Wilco albums rated best to worst

I picked up a cheap copy of the most recent Wilco, "Schmilco", last week, and have played it a couple of times and enjoyed it quite a bit.

I've just been looking at reviews of it on rateyourmusic, and there are lots and lots and lots of three star reviews of it, with the general feeling that it is underwhelming.

I was wondering how folk here would position the albums if ranked from best to worst.

The one I know best is "Being There", which I played lots when I bought it soon after it came out. I wouldn't say I'm a huge Wilco fan, as I have "Yankee..." and "A Ghost is Born" and have never played them more than a couple of times. "Sky Blue Sky" washed over me as well, apart from the superb "Impossible Germany".

But I'd be very interested in your rankings!

 

1. Being There
2. Summerteeth
3. A.M.
4. Yankee Foxtrot Hotel
5. A Ghost Is Born

 

I had a hard time getting through it even once. It sounds like it was recorded in a basement on a cheap 1990's Tascam Portastudio in one afternoon.

The first 3 1/2 Wilco albums are the best. My favorite is Summerteeth, then Being There, then A.M. I say 1/2 because there's a a couple different bootlegs of very high-quality Yankee Hotel Foxtrot demos/outtakes/etc that I very much prefer to the actual album versions. I'm sure that album will get an expanded reissue at some point like the first two LP's have recently.

A Ghost Is Born is like Schmilco, just so amateurish and poor sounding that I don't think I could stand listening to it more than a couple times. It had some decent songs that were rescued by good live versions on Kicking Television though. Sky Blue Sky is a good nap soundtrack, and I honestly don't remember much about Wilco (The Album) or Star Wars, to be honest. Every time they put out a record, I feel obligated to give it a shot because their first three albums are so good, but I know they're a very different band now, that I can't really connect to at all.

 

1. Sky Blue Sky -- their most consistently strong record, criminally underrated. Beneath the apparent softness of it is a man stepping out of a hole he's been in for years. There's a lot more emotion there than meets the eye (or ear). And the band is firing on all cylinders. Key tracks: Impossible Germany, Side with the Seeds
2. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot -- this one is their White Album. A nearly perfect mess. KT: Jesus etc, Poor Places
3. A Ghost Is Born -- all over the map stylistically, but amazing performances, esp "Muzzle of Bees." KT: Muzzle, Spiders/Kidsmoke
4. Being There -- the great sprawling double, has a few weak spots. KT: Misunderstood, Monday
5. The Whole Love -- nice return to form after subpar The Album. KT: Art of Almost, Born Alone
6. Summerteeth -- chemicals were involved. Ambitious but somewhat cold. KT: Can't Stand It, Via Chicago
7. A.M. -- Tweedy's sequel to UT's Anodyne. Is this really even Wilco? KT: Box Full of Letters, Passenger Side
8. Schmilco -- really, Star Wars vol 2. More accessible and sonically more pleasant. But Tweedy is in a sad place. KT: If I Ever Was a Child, Someone to Lose
9. Wilco (The Album) -- When the premise of the title song is a joke . . . KT: Bull Black Nova, You Never Know
10. Star Wars -- Yeah it rocks, but it's sonically claustrophobic enough to be unpleasant. KT: Random Name Generator, Cold Slope

 

Here's a thread with many answers to this question, including mine:

Rate Wilco Albums In Order

Short version: My favorite is A Ghost is Born.

 

Interesting. There are predominately five consecutive LPs chosen as favorites -- Being There, Summerteeth, YHF, Ghost and Sky Blue Sky. YHF, the middle record, gets the most. Obviously a great peak run from '96 to '07.

 

Hey Walrus, I agree with virtually nothing you have said but I salute your entertaining contribution. I love albums that wash over you, but each to their own. Great post.
NP

 

Me too, that's why I love Summerteeth. I wish their more recent albums had that kind of thought and care put into the recording and arrangements. There's so much going on on that one and Being There, and they're a joy to listen to.

 

PS Tweedy's "Sukierae" is Jeff's best work since "Sky Blue Sky", a real gem.
NP

 

My list too^
Can we include Mermaid Ave?

 

Jay Bennett we miss you

 

Summerteeth
Yankee
Being There
Whole Love
Ghost
Sky
The Album
Star Wars
AM
Schmilco

 

1. A Ghost is Born
2. Summerteeth
3. Sky Blue Sky
4. Being There
5. A.M.

YFH?


They really have a polarizing catalogue...

 

As someone said above polarising band.I am a huge Wilco fan and my opinion is the direct opposite of yours in every respect.
My rankings
1A Ghost Is Born
2The Whole Love
3Sky Blue Sky
4Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
5Wilco-The Album
6Being There
7Star Wars
8Summerteeth
9Schmilco
10AM
If I was going to include Sukeraie it would rank at 3.None of these are less than very good and the first 6 are great albums.

 

Summerteeth
Being There
AM
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Mostly lost interest after this one)

 

Yankee
Ghost
Being There
Sky Blue Sky
Summerteeth
The Whole Love
AM
Schmilco
Wilco
Star Wars

 

Being There
Sky Blue Sky
Yankee
A Ghost Is Born
AM
Summerteeth
The Whole Love
Wilco
Schmilco
Star Wars


The general consenus appears to be that Wilco have been on a downward trajectory since Sky Blue Sky

 

I could live with your rankings. I'd swap Ghost with Whole Love though.

 

1. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2. Summerteeth
3. Being There
4. Kicking Television
5. A.M.
6. A Ghost Is Born
7. Sky Blue Sky
8. Schmilco
9. Wilco (The Album)
10. The Whole Love
11. Star Wars

Other than selected tracks, I really only listen to the first five listed above. The last four tend to get a wide berth.

 

That works for me.

 

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
A Ghost Is Born
Being There
Summerteeth
The Whole Love
Sky Blue Sky
Wilco (The Album)
Schmilco
Star Wars
A.M.

 

1a. Summerteeth
1b. YHF
1c. Being There
4. Sky Blue Sky
5. AGiB
6. Whole Love
7. Wilco (The Album)
8. AM
9. Star Wars
10. Schmilco

 

I've a first press vinyl copy of this great album, and IMO it kicks ****. Excellent sound.

 

I'll admit that I really didn't like AGiB on first listen. The album itself still isn't my favorite. I got into the band through an Uncle Tupelo fan and always gravitated more towards Summerteeth and Being There. Yet the great songs from AGiB became live monsters, so there isn't much reason to go back to the studio record when the live tapes capture the maturation.

 

1 - being there - i know it's not as adventurous as some of their stuff but the songs and feel are great
2- summerteeth - my first exposure to them
3 - yhf
4 - a ghost is born
5 - whole love
6 - star wars
7 - schmilco
8 - sky blue sky

haven't heard wilco the album or am

the wife put me on to wilco. i've seen them live 3 times and to me they seem better live than on album, though i do like the albums