Songs that you know out of inertia. For the longest of times, I was obsessed with Spiders (Kidsmoke), the track previous to Muzzle of Bees on Wilco’s massively successful A Ghost is Born.

Following a monster hit like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was no easy task, specially with Jay Bennett gone from the band. Indeed, the electronic experimentation and abstract bits that elevated Yankee Hotel Foxtrot are toned down (or non existent) in the majority of A Ghost is Born, which still has its out there moments.

Case in point, Spiders (Kidsmoke) grew from a jam to a krautrock inspired meditation. I used to listen to it non-stop while working, and then during number crunching in my (unfinished) PhD.

Sometimes I would not be fast enough to click for Spiders (Kidsmoke) to play again, and I would hear the beginning of Muzzle of Bees. It happened so many times I ended up listening to it a few times, but never quite enjoying it as much as I should.

The live version on youtube made me reconsider. It’s an introspective piece, quite, understated, but at the same time expansive and sonically boastful. Like a The National meets Drive-by truckers convention.

-Sam J. Valdés López