The Wilco Book

Following in the footsteps of LEARNING HOW TO DIE, Greg Kot's wonderful overview of the enigmatic Midwest band Wilco, whose checkered music business career was the subject of the 2002 movie-length documentary I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART, the band members themselves chime in with their own contribution to the expanding library of Wilco-oriented material, THE WILCO BOOK. The sumptuous, coffee-table volume is not so much an explanation of the band's oeuvre (although celebrated author Rick Moody attempts a lengthy exegesis of five of their songs) as an exposition of their working methods, with the inclusion of many color plates, varying from arty depictions of birds to somewhat earthier pictures of band members and some quite beautiful photographs of their guitars. There are also texts from the band's leader, Jeff Tweedy, as well as various members of the collective road crew, ranging from the informative (usually the crew) to the inscrutable (usually Tweedy). Covering most of the rock & roll bases, from artful creativity to practical advice on road etiquette, and including a CD of rare band recordings, THE WILCO BOOK is an imaginative and lavishly illustrated glimpse inside the workings of one of the more innovative outfits in alternative music.