Member-only story

Wilco Learning How to Die: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Redemption

Ernest J. Gaines

·12.7k Followers· Follow

Published in Wilco: Learning How To Die

5 min read · 2 weeks before

818 View Claps

57 Respond

Save

Listen

Wilco's critically acclaimed album, Learning How to Die, is a deeply personal and introspective work that explores themes of mortality, loss, and redemption. The album's title track, which opens the album, sets the tone for the rest of the journey, with its lyrics about facing the inevitability of death and learning to let go.

In this engaging article, we will delve into the making of Learning How to Die, its lyrical content, and the band's personal experiences that shaped the album. We will also explore the album's critical reception and its impact on the band's career.

Wilco began working on Learning How to Die in 2004, shortly after the release of their previous album, A Ghost Is Born. The band had been through a period of turmoil in the years leading up to the album's recording, with the departure of founding member Jay Bennett and the addition of new members Nels Cline and Pat Sansone.

Wilco: Learning How to Die

by Greg Kot

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	661 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	258 pages

Learning How to Die was recorded in various locations, including Chicago's Electrical Audio and Wilco's own studio, The Loft. The album was produced by the band themselves, with additional production from Jim O'Rourke.

The album's sound is characterized by its sparse arrangements and Jeff Tweedy's introspective lyrics. The songs are often built around acoustic guitar and piano, with subtle embellishments of electric guitar, organ, and strings.

The lyrics of Learning How to Die are deeply personal and often autobiographical. Tweedy draws on his own experiences with loss and grief to create songs that are both poignant and universal.

The album's title track explores the themes of mortality and acceptance. Tweedy sings about the inevitability of death and the importance of learning to let go. The song's chorus is a haunting reminder of the cycle of life:

> And we're all learning how to die> We're all learning how to let go> And we're all learning how to say goodbye

Other songs on the album deal with similar themes. "Impossible Germany" is a meditation on the loss of a loved one, while "Hate It Here" explores the feelings of anger and frustration that can accompany grief. Tweedy also finds moments of hope and redemption on the album. The song "Hummingbird" is a beautiful ode to the resilience of life, while the album's closing track, "The Late Greats", is a celebration of those who have passed on.

The personal experiences of the band members had a significant impact on the making of Learning How to Die. Tweedy's own struggles with depression and addiction are reflected in the album's lyrics. The death of his father in 2003 also influenced the album's themes of loss and mortality.

Other band members also contributed their own personal experiences to the album. Drummer Glenn Kotche's father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease during the recording of the album, which inspired the song "Walken".

Learning How to Die was released to critical acclaim in 2007. The album received positive reviews from publications such as Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and The New York Times.

Rolling Stone called the album "a masterpiece of melancholy" and praised Tweedy's songwriting. Pitchfork said that the album was "Wilco's most personal and emotionally resonant work to date." The New York Times called the album "a powerful and moving meditation on loss and redemption."

Learning How to Die was a critical and commercial success for Wilco. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2008. It also helped to establish the band as one of the most important and respected bands of their generation.

The album's success allowed Wilco to continue to make music on their own terms. They have released several more critically acclaimed albums since then, including The Whole Love (2011),Star Wars (2015),and Ode to Joy (2019).

Wilco's Learning How to Die is a powerful and moving album that explores universal themes of mortality, loss, and redemption. Tweedy's introspective lyrics and the band's sparse arrangements create a deeply personal and emotional listening experience. The album was a critical and commercial success and helped to establish Wilco as one of the most important bands of their generation.

Wilco: Learning How to Die

by Greg Kot

4.4 out of 5