Pitchfork

It's a given that a spinoff of a successful band has a better chance for initial recognition, but in most cases, these things are just plain terrible. Such was the case with Wilco's actually-quite-terrible debut, A.M., a completely homogenous and commercialized alt-country album the likes of which I'd expect only my dad to enjoy. But the past is behind Wilco now-- Being There shows them massively improved as a both a band and as songwriters. It's a complete escape from the rampant overproduction and mediocrity of their debut, and points to what will certainly be a brighter future.

Of course, the two-disc set seems little more than a marketing scheme, since they could have sliced five minutes off the back end and packed it all onto one CD. And regardless, nineteen tracks is still a bit of an overdose on this band for me, particularly as this kind of roots-rock stuff ain't really my thing. Being There gets a little self-indulgent at times, too, but there are also moments of sheer brilliance.

"Misunderstood", the opening track, has a bit of a Beck-type thing happening, and the melody and buildup is wonderful. "Red-Eyed and Blue" is terribly hummable, as are "What's the World Got in Store", "Someone Else's Song", "Sunken Treasure", and the closer, "Dreamer in My Dreams", but for every winner there's a dud. Still, while Wilco may have a ways to go before being lauded as musical geniuses, there's no denying they've got the melody thing down flat.