The 30 Best Wilco Songs

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Last week, Jeff Tweedy shined some light on Wilco’s plans for their upcoming record, a release which has a working title of Get Well Soon Everybody. The frontman referred to the new album as a “little bit more obnoxious and irreverent of a pop record than people have heard from us, maybe, ever.”

We like the sound of what Mr. Tweedy and company have in store for us. Whether it’s pop irreverence or serious experimental compositions, an affinity for Wilco runs deep in Paste’s veins. We featured a Wilco song way back in the day on our first-ever CD sampler, and our love for these Chicago rockers has continued ever since. We’re far from the only ones inspired by what Wilco does—as Tweedy’s song titles and lyrics have spawned numerous other journalistic outlets (we’re looking at you No Depression and Aquarium Drunkard) and various band names (including Raleigh rockers American Aquarium).

After 17 years of rolling with the punches and making fantastic music along the way, we’re pretty convinced that Wilco can do no wrong. As we anxiously await the group’s forthcoming LP, we decided to take a look back at their greatest songs to date. Check out our picks below, complete with our explanations for each song, accompanying streaming audio and even our favorite lyrics from each of these works by Wilco.

30. “She’s A Jar”
Album: Summerteeth
Reason: A subtle series of statements that evoke a particular sadness previously unseen in Tweedy’s words before this record.
Memorable Lyric: “She’s a jar / With a heavy lid / My pop quiz kid / A sleepy kisser / A pretty war / My feelings hid / She begs me not to hit her.”

29. “Hate It Here”
Album: Sky Blue Sky
Reason: Dad-rock never sounded so good.
Memorable Lyric: “I try to stay busy / I take out the trash. I sweep the floor / Try to keep myself occupied /Cause I know you don’t live here anymore.”

28. “Wilco (The Song)”
Album: Wilco (The Album)”
Reason: Wilco (A reminder that this band is awesome).
Memorable Lyric: “Wilco will love you, baby.”

27. “Casino Queen”
Album: A.M.
Reason: Wilco channels its alt-country roots from its Uncle Tupelo days on this unsuccessful visit to the casino.
Memorable Lyric: “I hit the second deck and I spend my paycheck /
And my wife that I just met, she’s looking like a wreck.”

26. “Handshake Drugs”
Album: A Ghost Is Born
Reason: Tweedy questions himself and who he has become on this druggy tune that morphs from a lighthearted jaunt into a hazy affair at a moment’s notice.
Memorable Lyric: “I looked like someone I used to know, I felt alright / And if I ever was myself, I wasn’t that night.”

25. “Theologians”
Album: A Ghost Is Born
Reason: A religious reflection by these skeptical Chicago rockers.
Memorable Lyric: “I’m an ocean / I’m all emotion / I’m a cherry ghost.”

24. “Red-Eyed and Blue”
Album: Being There
Reason: Wilco whistles to the tune of sadness and sorrows one of their earlier tracks.
Memorable Lyric: “We’ve got solid state technology / Tapes on the floor / Some songs we can’t afford to play.”

23. “I’m Always In Love”
Album: Summerteeth
Reason: We’re always in love with this sizzling Summerteeth love declaration.
Memorable Lyric: “Why, I wonder, is my heart full of holes / And the feeling goes but my hair keeps growing.”

22. “Impossible Germany”
Album: Sky Blue Sky
Reason: Nels Cline at his finest.
Memorable Lyric: “This is what love is for / To be out of place / Gorgeous and alone / Face to face.”

21. “I Must Be High”
Album: A.M.
Reason: On Side 1, Track 1 of Wilco’s catalog, Jeff Tweedy takes a swipe at Jay Farrar’ after their falling out in Uncle Tupelo.
Memorable Lyric: “And you never looked in my eyes / Long enough to find any piece of mind / But now you got it.”