have miraculously held onto its fans from its rootsy early days while picking up listeners from many disparate worlds along their 15-year circuitous path.

This month brings the release of Wilco (The Album) (June 30th on Nonesuch), an album that rounds out a solid trifecta following Foxtrot. No, it doesn't have the ambition of Foxtrot or the bombast of 1996's Being There, but it's a beautiful collection of songs. "One Wing" is one of the better songs frontman Jeff Tweedy has penned in some time, while the pretty collaboration with iPod-star Feist "You and I," is perfectly timed as the centerpiece of the record. As you move past the midpoint mark you're greeted with one of the best songs the band's ever recorded in "I'll Fight," a song that incorporates religion, love, devotion and war. Or at least that's what we hear on the surface. But like most of Wilco's best works, the songs leave plenty of space for the listener to surmise his or her own meaning, which has been one of many hallmarks of Wilco's career. The records and the songs within feel less a creation of the band, and more a part of us. As Tweedy sings on the opening track, "A sonic shoulder for you to cry on, Wilco, Wilco will love you baby." And with one great record after another, it's hard for us to not return the sentiment.

Comments

[Chris Campbell - Huffpost Blogger]

I should add that I was not stating that Wilco are on par with The Stones, Beatles or Dylan. Wilco may consistently put out great material, but at least on the recorded front, they're just not in that league. My argument is that they're right near the top (if not *at* the top) when looking at what we've heard since the end of that era.

[missingparts]

It's important to say that I totally agree. Stereolab is an amazing band and rarely, if ever, has released a bad album. Particularly their newest gem, Chemical Chords, which has been swimming delightfully through my head since its release. But this isn't about Stereolab.­. this is about Wilco

I am by no means a Wilco fan.. Don't get me wrong I'm not a hater either but i don't really pick em out and put them on usually. I don't think I would put them on par with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Beatles or Bob Dylan in terms of their influence on music either. However, one thing they do have in common with the likes of the top tier rock icons is the fiercely intense passion their fans have for them. That is the one thing that really makes an impact and is worth keeping tabs. If a group can cultivate such a huge loyal following that will devour each release with the tenacity of a hungry canine they do shape music in a huge way and will continue to do so. It's fair to say I won't be running down to pick up the new album after work tonight but i will give it an honest go because with fans like this you know they are doing something right.

[letstakeawalk]

"Such consistent runs have been few-and-far-between over the past 35+ years."

Here's another influential band with a staggering run: Stereolab

1991 - 2009

Switched On
Peng!
Space Age Bachelor Pad Music
Transient Random Noise Bursts with Announcements
Mars Audiac Quintet
Music for the Amorphous Body Study Center
Refried Electroplasm
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Dots and Loops
Aluminum Tunes
Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night
The First of the Microbe Hunters
Sound-Dust
ABC Music - the BBC Sessions
Margarine Eclipse
Oscillions from the Anti-Sun
Fab Four Suture
Serene Velocity
Chemical Chords

Never mind all of the band's many side projects (Monade, High Llamas, etc), Stereolab's endless creativity and amazing output are one of the reasons why they are considered one of the most influential bands of the 1990's and present.

http://www.stereolab.co.uk/discography/list/