Pitchfork

For as long as we can remember, Wilco have supported audience audio taping at their concerts, as well as the trading of said material for non-commercial purposes. And we've always appreciated this, but today, we're more thankful than ever, as a slew of new live tracks culled from Wilco shows over the past year just met the blogosphere.

Jesse Jarnow of Jesse Jarnow's Frank and Earthy Blog was kind enough to round up an unofficial collection of live Wilco/Jeff Tweedy solo MP3s for his readers' enjoyment. He managed to track down 12 songs (11 are downloadable), and while we can't guarantee the inclusion of all of them on Wilco's upcoming record (tentatively slated for a May release on Nonesuch), it's still pretty exciting.

(Keep in mind that none of these mp3s are official, and, given the nature of these things, they could disappear at any moment.)

According to Jarnow's list, titles include "Let's Not Get Carried Away", "Side With the Seeds", "What Light", "Shake It Off", "Impossible Germany", "Lullaby for Rafter and Beams", "Patient With Me", "Let's Fight", "Is That the Thanks I Get?", "Maybe the Sun Will Shine", and the previously reported "On and On and On" and "Walken".

Knowing Wilco's I Am Trying to Break Your Heart-documented tendency to build and demolish and recreate music right up until (and sometimes during) studio sessions, we're assuming that at least a few of these cuts are in the early developmental stages. But for the time being, we've picked a few favorites from the eclectic bunch.

Standouts include the call-and-response "Is That the Thanks I Get," where you'll hear Tweedy's voice reach for the High-Note Hall of Fame, "Walken", which trots along before bursting into a bluesy, piano-heavy chorus and bridge, and the lovely, whispery, and dare we say sleepy "Lullaby for Rafters and Dreams".

Wilco as a whole are taking a break from the road right now, but the band's individual members remain busy as ever.

Nels Cline will be on tour for the majority of December, and he recently contributed to M. Ward's previously reported "To Go Home" single, due February 20 via Merge. In addition, John Stirratt and Patrick Sansone's duo the Autumn Defense have a new album scheduled for January.

Nels Cline dates:

12-06 London, England - Cargo *
12-10 Minehead, England - Butlins Holiday Centre (All Tomorrow's Parties Nightmare Before Christmas) *
12-12 Paris, France - L'Atelier Tampon-Remier Galerier *
12-13 Geneva, Switzerland - Cave 12 *
12-15 Marseille, France - Grim Festival *
12-19 Los Angeles, CA - Mint #
12-20 Long Beach, CA - Di Piazza #
12-21 Los Angeles, CA - Echo (Sassas benefit show) ^
12-28 New York, NY - The Stone %
12-29 New York, NY - The Stone &

* with White Out
# with Banyan
^ with Polar Goldie Cats, Dinosaurs With Horns, Smegma, DJ Take, DJ KUTMAH, DJ Ras G, Frosty
% with Zeena Parkins Duo
& with Vinny Golia Quartet