Loved reading this. Wilco has been a mainstay of my life since I first slipped Being There into my CD player and heard the opening jaw dropping cacophany of Misunderstood. Of course I have other songs I would include in my list of 16 (Handshake Drugs!!!), but that's the thing with Wilco, there are so many fantastic tunes! I couldn't argue with any of the ones on your list. #wilcolovesyoubaby
This is a great list, it almost felt like I wrote much of it myself including the notion that Summerteeth is Wilco's best album or at least a personal favorite. I particularly like the inclusion of "Secret of the Sea", one of their best and most-overlooked pop songs.
Of course everyone making a Wilco list is going to have a different set of songs so I'm just going to give a shout-out to "Remember the Mountain Bed", which was so good I don't know how it relegated to Volume 2 of Mermaid Avenue. Guthrie's lyrics make me choke up towards the end - "I walk above all pain" - especially now as I enter "old man" territory but Tweedy's singing and the band's instrumentation is perfect for a 6 to 7-minute folk song that entirely consists of verses.
Great read! I saw Wilco many times during their first decade, and those shows remain some of the best concerts I’ve ever attended. Tweedy never fails to write great songs that become quotable lyrics you want to play on repeat. Wilco is disarming to any first time listener and like someone already commented, surprising indeed. Thanks for the read
Thank you for this tribute, Charles. What I love most about Wilco is never knowing what to expect from one record (and tour) to another. To borrow the title of one my favorite recent songs of theirs: the infinite surprises!
Wilco’s music welcomes me to find their songs new almost at each listen. There’s just a lot of depth in each record. I was at Solid Sound in 2017 and they played a bunch of Schmilco, which wasn’t my favorite album until I really heard it at that moment. Just always so much to love!
Though I've never figured out the message, I've always assumed Summerteeth had a secret message to me as Jeff dropped the phrases "Jet Lag". - the fanzine I published and he wrote for - and "pop quiz" - the name of my radio show while he was still in town.
This is a great list. I always love when “Summerteeth” gets the respect it deserves.
Thank you so much! It is such a great album. - CH
Loved reading this. Wilco has been a mainstay of my life since I first slipped Being There into my CD player and heard the opening jaw dropping cacophany of Misunderstood. Of course I have other songs I would include in my list of 16 (Handshake Drugs!!!), but that's the thing with Wilco, there are so many fantastic tunes! I couldn't argue with any of the ones on your list. #wilcolovesyoubaby
Thanks so much! I really appreciate. (And yes to "Handshake Drugs," for sure!) - CH
This is a great list, it almost felt like I wrote much of it myself including the notion that Summerteeth is Wilco's best album or at least a personal favorite. I particularly like the inclusion of "Secret of the Sea", one of their best and most-overlooked pop songs.
Of course everyone making a Wilco list is going to have a different set of songs so I'm just going to give a shout-out to "Remember the Mountain Bed", which was so good I don't know how it relegated to Volume 2 of Mermaid Avenue. Guthrie's lyrics make me choke up towards the end - "I walk above all pain" - especially now as I enter "old man" territory but Tweedy's singing and the band's instrumentation is perfect for a 6 to 7-minute folk song that entirely consists of verses.
Can't wait to see them in 4 days in St. Pete!
Thank you! And yes, that's a great song! And enjoy the show! Haven't seen them in a while, and I'm hoping to soon. - CH
Cool read. Nice playlist lineup to. Casino Queen tops for me.
Thank you!
My list changes almost daily. Right now “Country Disappeared” is on repeat. Tweedy is a genius.
Great read! I saw Wilco many times during their first decade, and those shows remain some of the best concerts I’ve ever attended. Tweedy never fails to write great songs that become quotable lyrics you want to play on repeat. Wilco is disarming to any first time listener and like someone already commented, surprising indeed. Thanks for the read
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it. - CH
Thank you for this tribute, Charles. What I love most about Wilco is never knowing what to expect from one record (and tour) to another. To borrow the title of one my favorite recent songs of theirs: the infinite surprises!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10dTHQ921uw&ab_channel=WilcoVEVO
Thank you so much, Julie! And absolutely - it's such a great journey from album to album. (Great song, too!) - CH
Impossible Germany?
Great song! - CH
Wilco’s music welcomes me to find their songs new almost at each listen. There’s just a lot of depth in each record. I was at Solid Sound in 2017 and they played a bunch of Schmilco, which wasn’t my favorite album until I really heard it at that moment. Just always so much to love!
Though I've never figured out the message, I've always assumed Summerteeth had a secret message to me as Jeff dropped the phrases "Jet Lag". - the fanzine I published and he wrote for - and "pop quiz" - the name of my radio show while he was still in town.