# Who is Wilco, and why should I care? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482 "2002-07-24T00:45:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/21 "2002-07-25T01:07:57Z")
Bad Hat, I wasn’t trying to piss you off. The Wilco fans that I knew before I read this thread would pick a band like Wilco or Beulah and praise it, while in the same sentence pissing on another “manufactured” or “derivative” band. They use the semi-cult following awareness of Wilco to foist themselves as better than other people because of what they listen to. I am blessed that I have a good alternative radio station where I live that plays The White Stripes, The Hives, and yes, Wilco. However, I can’t say I’ve heard all of Wilco’s stuff, mostly radio singles. When I was describing their sound, I was thinking of Heavy Metal Drummer (the radio single [horror of horrors!] that I heard most) as a balladic, slow acoustic song (to my heathen ears). With my original post, I wanted to describe what I thought their sound was and keep this thread up so people who know more about it can add or correct me. I use soft rock not derisively, but instead as an alternative to hard rock. And I’m no big fan of the silly nu-metal cock rock either, and I can already see it dying, the killing blows coming from regular ol’ rock and roll bands. But if it makes people happy to listen to, what’s the problem with that? ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@Bad\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Hat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/22 "2002-07-25T05:00:08Z")
**Dragon dude**. its all good. I understand what you are sayin’, just took issue with the overbroad generalization. I get chapped when anybody says: all (fans of X) are (oversimplified, degoratory stereotype) …particualrly in a thread dedicated to finding out more about the band. it didn’t seem germaine to the discussion. But anyhow the LAST thing i want is an enemy on the board, so i’m cool if you are. lets get back to our regularly scheduled doping now… peace CJ ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/23 "2002-07-25T05:05:02Z")
I agree, we’re cool. Now the Beatles! All their fans are… um… is there a generalization for their fans? And back to the thread at hand, I do have to say that Wilco is insiduously catchy… ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/24 "2002-07-25T06:03:43Z")
**Lizard:** “Who is Wilco, and why should I care?” You shouldn’t care at all about them (at the risk of repeating what others might have already said) unless you like great, inventive pop music. And if you don’t, I’m very sorry that you will never know the incredible feeling of hearing the great church bell lead-in of “I Can’t Stand It” or the beatuy of “We’re Just Friends”. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/25 "2002-07-25T11:09:34Z")
I’m definitely a music snob (I only like **good** music ;)), so I’m sorry to agree that I do indeed love Wilco, and Uncle Tupelo, and Son Volt, and some of the side bands as well which I’m too cool to even name. Any band that would drop in a verse from **Peter Laughner’s** _Amphetamine_ into one of their songs is more than alright by me (How’s that for an obscure musical reference :p). ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/26 "2002-07-26T01:00:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hazel-rah \* > \*\*Geez, what’s with the hostility in the OP and the next couple posts? I didn’t know it was such a damnable offense to keep making records even though you aren’t wildly popular and stunningly beautiful. \*\* I’m afraid my intentions have been misunderstood. I started this thread simply to gather info on a subject (the band Wilco) I knew nothing about. I am flippant sometimes, but this does not mean I have anything against the subject at hand. My remark on the lead singer’s looks was intended to be funny (to me, if no one else). I really have nothing aginst the band; how could I, when I’ve yet to hear a song of theirs? ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/27 "2002-07-26T01:21:32Z")
In all fairness, I have yet to hear anyone, even the most avid fan, refer to Jeff Tweedy as “stunningly beautiful.” If what’s been said here piques your interest enough for you to seek out an album, I’d probably suggest either **Being There** if you liked Uncle Tupelo orthe country/rock kind of stuff or **Summerteeth** or their latest, **Yankee Hotel Foxtrot** if music that’s more poppy might grab you. ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/28 "2002-07-26T03:05:10Z")
chicago is lucky to have tweedy and co. we are also very lucky to have WXRT, which brought wilco to my ears with A.M. great band live. for those about to rock, try ‘i got you (at the end of the century)’ from ‘being there’. this is from a big time black sabbath fan, mind you. _head explodes_ ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/29 "2002-07-26T06:59:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Hazel, I was saying that from what I have observed, the real fans of Wilco trace the band back to what instruments they played in middle school band. Well, not that far, but they know all of the side projects and names of everyone in the band and who they played with before. It seems to me that knowing that fluff is required before you listen to the actual music. And because I haven’t heard anything else that they have produced, I must not be getting the gestalt feel of the music. \*\*I’m a casual fan of Wilco. Bought Hotel Yankee Foxtrot and enjoyed it. I’d like to try out their older stuff now, but it’s somewhere in the middle of my very long “to do” music list. 'Course, down here in Australia, Wilco is even more “alternative” than in the US. They got radio play on one (national) station with Billy Bragg back when _Mermaid Avenue_ was released, but nothing since then, AFAIK. Non pre-fab Australian music is already “alternative” enough; ironically, it tends to crowd out similar stuff from overseas. ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/30 "2002-07-26T07:07:30Z")
some very good points here… basically they are band that is meant to be listening to many times to really get into. i think Being There is one of the best albums of the last several years and I recommend it to everyone. not everyone will like it, it is pretty mellow, but its worth giving a chance to! I just got tickets to see them too! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2002, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/31 "2002-07-27T11:51:21Z")
Recent Wilco convert here. I was aware of Uncle Tupelo, liked Son Volt slightly, and knew who Wilco were. _YHT_ caught my attention in articles about what they went through. I bought the album when it was “officially” released and was very caught up in it, and loved their sound. I just bought _A.M._ and _Being There_ the other day, the first one leaves me a little cold, but _Being There_ is awesome. A fun album to listen to with really solid songs on both discs; proof that not all double albums are bloated ego-fests. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/32 "2002-07-27T23:03:45Z")
I just wanted to say that based on this thread, I went and downloaded a bunch of Wilco, Son Volt, and Uncle Tupelo songs to see if I liked them. I did. A lot. So yesterday I bought the CD’s, and I’m listening to them now. So thanks for the tip, guys. ---
**Author:** ![kgriffey79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@kgriffey79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgriffey79)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/33 "2002-07-28T07:44:05Z")
Dudes, Wilco is a fucking janitor in a space ship… what the hell are you all talking about… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![downbylaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@downbylaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/downbylaw)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/34 "2002-07-28T14:34:44Z")
i just saw wilco live here in indy last week. as good as they are on cd/vinyl, whatever, they’re just amazing live. the version of “jesus, etc.” was heartbreaking. and whoever said that song was worth buying yhf was completely right. i think it’s my favorite song of all time. the great thing about wilco is that they do a little bit of everything, but they never seem to alienate fans. i love the alt-country stuff, but i love songs like “radio cure” and “pot kettle black” as well. you really can’t go wrong buying any of their albums, they’re all great. i especially like summerteeth. and from seeing them live, tweedy does not seem egomaniacal in the least. they guy seems way overwhelmed that wilco even has fans. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/35 "2002-07-28T18:21:55Z")
I agree with \*\* Bad Hat \*\* about the importance of following the side projects of the bands you like. In fact, I was always a Billy Bragg fan, and never really heard enough of Wilco to have an opinion on them, until \* Mermaid Avenue. \* It’s a way of finding out about new bands you might like without having to rely on the musical-industrial complex. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/36 "2002-07-28T23:44:08Z")
Well, I come at it from a different perspective, which is to say the “country” end of “alt.country,” not the “alt” end. (I’m actually not much for “alt” music.) I really like Wilco. I started listening to them when they were more country than they are now (just like Cowboy Junkies and Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris), and still listen to them now that they’ve become more “pop,” because they’re good musicians who make good music. (Just like Cowboy Junkies and Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Wrong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Mr.Wrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Wrong)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/37 "2002-07-29T01:25:42Z")
I knew **wilco** mainly from the _A.M._ album. So I was a little disappointed when I saw them Thursday night in the ATL when they didn’t play a single song from that one. C’mon dudes: no _I must be High_? no _Casino Queen_? no _Passenger Side_? I know it’s my bad for not having _Yankee Hotel Foxtrot_ yet, but throw me a frickin’ bone here. Anyway, it was still a great show, and I’d reccomend anyone who loves a good live band to check them out. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482/38 "2002-07-29T04:09:35Z")
I’d love to see them, so of course, they’re making a wide berth around North Carolina. They played two dates within a 90-minute drive of my former home (Lexington, KY), of course, but nothing I can get to now. They claim to be adding more tour dates soon, so I’m hopeful. I can’t complain, though; I saw them at Lynagh’s (shitty little club in Lexington) when they were touring behind _Being There_, which is probably one of the five defining albums of my undergrad years. Dr. J [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-wilco-and-why-should-i-care/120482.md?page=1)