Kicking Television (Live In Chicago)

11/18/2005 5:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Ken Micallef

Wilco’s evolution from an even-keeled folk rock band to America’s most musically adventurous yet still traditionally based indie outfit is the stuff of second acts. Who could have expected that the rather ordinary song forms found on 1996’s Being There would turn into the majestically twisted, anything goes glimmers of greatness of this live celebration (recorded in front of a hometown crowd, May, 2005)? New guitarist Nels Cline is the final ingredient in Jeff Tweedy’s absurdist mission, his yearning, often glum pop melodies transfigured by Cline’s alien guitar chiming and the band’s need to push the songs to their ultimate if not obvious limit. Cline is a possessed soul, channeling Neil Young, Derek Bailey, rockets red glare and Richard Thompson in songs that Wilco fans know by heart. That these mighty songs not only survive but are complimented by the band’s occasional cacophonic experimentation shows how far Wilco has come. And consider the subliminal messages sent by hearing something as basically lovely as “At Least That’s What You Said” nailed to a cross of feedback and tremolo. Think Americans don’t like avant-garde genius dressed up in sad country garb? Think twice.