Wilco - Kicking Television: Live in Chicago
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Free Music Notes for Kicking Television: Live in Chicago
Free Music Review: What, nothing from AM?
Hit: 4 Stars
Wilco has finally released an official live album, and it does not disappoint. An 11 minute version of Spiders (Kidsmoke), with its throbbing bass and Neil Young-like guitar bursts, is the highlight. The band sounds good, and it is able to perform the more complex songs in a way faithful to the studio recordings. But, as some reviewers have suggested here, reproducing the studio sound isn't necessarily what fans want at a concert. On the stage, for example, the Who's "Tommy" was far louder and more powerful. As with the post-Revolver Beatles, Wilco has made studio work its number one priority. And with increased studio time has come more cerebral music. Maybe a few songs from the often goofy A.M. album ("Casino Queen," or "Passenger Side," perhaps) would have loosened things up a bit more. We are instead given songs mostly from the somber "Ghost is Born" and "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." That the wistful "Heavy Metal Drummer" gets such cheers may be the fans way of letting the band know that it's okay to lighten up. Serious or not, though, few bands are as ambitious as Wilco. The band's best work may still lie ahead.Free Music Review: Good live album
Hit: 4 Stars
I've seen Wilco twice. Once on the Being There tour and once for the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot tour. Both shows were amazing, though the earlier show still sticks out in my mind. Jeff seemed hungrier, I guess. There was hilarious between song banter and they seemed so intent on kicking something other than television. This album would appear to be a great way to see Wilco live if you've never seen them before, or if you were out of town or unavailable the last time they passed through your town. I myself was curious how the most recent version of Wilco sounded. I wasn't disappointed. They sound amazing, and I wish I was there. I still don't care as much for the new songs as I do for the older material, and the band itself seems....i dunno....more...mechanical? Colder? The guitars can be slightly wanky at times, as well. I wouldn't recommend this album if you are just "curious" about Wilco, but if you love the band, you will love this album.Free Music Review: Neo classic band at its peak
Hit: 4 Stars
Over the last few years, Tweedy and the band have seamlessly absorbed Neil Young, the Stones (who they opened for last fall), the Beach Boys, the Beatles, not to mention some 70s prog rock a la Genesis into their own signature sound. In the process, they've found their own identity. They're instantly recognizable, and, while still not known to most classic rock aficionados, are steadily veering toward the mainstream.
Having seen them live 2 or 3 times in the last couple of years, this is, as Rolling Stone put it, "a love letter to their fans".
The recording quality is excellent, and the setlist consists mostly of material from the two most recent albums with a few older gems ("one by one" is outstanding) thrown in for good measure.
I'd go so far as to say this is a great starting point even if you don't have any Wilco albums, and definitely a must have for long time fans.
Free Music Review: Good Live record
Hit: 4 Stars
First off, Spiders (kidsmoke) is indeed great in this performance, but I still don't get the dislike some people have for the album version.
Also, regarding complaints of the song selection, do you really want Wilco to play shows like the Rolling Stones? Cycle the hits and call it a day? They are playing the songs and creating a sound that they want, and they picked the tracks that fit best. Why do you think that they write new songs?
That said, hearing the band play these tunes so well - particularly Poor Places, Spiders, Company in my Back, Via Chicago, Shot in the Arm...there really isn't a bad track on the album - just makes me want to hear what new material the band will release next.
It was nice to hear Tweedy's easy interaction with the audience. I'm glad that he's found a group of players that he feels fully comfortable with...at least for now.
Free Music Review: "Let's get the party started... with some mid-tempo rock..."
Hit: 4 Stars
I'm a Wilco fan -- hey I'm a young white male intellectual music geek who drinks a lot of beer and is fond of wearing boots and hep T-shirts and Carhartt attire, so I kind of have to.
When I first heard about this live take, and saw the set lists, I actually didn't see much point to the record because so much of the material comes from the past two albums which are, to put it mildly, a bit studio oriented.
But the bottom line is: I got it, listened to it a few times, and I'm hooked. Sweet melodies with abrasive edges. The tunes are similar-yet-different enough from the originals so that it doesn't feel at all like a burn, and it's about two hours of solid, hooky, sludgy pop. And it includes a cover of "Comment" by Charles Wright and the Watt 103rd St. Rhythm Band. And I enjoy listening to Tweedy show his ass to some of the idiots in the crowd.