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jimmylorunning 's review for:
In retrospect, it shouldn't surprise me that Jeff Tweedy is a grood writer (that's great, with reservations for ya). I've been a fan of Wilco for some time now. Rather, I've been several different Wilco fans. Near the end of the book Tweedy talks about how different fans look for different things in the band. There are the ones who only like a certain album. That's the type of fan I was for a while. I loved Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. But then I kind of fell off the wagon, thinking that their newer sound wasn't as exciting.
But then several years ago, a wiser older me decided to listen to newer Wilco and I fell in love with them all over again. Yes, their newer stuff isn't as knob-twiddly, but I actually like it even more than their early breakout albums. Now I've become the fan that he describes in his book as ones who kind of expect change, and is along for the ride no matter what they do. Part of what's exciting about the band is how they continue writing deeper into their experiences, into who they are. Listening to Wilco is like getting to spend time with a friend. I feel like my relationship with their music has grown along with them, and I appreciate all their artistic decisions as you would appreciate a friendship growing into different phases.
Another thing that surprised me about this book (and that shouldn't have) is how funny Jeff Tweedy is. I already knew he was vulnerable, smart, kind, sensitive. And I thought he was funny too, through his songs... a kind of humor (sometimes lyrically sometimes purely musical) that's just oddball enough to make me chuckle and think "did he mean that to be funny? or is he just weird?" But for some reason I didn't think it would translate into his writing. But it did.
I loved that this book doesn't linger. He starts the book immediately in media res, and often chapters start in the middle of already telling you a story. He hits all the highs and lows that are important without being too self-important as to think you'd be interested in the boring parts of his life as well. It's a book mostly about his life... childhood, growing up, how he got into music, his band, and his family.
The rockstar life is also talked about (meeting Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, playing shows, etc), but it's not the focus here. In fact, the more you get to know Jeff Tweedy, the more he just seems like a normal dude who has his problems, but learned from them and conquered them (and continues to work at them), and values what he now has in life all the more for it. He is down to earth, and constantly works to disabuse the reader of the notion that many have of art... i.e. the myth that you have to suffer to create art. Or the myth that inspiration just comes to artists instead of coming from sustained hard work, etc.
Of course all Wilco fans also want an exclusive look at the inner workings of the songwriting, and Jeff doesn't withhold in that department. I was especially fascinated when he talked about how he came up with his lyrics... being a poet myself and not musical at all, I often wondered if musicians write the music first or the lyrics first. I've heard some say one and others say the other. Apparently Jeff Tweedy writes the music first, with a mumble track. Then he listens to it and lets his subconscious do the work of filling in what he thinks he heard himself singing in those early demo tapes. It makes sense as his lyrics are sometimes nonsensical but also makes a sort of sense. And it is also validating, even in my own artform, because I often try different strategies to catch myself unawares... to get to that subconscious place before my conscious mind muddles it all up into something that makes too much sense.
I think you'd like this book even if you aren't a huge Wilco fan. But then again I'm biased. Also, if you stopped listening to them after YHF, might I suggest listening to Sky Blue Sky. And Sukierae by Tweedy.
But then several years ago, a wiser older me decided to listen to newer Wilco and I fell in love with them all over again. Yes, their newer stuff isn't as knob-twiddly, but I actually like it even more than their early breakout albums. Now I've become the fan that he describes in his book as ones who kind of expect change, and is along for the ride no matter what they do. Part of what's exciting about the band is how they continue writing deeper into their experiences, into who they are. Listening to Wilco is like getting to spend time with a friend. I feel like my relationship with their music has grown along with them, and I appreciate all their artistic decisions as you would appreciate a friendship growing into different phases.
Another thing that surprised me about this book (and that shouldn't have) is how funny Jeff Tweedy is. I already knew he was vulnerable, smart, kind, sensitive. And I thought he was funny too, through his songs... a kind of humor (sometimes lyrically sometimes purely musical) that's just oddball enough to make me chuckle and think "did he mean that to be funny? or is he just weird?" But for some reason I didn't think it would translate into his writing. But it did.
I loved that this book doesn't linger. He starts the book immediately in media res, and often chapters start in the middle of already telling you a story. He hits all the highs and lows that are important without being too self-important as to think you'd be interested in the boring parts of his life as well. It's a book mostly about his life... childhood, growing up, how he got into music, his band, and his family.
The rockstar life is also talked about (meeting Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, playing shows, etc), but it's not the focus here. In fact, the more you get to know Jeff Tweedy, the more he just seems like a normal dude who has his problems, but learned from them and conquered them (and continues to work at them), and values what he now has in life all the more for it. He is down to earth, and constantly works to disabuse the reader of the notion that many have of art... i.e. the myth that you have to suffer to create art. Or the myth that inspiration just comes to artists instead of coming from sustained hard work, etc.
Of course all Wilco fans also want an exclusive look at the inner workings of the songwriting, and Jeff doesn't withhold in that department. I was especially fascinated when he talked about how he came up with his lyrics... being a poet myself and not musical at all, I often wondered if musicians write the music first or the lyrics first. I've heard some say one and others say the other. Apparently Jeff Tweedy writes the music first, with a mumble track. Then he listens to it and lets his subconscious do the work of filling in what he thinks he heard himself singing in those early demo tapes. It makes sense as his lyrics are sometimes nonsensical but also makes a sort of sense. And it is also validating, even in my own artform, because I often try different strategies to catch myself unawares... to get to that subconscious place before my conscious mind muddles it all up into something that makes too much sense.
I think you'd like this book even if you aren't a huge Wilco fan. But then again I'm biased. Also, if you stopped listening to them after YHF, might I suggest listening to Sky Blue Sky. And Sukierae by Tweedy.