The Wilco Book
Between all the critical acclaim, Greg Kot'sbook on the band, and the introspectiveI Am Trying to Break Your Heartdocumentary, you'd think that pretty much everything has already been said aboutWilco. ButThe Wilco Book--the influential rock band's own scrapbook of photos, observations, and random notes--has more than a few revelations for fans. Here we get beautiful photographs of musical instruments (taken apart, being fixed and played) interspersed with quotes about their studio, their performance and recording habits, and their songwriting. Some may think a close-up of a Gibson guitar is a mundane affair, but to Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, that tool of the trade is an important element in the music-making process, worthy of plenty of attention. In addition, there are numerous shots of the band, random images by Fred Tomaselli, a new essay on the ensemble by Rick Moody, and "The Angel Is My Watermark," a piece by Henry Miller that resonates with the group. The enclosed 12-track CD contains previously unheard tracks from theA Ghost Is Bornsessions. A couple tunes ("Diamond Claw," "What Good Am I") rank with Wilco's best work, while the rest show the band in the midst of the creative process, making aural sketches. All told, the poignant randomness ofThe Wilco Bookunfolds like a great Wilco album: it's a wonderful mix of compelling experimentation and heartfelt sentiment. A must-have for Wilco lovers.--Jason VerlindeTweedy TalksAmazon.com Music Editor Jason Verlinde talks with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy about the book, the band's music, and more in our special audio interview:Jeff Tweedy onThe Wilco BookJeff Tweedy on Wilco's fame and statusWilco on RecordLooking for more Wilco? Check out Amazon.com'scomplete list of Wilco on CD.