Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy: “I tried to be a rock critic but I couldn’t do it”

nme.com:

Wilco‘s Jeff Tweedy has opened up about his relationship with music criticism and revealed “I tried to be a rock critic but I couldn’t do it”.The frontman and songwriter recently released his third book World Within A Song: Music That Changed My Life And Life That Changed My Music, which was described as “an exciting and heartening mix of memories, music, and inspiration.”Appearing on the latest episode of Pitchfork‘s weekly podcast, The Pitchfork Review, Tweedy discussed his book, especially his complex relationship with music criticism.“I take that aphorism about how music critics are frustrated musicians and turn it on its head when I think about my life, because early on I thought that writing about music would be more attainable to me,” he told host, and Pitchfork Associate Editor, Sam Sodomsky.He continued: “So I tried my hand at writing for fanzines in St.

Louis but was too lazy to do it correctly or with any success. I did a bunch of interviews with different people that came through town: Rain Parade, Stiv Bators, Long Riders, Soul Asylum.

Basically, I tried to get free tickets to shows, and there was a fanzine that would give me free tickets.“I only completed maybe one or two of those assignments, but I did get to hang out with those musicians.