# Tell me about Wilco (need answer fast!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 9, 2012, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279 "2012-02-09T05:25:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/21 "2012-02-09T18:25:51Z")
Let me know how you like the show. I’m going to see them on Friday here in Santa Barbara. ETA: Oops. They just played Seattle so I thought you were going to the concert but it was actually earlier in the week. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/22 "2012-02-09T23:44:50Z")
“Sky Blue Sky” is a very good newer album. [Impossible Germany](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmI7SiLe4Vw) is my favorite track from that album - the video I’m linking here is from a documentary, and it’s a slightly different version than the album cut. Nels Cline, their new-at-the-time guitarist, is a monster, and just wails on this song. His guitar solo here is fantastic. If you don’t want to hear the whole song, at least skip forward to 2:56 of that track and listen to the guitar solo. It’s worth it. A couple of other good songs from that album: [Hate It Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkIgSMOJeOs&feature=related). [Walken](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jpCLZFT-uM&feature=related) If you’re looking for bonus points, some of the best work Wilco has done can be found on two CD’s called “Mermaid Avenue”, part 1 and 2. The daughter of Woodie Guthrie found a collection of unfinished song lyrics, and she enlisted Billy Bragg, an English alt-folk artist, to set them to music. Bragg felt that Guthrie was uniquely American, and therefore an American band should be involved. He brought in Wilco, and Bragg and Wilco split up the songs and wrote original music for them. _Fantastic_ original music. Here are a few examples: [California Stars](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhm27uXG6bg) [Feed of Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFbAbHxYBMY&feature=related) [Ingrid Bergman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxurhF7ssq0&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/23 "2012-02-10T00:08:31Z")
I got into Wilco through the Mermaid Avenue albums,. If you like folk, early Dylan or Woody Guthrie then you’ll be hooked pretty much immediately. While I think **Sunshine and Smiles** pretty much nailed their history up to Wilco (The Album) although I disagree slightly about A.M. It’s been a long time since I listened to it all but for my money ‘Box Full of Letters’ and ‘Blue Eyed Soul’ are as good as any song on the later albums. If you’re pushed for time I suggest getting a hold of _Yankee Hotel Foxtrot_ and set aside 52 minutes to listen through it in one go. I’m sure she’d be happy to lend it to you. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/24 "2012-02-10T00:12:19Z")
Oh and while Tweedy’s not singing on it my fabourite from the first _Mermaid Avenue_ is the opening track - [Walt Whitman’s Niece](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GDU6ns2mRM&feature=related). I heard this for the first time on the radio one morning and had to buy the album before lunch. Something that’s never happened to me before or since. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/25 "2012-02-10T01:38:38Z")
Tell her you like to rock out to Less Than You Think. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/26 "2012-02-10T02:13:06Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > Tell her you like to rock out to Less Than You Think. Or that it gives you sympathetic migraines. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/27 "2012-02-10T02:46:22Z")
The new album is their best since YHF, in my opinion (just a hair better than A Ghost is Born). PS: My dog’s name is Wilco and my wife goes to the same temple as the Tweedy’s. She sat at the same table as him for Hannukah dinner a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/28 "2012-02-10T02:51:25Z")
Finish every sentence with “over”. Also pepper the conversation with: “Reading you Five by Five” when you agree, “Roger” to indicate you heard her, “Standby” when you’re going to the bathroom, “Mayday” when the date is not going well. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/29 "2012-02-10T03:19:01Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Or that it gives you sympathetic migraines. As a migraine sufferer, I hated the “noise” portion enough to pull that song off my iPod. _gets stabby_ ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/30 "2012-02-10T04:36:43Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > “Sky Blue Sky” is a very good newer album. [Impossible Germany](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmI7SiLe4Vw) is my favorite track from that album - the video I’m linking here is from a documentary, and it’s a slightly different version than the album cut. Nels Cline, their new-at-the-time guitarist, is a monster, and just wails on this song. His guitar solo here is fantastic. If you don’t want to hear the whole song, at least skip forward to 2:56 of that track and listen to the guitar solo. It’s worth it. The guitars on Impossible Germany are simply pure ear candy. I’ve often wondered what I like more - Nels Cline with Wilco or Johnny Marr with Modest Mouse - and the answer is ‘yes’. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/31 "2012-02-10T04:54:15Z")
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned it yet, but Wilco’s first name is Roger. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/32 "2012-02-10T17:32:08Z")
Well, thanks again everyone for Wilco wisdom and suggestions. Based on my limited listening so far, I like 'em and plan to check them out further. What little knowledge I had wasn’t quite useful on the date itself, because the conversation kept rollicking along and the band just didn’t come up, even though I think she had planned to go to Tuesday’s concert in Seattle but had to miss it. If there’s a second date, I think that, rather than attempt to steer conversation to the band, I’ll just tell her about this thread. 🙂 And if there’s a third date, I’ll send her the URL. 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/33 "2012-02-11T01:47:31Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > For bonus points, say “I’m not completely familiar with the band, but there’s this song ‘Magazine Called Sunset’ that knocks me out.” > > Seriously. That will be a lot of bonus points. [Magazine Called Sunset](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wquk8dL0MzY) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/34 "2012-02-11T01:50:13Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > As a migraine sufferer, I hated the “noise” portion enough to pull that song off my iPod. _gets stabby_ I totally get that. I keep meaning drop that tune into Garage Band and carve off the last eleven minutes, or whatever it is. While some small part of me would regret changing Mr. Tweedy’s art, the reality is that I skip ahead anyway the instant that grating (“eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee”) sound begins. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/35 "2012-02-11T03:27:43Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Let me know how you like the show. I’m going to see them on Friday here in Santa Barbara. > > ETA: Oops. They just played Seattle so I thought you were going to the concert but it was actually earlier in the week. Just took my seat the opening band starts in 30 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/36 "2012-02-11T18:16:45Z")
What a great live band. They’re very tight. They have great energy and range, from folky to hard rock. They had a Santa Barbara crowd on their feet and dancing for the whole show which is a rare thing. I see a lot of live music and I was very impressed. Exceeded my high expectations. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/37 "2012-02-11T18:53:39Z")
I don’t know much about Wilco, but I think it’s nice that Nick Lowe is letting them tour with him this year. 😃 UT ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/38 "2012-02-11T19:46:56Z")
> [@E.Thorp](#): > > Well, thanks again everyone for Wilco wisdom and suggestions. Based on my limited listening so far, I like 'em and plan to check them out further. > > What little knowledge I had wasn’t quite useful on the date itself, because the conversation kept rollicking along and the band just didn’t come up, even though I think she had planned to go to Tuesday’s concert in Seattle but had to miss it. > > If there’s a second date, I think that, rather than attempt to steer conversation to the band, I’ll just tell her about this thread. 🙂 And if there’s a third date, I’ll send her the URL. 🙂 🙂 Good luck. If things progress I demand you return to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279/39 "2012-02-11T20:40:35Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > The guitars on Impossible Germany are simply pure ear candy. Whoa. You weren’t kidding. I had never heard this song before, and that’s may be the most gorgeous guitar solo I’ve heard in the last decade or so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-wilco-need-answer-fast/612279.md?page=1)