Namesake

Since my time with this blog is coming to a close, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss its namesake...

Box Full Of Letters was the first single released by one of my favorite bands, Wilco, back in 1995. It comes from their album A.M., which was released shortly after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo. The breakup of Uncle Tupelo resulted in Jay Farrar forming Son Volt and Jeff Tweedy forming Wilco with the rest of his former Tupelo bandmates. Uncle Tupelo are known as one of the founding members of what has been coined the alt-country genre. With A.M., Tweedy and Wilco stayed close to their Uncle Tupelo/alt-country roots, though Box Full Of Letters is pure pop:



Twelve years later, only two original Wilco members remain: Tweedy and John Stirratt. However, with the gradual additions of Glenn Kotche, Nels Cline, Pat Sansone, and Mikael Jorgensen, Wilco's current lineup is more solid and impressive than ever before. The following is a recent performance of Jesus, Etc., a track from 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot:



Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is my favorite of Wilco's albums, and for those geeks who like to keep track of things (um...me), it also has a high rank on my personal list of Top 10 Favorite Albums. I tend to get lost in the frail beauty of YHF, and often leave it playing in my car for a week or so nonstop without even realizing that I've been listening to the same songs for days on end.

I'm going to see Wilco this September for the sixth time in the past five years in Columbia, Missouri. Due to my crazy schedule and complete lack of money this year, I haven't been able to see as many shows as I normally do. However, getting to see Wilco with one of my best friends along with some Shakespeare's and a cold beer will more than make up for this year's concert drought.