Wilco — Kicking Television: Live In Chicago

Kicking Television: Live In Chicago

Nonesuch/Warner

Noah Love (CHARTattack)

11/15/2005 8:40am

Wilco's first live album is the definition of mixed bag. On the plus side, the sound in Chicago's Old Vic Theatre is immaculate and the band are probably the tightest Wilco have ever been. On the other hand, this is one of those live discs where it feels as though the setlist has been crafted specifically to highlight one record (A Ghost Is Born) and exclude much of the band's early material. And even while the Ghost tracks sound better here than they do on the disappointing follow to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, they still don't resonate like YHF's tracks, such as the highly textured "Heavy Metal Drummer" and "Poor Places." In fact, the one thing this album truly succeeded at was making me want to listen to YHF again. If you're a diehard Wilco fan, this two-disc set is not to be missed, but if you prefer their pre-Ghost days, you're better off sticking with the pre-recorded versions.

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