A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, acoustic then electric, horns(!) - what a mélange. It is, above all, American music. As the music veers hither and thither you can pick up traces of Gram Parsons (of course), mountain music, rockabilly, late 60's San Fran. psychedelia and good old guitar driven rock and roll. This is another major accomplishment from Jeff Tweedy and Wilco. Eleven years after its release it sounds as fresh as when it was released. Wilco is one of too few bands that, over a protracted period, can change direction from record to record, yet remain relevant & vibrant and maintain its fan base.

Making two LP length cds rather than one mammoth cd is a great idea. I realize that a listener can always start a 72 minute cd half way through and thereby avoid always hearing just the first half. However, how many of us do this? More often than not we start at track one and then skip to the next cd after we have heard enough. The latter halves of full length cds get short shrift.

Make it 4 1/2* because of the fabulous "sunken treasure".

This is when Wilco became special. This is such a sprawling, courageous, daring, creative and (yes) flawed cd. It is similar to the Stone's Exile on Main Street or Led Zep's Physical Graffiti in terms of depth and creativity. The slight flaws even make the cd better since the work is so eanest and real. This was a group taking it to the next level. This is the type of cd that you would have expected from a much more experienced and mature group as opposed to Wilco's second cd.

There is a bit of everything here. "Misunderstood" and "Sunken Treasure" morph from folk into psychodelia. "Red Eyed and Blue", with it's whistling solo is Woody Guthrie-esque folk. "I got you" is balls to the walls Stones/Aerosmith rock. "Was I in your Dreams" is sugar sweet power pop.

There is so much here, so much to sink in, so much to discover, so many hidden melodies, piano tinklings, drum backbeats, etc that you will pick up on something new all the time. There is too much to absorb in not only one sitting but even after listening to this cd for a month.

Wilco/Jeff Tweedy really hit their stride strating with this cd. I am a huge fan and highly recommend all of their works. This is a band that takes chances.

"Being There' is their rock cd, "Summer Teeth" their pop cd, Yankee Foxtrot Hotel" their musical cd and "A Ghost is Born" their guitar cd.

This was the start of a band that has not made a bad move since. See them live since they re-create eveyr sound on the stage. This is hardly a band that is a creation of the studio. This band may be the Pink Floyd of the current era. Jeff Tweedy is oozing with creative talent.

if you are a true WILCO fan you already know this is the best. nuf said.

Somehow, for some reason, this album has never seemed to receive the popular recognition it deserves. Don't get me wrong: it got some very, very good reviews when it came out, and there are many glowing reviews here and elsewhere on line, but it deserves even better than that. Not only is it Wilco's shining moment, it is, quite simply, one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded. Yes, it's sloppy, and yes, it sprawls all over the map (rubbing shoulders with Gram Parsons, Big Star, The Stones, Neil Young, The Beach Boys, and a host of others...), but that's part of its intrinsic appeal to me.

Without running through the track listing, which has been done thoroughly in other reviews on these pages, suffice it to say that 'Being There' has more should-have-been hits than any double album since 'Sign O' The Times' (am I forgetting anything here?), proving along the way that sometimes two discs really are better than one. More to the point, it manages to provide a touchstone for much of what was great about rock in its adolescence (for the sake of argument, let's call that the early to mid-70s), effortlessly blending styles and hooks to create a holistic piece that is at once reflective of its (many)influences and thoroughly of its time.

The 'Exile on Main Street' of its generation.

In 1996, I don't remember for sure what I was listening to when Being There was originally released but I do remember the album getting rave reviews but just never jumped up to listen to Wilco. Being There is definitely where Wilco got the Alt-Country label put on them. This amazing album starts off with the masterpiece Misunderstood that over the years has become a live masterpiece for the band it is even more amazing live than it is on the album. I believe this album is where Jeff Tweedy came into his own as far as the lyrics in his songs. Some of the standout tracks here are Misunderstood, Monday, Red-eyed and Blue, Hotel Arizona, Say You Miss Me, Someone Else's Song, and The Lonely 1. This is definitely a great starting point for someone to discover Wilco and watch them grow into an even more amazing band over the years.

Many fans of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco's "A.M." bought this double-disc album, and didn't know what to think.
Although, many songs feature the perfect alt.country stylings we'd grown to expect, the band also didn't hesitate to ROCK OUT, garage-style. A blast of guitars and noise and crashing symbols rushes hotly out of the first track, "Misunderstood," and the album quickly declares itself as something all its own, something that owes nothing to any of its old fans, or to the band's old sound, or to anyone: "I'd like to thank you all for nothing, nothing, nothing at all!" Ungrateful, but heartfelt enough to give a person chills.
From there, the album alternates between lilting steel guitar numbers and raw (yet melodious) garage rock. An occasional horn section explodes from nowhere. Lyrics wonder: "What's the world got in store...for you?" Lyrics contemplate love and Y2K in a timeless way. Lyrics express being lost and feeling hopeless and needing music. "Why would you wanna live...in this world?" one song asks, but then proceeds to answer that question with a jaunty little fiddle reel. Things get loud and rowdy, things get bummed and introspective, but the music NEVER suffers.
It's always great.
And it's always cohesive: Wilco makes albums, not collections of songs. The songs fit together and lead to each other and form a whole. The band offers enough alt.country goodness to please its old fans, and enough rock and roll to please everyone else: this album is almost like the band taking its old fans by the hands and walking with them to even greener pastures, leading them from "A.M." to "Summerteeth."
And it's a nice walk.
And there's a lot to see and hear.
And you'll be glad you took it.

Wilco's second album is a two disc set that showcases the past, the present, and the future. There are songs that sound like their first album and frontman's Jeff Tweedy's first band Uncle Tupelo. Then some songs sound like their more experimental albums of the present. This album along with Summer Teeth borderline the change of Wilco. Both discs have great songs on them. Favorites include Misunderstood, Far, Far Away, Outtasite (Outta Mind), Forget the Flowers, Red-Eyed and Blue, I Got You (At the End of the Century), Say You Miss Me, Sunken Treasure, Outta Mind (Outta Sight), Someone Else's Song, (Was I) In Your Dreams, Lonely 1, and Dreamer in My Dreams. Highly Highly Recommended.

I don't think you can go wrong with this album ($9.99 for two cd's)or most of Wilco's albums for that matter. What I like about this album and all of their albums is that the songs all are original and different in some way. If you ever listen to some artists, i.e. 3 Doors Down, their cd's sound like one big song.....boring. This band sounds like they put genuine effort into every one of their songs. Wilco isn't for everyone, but I think if you are patient enough (Wilco albums are made for repeat listening)you will find something worthwile and for ten dollars you can't go wrong.

I really like Wilco. Jeff Tweedy has a far better sense of how to craft songs than most any songwriter out there nowadays. And he does a very good job on Being There. My complaint is, and I can hear the screaming already from other devotees, that the vast majority of songs on this disc are forgettable. Wilco really isn't trying anything radical here, and as a result most of the songs end up feeling like filler. That said, there are a handful of very good songs here. Say You Miss Me and Sunken Treasure are beautiful and mesmerizing, Red-Eyed and Blue is great, and there are some fun songs on here like Got You (At the End of the Century) and Monday.

I recommend this album for either people who've already bought later Wilco albums and loved them or people who like relatively unproduced, unrambunctious rock. If you're not sure, buy Summerteeth first. If you think you would like it if it were stripped down to guitars, then go buy Being There.

This album is best enjoyed on big headphones plugged into a hi-fi. Both of the discs compare favorably to any of the best country-infused rock of the last 30 years, exploring the deep personal issues seldom heard on older recordings yet burdened by none of the naval-gazing of the more confessional singer-songwriter types. The songs and the music are beautiful, whether you're talking about anthemic rock songs like "Monday" and "Outtasite (outta mind)" or piano-driven laments like "Sunken Treasure."
Wilco has continued to release excellent records, but this is the one that finds them on the cusp between where they were going and where they had been. You can see the more varied musical landscapes Tweedy and company would later explore, but they're still safely off in the distance. This record occupies a space in your parent's basement, your childhood room, the first bar where they knew your drink. At about the length of a single CD (with at least a couple duds on the second disc), it's hard to say why this album occupies two discs, but allow them the indulgence. I never get tired of this record.

This double-disc album is loaded with stunning tracks.

Some highlights:

"Misunderstood" is reminiscent of The Velvet Underground's "Heroin," with the juxtapostion of noise-rock and the consonance of Jeff Tweedy's simple song. The use of changing textures here is masterful. Tweedy's lyrics come across as clever without be self-conscious or trying too hard.

"The Lonely 1" is one of my all-time favorite Wilco tracks, beautiful and bittersweet. The arrangement is well-crafted, with understated strings and steel guitar. This song is featured prominently in "Chelsea Walls," a film that Tweedy scored.

There are a number of songs that remind me of Johnny Cash or Bob Dylan, played and sung in a straight-forward style with brilliant lyrics (songs such as: "Someone Else's Song," "What's the World Got in Store," and "Forget the Flowers").

The straight-ahead rock stuff works well too, simple, catchy, optimistic songs with tasteful vocal harmonies and driving guitars (songs such as: "Monday," "Outtasite (Outta Mind)," and "I Got You (at the End of the Century)").

Then there are the songs that are hard to categorize, floating somewhere between the world of folk, pop, country, and alt.-rock. These songs take chances and are worth a listen (songs like: "Sunken Treasure," and "Hotel Arizona").

Why only 4 stars? The album is too long. It could have been cut down to one fantastic disc. Wilco comes across as indecisive, trying to figure out what their sound should be. For example, they include two versions of the same song ("Outta Mind (Outta Sight)," and "Outtasite (Outta Mind") are the same song, one is done in a sing-songy Beach Boys style, and the other is done in a heavy rock style). Make up your minds guys! Pick the best version for the album and go with it. Save the alternate version for a Beatle-esque Anthology in 20 years.

This one gripe aside, there are many tracks here that are worth your time and money. If you like this album, order "Summerteeth" and "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." Their latest album, "A Ghost is Born," is a big departure from the albums mentioned above. It's a fine disc, but getting to know it takes some patience.

Buy this recording immediately!

I'm not the kind of person who compulsively listens to one CD over and over -- except for this one. There's a wide variety of "sounds," for lack of a better word, on this album. That's why I can listen to it over and over again.

From the slow to the fast, the rocking to the folksy, this album has it all.

Please note this information only applies to the first CD -- the second is just average. But the first CD more than makes up for it.

Being There, the epic, expansive, thrilling sophomore album from Chicago-based Wilco is, like all of their recordings, an increasingly important and highly impressive creation. Split into two astounding halves, the experience begins with the lovely and psychotic 'Misunderstood'. While ascending as one of the prettiest songs Jeff had ever written, the behemoth opener recedes in wailing cacophony, frustration and anger. It's an appropriately stirring introduction to an astoundingly seminal album. Following on the heels of 'Misunderstood' is the modest, yet beautiful 'Far, Far Away'. One of my personal favorites, it's a relatively plainspoken, lonely country ballad, but like any good song, it conveys so much more depth and meaning than can any common words written or spoken in its praise. Simply, it possesses a wealth of feeling and beauty. Next, the rocking duo of 'Monday' and 'Outtasite (Outta Mind)' lift the sad, morose veil of the first tracks and reexplore a territory that Wilco had already mapped out and ransacked: Rock N' Roll. And indeed, they are both sincerely solid and melodic, and altogether rocking. Changing pace once more, 'Forget the Flowers and 'Red-Eyed and Blue', two stunning gems, conjure love-sickness, loss and despair in a blissful, thoroughly enjoyable manner. 'I Got You (At the End of the Century)' marks the second return of Rock to the album. It's a positive, uplifting number with an incredible hook and an irresistible vibe, the type of song you'd play after winning the lottery, getting married or driving to the ocean. 'What's the World Got in Store' and 'Hotel Arizona' are both whimsical and curious, like hummingbirds (not that 'Hummingbird') speedily lilting from one flower to the next. Although they are not among my favorites, both tracks have many appealing qualities. The first disc is capped off by the desperate 'Say You Miss Me'. All I can say of this one is that when the 'Ooh Ooh Ooh, Do you miss me too?' lyric comes in, my heart melts.

'Sunken Treasure', the second focal point of 'Being There', is similar to its predecessor, 'Misunderstood', in its initial beauty and closing dissonance. Graceful piano coupled with windswept guitar chords render it a truly exceptional piece. Most notable though, are the lyrics. Any fan of music should surely appreciate Jeff's lines, 'I was maimed by rock and roll/I was tamed by rock and roll/I got my name from rock and roll.' Drastically shifting gears from the second disc's weighty introductory number, the lively, upbeat 'Someday Soon' and 'Outta Mind (Outta Sight)' are breaths of fresh air. Equally ebullient, they call to mind the lyrics that Jeff would compose years later on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot's 'Heavy Metal Drummer': "I miss the innocence I've known..." 'Someone Else's Song' is like a counterpart to disc one's 'Far, Far Away.' It's sad, slow, wistful and utterly gorgeous. The fan favorite 'Kingpin' follows with bizarre, imaginative lyrics ('I got the flu and away I flew/NYC, pediate blue/Dimetapp and spinal tap/City maps and hand claps') and a zany, off-kilter beat. '(Was I) In your Dreams' is a bluesy, drunken-sounding bit of nostalgia that constitutes one of the lesser moments of the album, but still, not at all a bad recording. The galloping, graceful 'Why Would you Wanna Live' is magnificent. Marked by a marriage of captivating instrumental breaks of banjo and violin and sparse, yet thoughtful lyrics, it is certainly a highpoint of the double album. I think 'The Lonely 1' might be a little too caught up in grief, but its slide-guitar and subtle orchestrations are undeniably beautiful. Concluding the marvelous 'Being There' is the frolicking, Dylanesque 'Dreamer in my Dreams'. Shaking, banging, swinging and rattling for over six minutes, the coda is raffishly charming, typifying the band's barroom swagger and rustic pizzazz. As a final remark, I will only say that I think those who are not being with 'Being There' are not fully being.

Read a lot of great reviews about this CD. I thought it would be right up my alley, as I have a broad range of musical tastes, and am especially drawn to heartfelt folk rock.
The damn shame of it is this double CD is truly a "double bummer". Not a single cut I would revisit again, and Lord knows I've tried. I've flipped these discs on several times, under various circumstances, and never found anything to hang my hat on. Mediocre melodies, clap trappy, no balls rock, middle of the road production. If you like decent folkish stuff with real hooks, try anything by Grant Lee Buffalo (Phillips), or Badly Drawn Boy and stay away from this mess.

Simply the best album ever made. Yes, I listen to a lot of music. And, yes, I have heard many other artists. Yes, I still love many other albums. But this one really just does it ALL for me. Not a bad song in the bunch. Really. Try it. Listen to it all. Fist CD, second CD. Just amazing.

Six years before the much lauded masterpiece "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", Wilco released "Being There", an ambitious double album that utilized many of the foundations of rock & roll, yet made them sound fresh. Also, if you heard "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and scratched your head at the whole "alt. country" label they're saddled with, it may make more sense after listening to this.

First off, I should say that "Being There" could've fit onto one disc. But once you hear it, you'll see why they put it onto two. For instance, "Misunderstood" and "Sunken Treasure" open Disc 1 and 2, respectively. Each one clocks in at nearly 7 minutes, and utilize similar structures; slow building epics that climax in blasts of psychadelic/avant-garde guitar noise. They both function as centerpieces, and simply work a lot better, aesthetically, as opening songs.

"Monday" is a hard rockin' Rolling Stones pastiche if you'll ever hear one. Deliciously catchy and fun, it'll be stuck in your head for days. "Outtasite (Outta Mind)" and "I Got You" are both carefree, infectious power-pop at its best. The former also appears on Disc 2 as "Outta Mind (Outtasite)" with a toned down, Beach Boys-like arrangement (check out the great vocal harmonies in the background).

"Hotel Arizona" is a personal favorite of mine that blends swirling, atmospheric textures with traditional folk, pop, and rock elements.

Whereas most of the songs have a very subtle country sound, "Far Far Away" and "Forget The Flowers" are pure county-western, twangy guitar and all.

Best of all is the melancholy/bittersweet "The Lonely 1", a reflective ballad (about the whole rock & roll lifestyle) that combines gentle accoustic guitars, piano, and strings.

The album ends with "Dreamer In My Dreams", a freewheeling, bluesey rocker that's also highly reminiscent of the Rolling Stones.

Other standouts include the soulful "What's the World Got In Store", the rootsy-ballad "Say You Miss Me", the gentle folk of "Someone Else's Song", the blues-rock of "Kingpin", and "Why Would You Wanna Live", which has a old timey, music hall feel.

I've given the album 4.5 Stars, because although it is excellent, Wilco would get even better with subsequent releases (such as the aforementioned "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", the lush pop of "Summerteeth", and their newest release, the stark & haunting "A Ghost is Born"). So basically, "Being There" is the first of a bunch of essential releases from Wilco. Don't miss out on this great band.

Highly Recommended.

Best Songs: The Lonely 1, Hotel Arizona, Sunken Treasure, Someone Else's Song, Misunderstood, What's The World Got In Store, Outta Mind (Outta Site).

Like most double albums, this epic of ambient roots-rock has difficulty justifying its own self conscious hyperperbole (beyond, of coarse, the common excuse of "We wrote alotta stuff"). Detail production aside, Wilco connect here only when they pick up their electric instruments and go for broke; "Outta Sight (Outta Mind)", "Monday", and "At the End of the Century" set ambitions aside by basking in their own revelry. Being There is, otherwise, too padded to function as a wholely satisfying listen. Opener "Misunderstood" does happen upon a nicely lilting melody, but the remaining down-tempo material ("Hotel in Arizona", "Sunken Treasure", etc.) sacrifices hooks for light experimentation or genre integrity.

This was a fairly staggering conception, warts and all, and it wouldn't be until the next release that Wilco truly become masters of the artform, but it's quite a worthy, powerful ride for what it is. The record, for the first place, should have been on one CD and trimmed a bit. There are some half-songs ("Red Eyed and Blue," "I've Got You," which while peppy has some pretty dumb lyrics, and "Kingpin") and it gets a bit mired in its own moroseness towards the end (though "(Was I) In Your Dreams," Why Would You Want to Live," and "The Lonely 1" are all lovely songs in their own respects, it's a bit punishing to have them back to back to back), but there are such dizzying moments of transcendence on this record that you can mostly forgive it for its faults.

The two focal points of the record, "Misunderstood" and "Sunken Treasure," are powerful, emotionally geared epics that set the course for the whole record- themes of loss, betrayal, and distance. The whole record throbs with an organic closeness- the songs feel like they're no more than a few inches from reach. "Far Far Away" sounds like the band's encircling you in the studio, Jeff Tweedy in front of you strumming an aching melody. "Dreamer In My Dreams" is like a racous live take (hoe-down, even?), with some frenetic violin playing and an improvised feel with Tweedy's hoarse vocal.

One could say the record throbs with pain, as well- the sonic equivalent of pain and trying to be ambivalent about it. It's the band's most intimate recorded performance, and though they will aim for and achieve higher, this will hold a special place in any fan's heart too.

This CD is just stupendous. Its awe inspiring almost. The 2nd CD by this amazing Chicago-based band leaves a fresh taste in your mouth. The CD manages to avoid the problem that many artists have of having all the songs sound the same. "Being There" has many different sounds to their songs, from the sweet country feel of "far, far away" to the almost Weezer-ish sound of "outta mind(outta site)"- all of which are driven by their impressive lyrics. If you like any of Wilco's other work, or if you appreciate good lyrics or slow mesmorizing melodies, you must buy this CD.

Being a longtime fan of Wilco, I love introducing people to the group. While I was first introduced to 'AM', I think they really moved to another level with 'Being There'. The album foreshadows the directions that Wilco will take in the future, while still remaining attached to their progenitors, Uncle Tupelo. From the juxtaposition of the alt-country in 'Far Far Away' with the power pop of 'Monday' to the overwhealming saddness of 'Sunken Treasure' to the sheer joy that is evident in the rousing 'Dreamer in My Dreams', Wilco is found noodling around with many different ideas. Try to name a recent album that brings to mind everything from the Beatles to the Beach Boys (yes, the Beach Boys! Listen to the harmonies on Outta Mind, Outta Sight!) 'Being There' shows the band trying on so many different styles, experimenting with so many different paths to follow that this becomes a must for anyone attempting to follow the band's rise.

No one is playing and writing better music than Jeff Tweedy and Wilco these days. The guy has talent. Every song is diverse, yet still retains a style that is his own. One song may be a quiet ballad, the next a heavy rocker, then a country type song comes through. He makes use a so many instruments, piano, violyn, banjo, horns, wierd studio sounds all make up a sound that is just outstanding. Wilco is doing something very special now, and this music will be around for a long time.

I wasn't a big fan of "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" nor was I impressed with Wilco until I was dragged to their concert, which was astonishing. I ended up buying "Summer Teeth" and this album, and out of the three that I own, this one beats the other two by a landslide. It blends acoustic, electric guitars, AND (!) pianos with beautiful lyrics. It's an album that makes you want to jump up and buy a guitar (or another one, in my case). It comes with two albums for double the fun. Like all Wilco albums, there is melodrama. In this album, it's easier to swallow. The tracks are even more catchy than their previous albums, so it sticks with you much easier. This is beyond the shadow of a doubt and reccomendation for any Wilco fan.

I bought this one at a Wilco concert last year thinking I knew Wilco (I'd already owned SUMMERTEETH & had just purchased YHF a few days before the show) BEING THERE taught me what they were all about as it will you. Pick this one up today & listen carefully. Incredible!! So good for your health!! Whenever I feel down & hopeless, I listen to a few tracks and..well, here I am happily plugging this CD!!

Granted, this is not your everyday top-40 formula-driven pop drivel, but it's not very good alternative either. The songs sound contrived -- trying so hard to differentiate themselves but not knowing where to go musically. The result is a rather obnoxious concoction that leaves an unpleasant lingering aftertaste on your brain.

I've honestly tried to like this CD, and have revisited it several times after long breaks, but I come to the same conclusion every time. Don't believe the hype.

The addition of studio and musical talent Jay Bennett makes the hidden force of Wilco become apparent. This is very much a collaborative effort between lead Jeff Tweedy and Bennett, and it's got some of Wilco's best lyrics. The melodies are excellent, and you'll be listening to the music, which compliment the lyrics nicely. Some of these guitar solos, for instance, have made a few of my more musically proficient friends turn heads.

Standout tracks and hooks would be "Misunderstood" (an excellent opener and lyrical rockout, but better live), "Monday" (I dare you not to tap your foot to this one), "I Got You [At The End Of The Century]" (EXCELLENT hook and intro), "Hotel Arizona" (Get a load of that solo), "Sunken Treasure" (the hands down best country or alt.country epic EVER -- "I was maimed by rock and roll"), "Why Would You Wanna Live" (good time melody, cynical lyrics, hopeful turnout - everything I want).

And how could I forget the five minutes and seventeen seconds that *is* "Kingpin". You need to hear this song. Your mother needs to hear it. Your estranged relatives need to hear it. Buy Being There for "Kingpin" alone, and the other tracks will also blow you away.

Get this album. Impress your friends.

This is one of the masterpieces of the last decade, a rowdy, wounded, beautiful beast of an album. Jeff Tweedy was writing rings around any of his contemporaries: "Far Far Away", "The Lonely One", "Monday", "Outta Mind Outta Sight". Even the couple of indulgent noodling tracks halfway through disc 2 hit the spot for me, and add to the sprawling range of this music.

Interesting the way "Misunderstood" and "Sunken Treasure" now sound like precursors to the random structures and noises of "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot". I prefer them; they have a sponteneity and energy that YHF is missing.

This was a hell of a hot session, where they knocked off 80 minutes worth of masterful songs. What more could you want from a couple of shiny plastic discs?

"Being There" is often called Wilco's masterpiece, but in many ways it is merely a precursor of things to come. Not yet in full Brian Wilson mode, and still working within its country roots, "Being There" is a highly enjoyable blend of American styles. The album features some of their most convincing hard rock, not to mention the achingly beautiful "Far Far Away."

My only complaint (and the reason "Being There" doesn't merit 5 stars) is that some of the material should have been left out. The first disc is strong from start to finish - a virtual masterpiece. However, around the middle of the second disc, the music becomes rather tedious - the rockers grating, the ballads uninteresting. With some careful editing, "Being There" could have easily been a single-disc masterpiece.

I can't expound anymore than I already have in the reviews I've written for print (see citysearch.com for more) and the raves I have expressed to friends and foes alike- Jeff Tweedy is a musical genius, accessible Chicagoan, empathetic human and far and away my favorite artisit. If you do not own this or any of Wilco's other albums, your collection is just a bunch of noise.

Picked this up on a flyer, based on all the hype. While well performed, after thrity some years of listening little here that seemed particularly fresh, keen or innovative, with a long list of other performers in mind that have done somewhat similar work better: Blood Oranges, Bad Livers, Howe Gelb and Giant Sand or, for that matter, on ocassion the Band or even the Rolling Stones! By comparison, this sounds rather mainstream and commercial. Expect some reading this will be indignant -- after all, a lot of critics stumbled over their own tongues on this one -- but there really is much more vital and varied music out there, and has been for quite a while.

Wow! If you haven't heard any of this CD, you need to. It ais pure American Rock and Roll. Among the most emotional music I've heard in quite some time.

Being There ranks as one of the greatest studio double albums ever made, and has influenced me immensely;and was the inspiration for me playing mandolin on a few tracks on my own bands' last CD release. Jeff Tweedy said in an interview that The Stones -Exile On Main Street, and The Clash-London Calling were among his all time favorite records. Well, he made one that may even surpass those classics. Wilco has a fairly original and fresh alternative country sound,though there are nods to The Stones,The Replacements and Big Star present in their music.If you want to discover alt/country,this record and Whiskeytown's Faithless Street are the best places to start.

This album is perfect for a long drive or a rainy day. Some songs are dreary, others are electric. They all have a hypnotic power that will leave you humming the songs long after the music's stopped.

The two-disc set never loses steam, in my opinion. Jeff Tweedy & Co. have given us an album that is wonderfully complex, versitile and pleasing to the ears and the mind. If you have gone anywhere NEAR alt-country or roots rock albums (including Son Volt, The Bottle Rockets, Whiskytown, or even more mainstream like Dave Matthews Band or Cracker), then this is a "must have."

after the simple alt-country flavorings of a.m. wilco begins to add some new layers with the sometimes overly ambitious being there. not that there aren't great songs. "monday", "outtasite (outta mind)", "i got you", "sunken treasure", and "misunderstood"
but being a double album the energy seems to fade a little on the second disc. but give them credit for branching out, which will pay even bigger dividends down the road...

Trying to write a review of this album is like attempting to sum up the concept of love in 30 seconds. It's not often I hear music so compelling and beautiful that I want to shout it's name from the rooftops, but with 'Being There', I'm climbing mountains to tell the world (well, writing a review on these pages at least)...
'Being There' has a sheer warmth, like sitting in front of a log fire in mid-winter. It beds you in on the first track, 'Misunderstood', covers you over by 'Red Eyed & Blue' and by the time you get to 'Say You Miss Me', a song which in the wrong hands could have turned out more syrupy than Whitney Houston, but which Tweedy instead renders a perfect love song, all fuzzy headed and glassy eyed, you're pretty much warmed inside out.
On the second disc, there's a little more drama. 'Sunken Treasure' moves like a sinking ship, gently stumbling through choppy waters before giving into the coming storm, subsiding for a few moments, and then relenting again to the hurricane's reprise. Waves crash, and waves are made. Exhausted, you reach for the shore, the sun glinting mercilessly as sand infiltrates your fingernails. Then you realise you've been lying on your bed with headphones on.
'Outta Mind' conjures an almost Christmasy jingle jangle of a sound, in contrast to it's sister 'Outta Sight' on the first disc, which is a straight ahead rock song with a twang, and sounds like it might well have been something Tweedy and Farrar passed up during the Tupelo years.
'Why Would You Want To Live', a brilliant piece of arrangement, awash with multiflourous drumming and percussion, precedes the album's sweetest moment.
'The Lonely 1', seemingly an ode to dreaming of rockstardom, and maybe a message to all of us, sparsely-flecked with delicately twanging guitar and authored by Tweedy's yearning vocal, makes you feel part of Tweedy's band, makes you feel this is your music. And it is.

Everytime I sit down and listen to this it is like hearing from an old buddy. This album is one of the best albums of the 90s. Every song on the record is beautiful in its own way. From the self indulgent rock lyrics of "Misunderstood" to the awkward fan lyrics of "The Lonely 1" this album covers a wide variety of subjects and sounds. While the songs on AM were guitar driven, Being There features many piano and keyboard driven tunes. This cd covers the full backing pop vocals and lush sound that would be explored more on Summerteeth along with country tinged tunes like AM.

What strikes me most about this album is how intimate the production is. When I play this I feel I'm in the studio with Wilco. Also the emotion of Tweedy's vocals is quite remarkable. He lets you feel the anger, love, or fear, that the lyrics convey. After you finish listening to this, you will want to wipe Tweady's sweat off your speakers.