When it comes to Jeff Tweedy I have a blind spot. Maybe it is the television shaped head, or the scruffy hip demeanor, or maybe I never really forgave him him for firing his entire band after Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. But whatever the case may be, he irritates me. So when my friends rave about Wilco’s 2011 The Whole Love, I just rolled my eyes and went back to sleep.
But with plans to see Bob Dylan next Saturday, and with Wilco opening, I kept on hearing heavy duty buzz that their guitarist Nels Cline was on fire right now and the band was heading into the outer stratosphere of live performances. I’ll believe it when I see it, but in the interim a discussion of Wilco’s all request show from June 21st being available for download wilco.com, I joined some other friends and bought a copy.
Here is a song for song review!
1. The Boys Are Back In Town – The Thin Lizzy classic is a riff machine and the band get the riffs fine, but they blow hard when it comes to the vocals, none of Lynott’s sexiness remains – C
2.Cut Your Hair – Straight up no chaser Pavement cover – B
3. In The Street – Smart little Alex Chilton nod (hey’d be another), the guitar chimes like a bell – B+
4. New Madrid – This is better than Jeff’s Uncle Tupelo original, he sounds like a Bob Dylan of your imagination circa New Morning – A-
5. Dead Flowers – Steve Earle owns this song and hoonsetly, I’d hope Jeff would have mode to add to it – B-
6. Simple Twist Of Fate – These are the lyrics off the Rolling Thunder tour, right? Very felt vocal – B+
7. Ripple – Naff Dead cover – C-
8. Who Loves The Sun – Nice try and I guess it is better than “Sweet Jane” but it doesn’t work at all – C-
9. And Your Bird Can Sing – This does work despite lousy vocals, because Wilco grasp the fundamental: play the lick and the song will follow – B+
10. And Your Bird Can Sing – “Shall we play it again? We’re just warmed up now…” Hahahaaaa – A-
11. Psychotic Reactions – Pretty good version of the psychedelic garage rave up by Count Five
12. Tom Courtney – Yo La Tengo joined Wilco for this cover of their 1995 song. Pretty good noise annoys rave up at the end – B+
13. James Alley Blues – Dies on its feet, a terrible version of the classic – D
14. Waterloo Sunset – Terrible -Jeff doesn’t have the soul for it – F
15. Waterloo – Great song and survives a rock up from buy heavy on the keyboards – B+
16. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding – Wake the fuck up, exemplifies everything I despise in this band – C-
17. Marquee Moon – I guess this is why everybody is raving about Nels… I mean when you can take on Tom Verlaine you’ve gotta think, right? – A
18.Don’t Fear The Reaper – The midsong of three guitar hero histrionics – B
19. Cinnamon Girl – A little obvious – B
20. Get Lucky – Less obvious! Works itself out as a Niles Rodgers tribute – B+
21. Surrender – Less a request, more a duty – B-
22. Color Me Impressed – Tommy Stinson joined em for this one – B+
23. Kingpin – I didn’t like it on Being There either – C-
24. Thank You Friends – More Big Star – B
25. The Weight – It’s not Wilco’s fault they have zero to add to thins song, neither does any one else – C-
26. Roadrunner – Jonathan Richman brings it all back home! – B
Overall, I bet it was lots of fun if you were there but if you’re here well then, average covers of classic songs. I will probably never listen to it again… well, except maybe “Marquee Moon” Grade: B-