It's Wilco.
They hit most of my hot buttons. The most important being a sustained body of work that both develops their own sound and takes just enough chances to push their boundaries in different directions from album to album. Not many bands have a half a dozen albums that are truly amazing and stand the test of time. To me that's a true test; Beatles, Kinks, Bowie, Pink Floyd, etc. Include Wilco. They have grown in proficiency as they have changed lineups to where they have for over a decade played as a six piece that incorporates great synergy and nuance. They challenge each other with a wide array of influences and more than 20 years in, they sound tighter, more relaxed and more in sync than ever.
Wilco combine continuing new strong songs with well aged classics that they occasionally turn inside out in live performances. The body of work gives them the range to change set lists nightly, often surprising with interesting unexpected covers & collaborating creatively with a plethora of guests onstage, mingling their alt country beginnings with straight out rock, folk, blues and jazz influences. Whether acoustic or electric, they always inspire. Performing live they take their game to another level in the way that many talk of the Grateful Dead, Springsteen & Jimi. Their humor, love of their audience and respect for other great music comes through in their performances, drawing you closer.
Besides their output as a band, side projects The Autumn Defense(should be as revered as Simon & Garfunkel), Nels Cline's cornucopia of jazz & avantgarde projects and Jeff Tweedy's solo and Tweedy band work, Wilco's members never cease to amaze with all their creative energy.
If you've never dug deep into Wilco you really should! Cheers,
Spencer
They hit most of my hot buttons. The most important being a sustained body of work that both develops their own sound and takes just enough chances to push their boundaries in different directions from album to album. Not many bands have a half a dozen albums that are truly amazing and stand the test of time. To me that's a true test; Beatles, Kinks, Bowie, Pink Floyd, etc. Include Wilco. They have grown in proficiency as they have changed lineups to where they have for over a decade played as a six piece that incorporates great synergy and nuance. They challenge each other with a wide array of influences and more than 20 years in, they sound tighter, more relaxed and more in sync than ever.
Wilco combine continuing new strong songs with well aged classics that they occasionally turn inside out in live performances. The body of work gives them the range to change set lists nightly, often surprising with interesting unexpected covers & collaborating creatively with a plethora of guests onstage, mingling their alt country beginnings with straight out rock, folk, blues and jazz influences. Whether acoustic or electric, they always inspire. Performing live they take their game to another level in the way that many talk of the Grateful Dead, Springsteen & Jimi. Their humor, love of their audience and respect for other great music comes through in their performances, drawing you closer.
Besides their output as a band, side projects The Autumn Defense(should be as revered as Simon & Garfunkel), Nels Cline's cornucopia of jazz & avantgarde projects and Jeff Tweedy's solo and Tweedy band work, Wilco's members never cease to amaze with all their creative energy.
If you've never dug deep into Wilco you really should! Cheers,
Spencer