Tweedy or Farar?

Up until recently ever since Uncle Tupelo broke up, I've struggled with this question.

You'll notice that I'm not framing it with the wholesale question, "Wilco or Son Volt?" because I really think it comes down to which individual you like better. While I've been partial to Son Volt's power-to-the people anthems and Jay Farar's sexy voice, I can't say I dislike Wilco. Who can dislike a band that collaborates with Billy Bragg to resurrect Woody Guthrie's never before recorded work?

Similarly, I adored the David and Goliath story as presented to us in film made about Wilco during the recording of their best-loved album.

However, in that film, I couldn't stand Jeff Tweedy. He was such a quintessential spoiled boy-brat, playing the innocent and pure victim who's head and heart have been sullied by "the man." Thus, he had to cleanse himself and while the rest of the band stayed back and did real work, he took off on a few-city acoustic tour to get his soul back. During the tour, reporters and other fans would try to get a piece of him and he played the untouchable artist diva, who would say completely incomprehensible things and then walk away before the interview was done.

Oh gag me. Jeff, you're no new kid on the block. You know the business and you know it well. You've used it to your advantage for years. You were playing a role for this documentary further branding your image to suit what will sell.

So, Grammys be damned. Jay Farar has my loyalty from now on.