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Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
For as long as I can remember, Wilco has been there through thick and thin. This alternative rock, folk and electric-sounding band creates an ensemble of amazing new sounds, while at the same time, providing the listeners with lyrics that just stick to mind. A born and raised Chicago band, they’ve been around since 1994, providing the country and many parts of the world with many albums, including its newest album called The Whole Love, which released on Sept. 27, 2011.
The bands praised albums are Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Sky Blue Sky. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot received very positive reviews back in early 2002. Being Wilco’s forth album, it was an experimental album the band messed with in terms of something more vibrant and psychedelic with an electronica feel. Keep in mind, this was just the beginning of the 21st Century, so many of the sounds became fairly odd and new to the public ear, but the unique circumstances of album’s long deliverance make for more than just pointless disc jockey chatter and sound-bite combination before spinning "Heavy Metal Drummer" and “I am Trying to Break Your Heart.” The song “Jesus Etc.” gives the listening a folk-like, alternative country feel, with a dash of rock. This is coming from an author who can’t stand the sound of country music as a whole.
It was a controversial album at best. Jeff Tweedy, lead vocalist of the band, began writing and recording songs in 2000. Some people assume Tweedy wrote lyrics about the 9/11 attacks with songs such as “Ashes of American Flags,” when the reality is he wrote those songs before the attacks. It’s a scary album and it’s an album that defied what the recording industries went through during a time of change and panic. Wilco pull through with success and never looked back.
If you’re going to start listening to a new band and would like to discover a sound that defines refreshment meets clarity, you’re going to have to listen to Sky Blue Sky. Back in 2008, Wilco performed this album on Saturday Night Live where they performed songs such as “Hate it Here,” one of the bands top songs on the album that Seth Myers and Jason Sudeikis just couldn’t get enough of.
It’s also one of the top albums they play live. The song “Impossible Germany” creates a new form of structured rock and combines the song with rhythmic lyrics. Words are difficult to describe the song, but listening to it, there are no need for captions, just eyes closed and ears open.
Wilco is one of those bands that sound the same in the studio and on stage. It’s hard to find a band or artist that can carry both qualities of performance. So please, take a listen to my town’s native band still thriving to success all over the world and just chill. Don’t forget to tell your friends.
Top Wilco songs
3I am Trying to Break Your Heart
Seth Cohen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
