The type of sound that floats around and then back down like a feather.

When Wilco released their most recent album, 2007’s “Sky Blue Sky,” I was disappointed that one of my favorite bands was now clearly past their prime. Then the Winter Residency happened. After five straight concerts and nearly 15 hours of original music during which the band performed “The Complete Wilco,” it became clear that not only are they still relevant, but they are most likely the best band making music today.

For those of you not in the know, the band promised to perform everything from their six proper albums over five nights at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago. (Why can’t all bands be so rewarding to their fans?) That’s 83 original songs not including all the extras they performed from the Mermaid Avenue albums, b-sides and…the Sponge Bob soundtrack? If pulling off somewhere around 100 original songs isn’t impressive enough, then consider the fact that only 2 of the 6 members of Wilco have been around to record all of them. Yet somehow, they nearly accomplished their promised feat during the first four nights, and virtually without so much as a stumbled lyric. New songs came into their own and old songs sounded fresh- especially with the additional instrumentation of a horn section and a guest appearance by the second best artist in Chicago, Andrew Bird on the fiddle. They were utterly professional and utterly entertaining throughout the entire run and everyone in the house knew that they were part of something amazing.

What is possibly more incredible than the size of their catalog is how versatile this group really is. I can’t put it any better than Greg Kot did in the Chicago Tribune:

"...the most impressive feat was how deftly the band handled the wide range of music from its disparate incarnations."

One song they are the best country band in the world, on the next they are the best indie-pop band in the world. They are the best rockabilly band in the world and the best psychedelic rock band in the world. They even managed to keep the crowd on its feet during the 10+ minutes of noise following “Less Than You Think.”

Over the past week I saw two really great shows and three times I saw the best concert of my life. And to everyone who wasn’t lucky enough to score the hottest ticket in town, I assure you I am NOT just trying to break your heart.

(In)Complete Wilco:

Well they didn’t play every little thing. Here are a few great tracks that were left out:

Blasting Fonda - From the "Feeling Minnesota" soundtrack.

Not For the Season - Also a Loose Fur song

Hummingbird - Alternate version from the Wilco Book

More Like the Moon - From EP of the same name

Thirteen - Big Star cover