WILCO

Being There (Reprise)

The “No Depression” movement held a very special place in its heart for Uncle Tupelo who, until they split into two camps, pretty much epitomised the genre. Son Volt and Wilco emerged from the split and the latter were first off the blocks with their debut AM, which was a mix of country rock and heartbreak ballads underpinned by hard guitar rather than the twang of a telecaster.

Being There is the follow-up, an ambitious double album that sees a fundamental shift in attitude. For starters, they’ve dispensed with the services of Max Johnston their rootsy instrumentalist (fiddle/dobro/mandolin), a decision reflected is a much more rock-oriented, sound which invites comparisons with Exile On Main Street is The Beach Boys (especially on ‘I Got You’) and early ’70s experimental rock in general.

The opening cut ‘Misunderstood’ start as a piano-led ballad before moving into a rage of feedback and alienation recalling something you might have found on The Beatles’ Revolver album.

Those who loved the debut album are also catered for on tracks like ‘Far, Far Away’ and especially ‘Forget The Flowers’.

Then there’s ‘Outtaste (Outta Mind)’, a cut which could give them a bridge to a whole different league, it being an obvious candidate for radio and MTV powerplay. It appears on the first disc as a rock version, catchy and vibrant and on disc two as ‘Outtamind (Outta Sight)’, which is far less frantic, and far more Beach Boys in style. That both versions can be comfortably accommodated says a whole lot for the scope of the project.

That said, I must confess that of the two post-Uncle Turbo factions, I much preferred the Son Volt camp, theirs being a darker vision and sonically more captivating. Nevertheless, Wilco’s Being There, though it takes time to separate the wheat from the chaff, is more than enough to be going on with.

Stephen Rapid