CD-Charts Position 1
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Mermaid Avenue Vol.1

by: Billy Bragg, Wilco

Release Date June 29, 1998
Nora Guthrie, of the Woody Guthrie Archive, first approached Billy Bragg in 1995 with the idea of him writing music for and recording some of the lyrics Woody had written after the Huntington's disease had preventing him from holding, never mind playing, his guitar. The rational behind Billy's suitability seems sensible, singer-songwriter following the folk tradition which, although English, has been passed on to him from Woody Guthrie via Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Playing the folk festivals with Woody's own apprentices such as Pete Seeger would make him familiar with Woody's history without the necessity to idolise him as some of his contemporise would.

Billy then invited Americano Rockers Wilco to join the party possibly to give ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Sky Blue Sky

by: Wilco

Release Date May 14, 2007
Very much a change of style for one of my favourite bands, but for the best. Perfectly arranged songs and playing by Jeff Tweedy and his group.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

by: Wilco

Release Date April 22, 2002
As any faithful music listener will attest, there is a period between buying an album and giving up on an album. This can range from minutes to years depending on the context, and I feel Yankee Hotel Foxtrot's time has come, despite all the acclaim, intriguing label arguments and respect it is given by those I trust. Say, twelve months or so for this one; that's the time it took this record to devolve from "possibly grower" to "painfully grey object of boredom", and that will likely be the way it stays. But I would like to believe. Spending my slightly hard-earned money on wonderful records is infinitely more preferable than wasting it away on unloved bits of plastic and paper, so I look for the positives: "Jesus, Etc." is jolly enough, I suppose; the Conet ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Summerteeth

by: Wilco

Release Date March 08, 1999
This, the bands third album, is by far and away their best to date. Following on from the more rootsy Being There, and their disappointing debut A.M, Jeff Tweedy and co came up with the perfect album.

A dreamy blend of the Beach Boys' summer-esque pop, the perfect melodies of the Beatles, a hint of 60's psychadelia and still that ocassional nod toward Gram Parsons' country noodlings. This is just perfect from start to finish.

Each track drips with perfection. From the acoustic wonder of "Shes a Jar" the country style pop of "ELT" and the vicious "Via Chicago" it just doesnt get any better than this.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Being There

by: Wilco

Release Date February 03, 1997
It is a great rock and roll tradition that on being delivered a double album record companies generally argue for it to be edited to a single album and that is exactly what happened here. Jeff Tweedy wanted the double release but, like The Clash before him, at the price of a single album. The record company eventually agreed on the proviso that the band wavered their royalties for the release.

The other great tradition of double albums is that they are generally dismissed as would have made a great single album. I generally don't agree with this, I think The Beatles white album would have sounded like a sampler as a single release, I think The Stones `Exile on Main Street' is perfect as it is, I not only think The Clash's `London Calling' is a great double I actually ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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A Ghost Is Born

by: Wilco

Release Date June 21, 2004
Following up the truly magnificent `Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' was never going to be easy, but with `A Ghost Is Born' Wilco has managed to produce a record of equal impact if not of consistent quality.

On the whole, `A Ghost Is Born' is a quieter, more introspective album than its predecessor and this is most evident on the aching, melancholy heart of the record, the five tracks from `Muzzle of Bees' to `Company in My Back'. These songs are strongly piano-led, with string flourishes and splashes of guitar augmenting Tweedy's lyrics which speak of alienation, uncertainty and instability. The lines from `Handshake Drugs' are a perfect example: "I looked someone I used to know/I felt alright/And if I ever was myself I wasn't that night."

But this remarkable record ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Sky Blue Sky (Tour Edition)

by: Wilco

Release Date November 12, 2007
Very much a change of style for one of my favourite bands, but for the best. Perfectly arranged songs and playing by Jeff Tweedy and his group.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Kicking Television: Live in Chicago, Il May 4-7 2005

by: Wilco

Release Date November 14, 2005
awesome album, excellent purchase for those people getting into wilco. almost a greatest hits live, the vocals and sound are superb, good choice of venue to record.
a few of my personal favs on the album, 'company in my back' and 'jesus etc' and 'via chicago'
good interaction between the crowd and band, especailly jeff tweedy. you can hear thru the show how much the crowd are enjoying it! go and buy this album its a perfect example of what a live album should sound like.

CD-Charts Position 9
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A Ghost Is Born: Special Limited Edition

by: Wilco

Release Date March 07, 2005
Following up the truly magnificent `Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' was never going to be easy, but with `A Ghost Is Born' Wilco has managed to produce a record of equal impact if not of consistent quality.

On the whole, `A Ghost Is Born' is a quieter, more introspective album than its predecessor and this is most evident on the aching, melancholy heart of the record, the five tracks from `Muzzle of Bees' to `Company in My Back'. These songs are strongly piano-led, with string flourishes and splashes of guitar augmenting Tweedy's lyrics which speak of alienation, uncertainty and instability. The lines from `Handshake Drugs' are a perfect example: "I looked someone I used to know/I felt alright/And if I ever was myself I wasn't that night."

But this remarkable record cannot be generalised, because ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: +CD [VINYL]

by: Wilco

Release Date September 15, 2008
As any faithful music listener will attest, there is a period between buying an album and giving up on an album. This can range from minutes to years depending on the context, and I feel Yankee Hotel Foxtrot's time has come, despite all the acclaim, intriguing label arguments and respect it is given by those I trust. Say, twelve months or so for this one; that's the time it took this record to devolve from "possibly grower" to "painfully grey object of boredom", and that will likely be the way it stays. But I would like to believe. Spending my slightly hard-earned money on wonderful records is infinitely more preferable than wasting it away on unloved bits of plastic and paper, so I look for the positives: "Jesus, Etc." is jolly enough, I suppose; the Conet sampling is used to marvellous effect here, and is undoubtedly the most ... Read More: