The band's aspirations weren't immediately apparent on A.M. Tweedy recruited three former Tupelo bandmates to craft an engaging, no-frills blend of twang-encrusted guitar rock and ballads. 

 Being There instantly announces its more grandiose intentions with the confrontational blast of noise that ushers in "Misunderstood." The 19 tracks are spread across two CDs–a sound aesthetic decision. 

 For 1998's Mermaid Avenue, British folk-rocker Billy Bragg recruited Wilco to help him dive into an archive of lyrics left behind by the late folk legend Woody Guthrie. Together, they wrote new music for Guthrie's lyrics. 

 Summerteeth marks another progression, with Wilco shifting toward more elaborate studio creations that blend guitars, drums, and a thrift-shop array of vintage keyboards. 

 The sequel, Mermaid Avenue Vol. II, plays down Guthrie's playful leer in favor of his snarl. It blasts the verbal buckshot; the agit-punk Bragg wails Guthrie's "All You Fascists." 

 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot became a cause cŽlbre when it was rejected by Wilco's Reprise label for its lack of commercial potential, eventually surfacing nearly a year after its completion to become the band's fastest-selling album. 

 A Ghost Is Born backs off from the elaborate studio maneuvers of Foxtrot for a live-in-the-studio approach built on stately mid-tempo pop songs and skronky guitar solos. The songs explore themes of identity and self-definition. 

 The fantastic live album Kicking Television shows just what a powerhouse the band is in concert. 

 Wilco's streak of great studio albums continued with Sky Blue Sky, their highest-charting record to date. Longtime touring guitarist Nels Cline joined the band full-time and Wilco's tunes were improved by his ability. 

 Wilco (The Album) is the sound of a band very comfortable in its own skin. "One Wing" soars like a long-lost George Harrison cut while the kraut-rocking beast "Bull Black Nova" surges ahead for a breathtaking six-minutes.