• Record Label: Nonesuch
  • Release Date: Nov 15, 2005
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Spin
    100
    Not since Grateful Dead's Europe '72 has there been a live double album in which intimacy and expansiveness, guitar mess and piano reflection commingle this sweetly. [Dec 2005, p.107]
  2. 100
    The band turns each song up to 11 and lets its rabid hometown fans provide thousand-strong backing vocals. It'll make you want to yell "Woooh!" too.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    There's no denying this is the sound of a band at its onstage peak. [18 Nov 2005, p.135]
  4. Billboard
    90
    One of America's greatest bands has never sounded better. [19 Nov 2005]
  5. While it's no surprise that the YHF songs sound better live, it's surprising how much better Ghost songs like "Company In My Back" and "The Late Greats" sound with the addition of some synthesizer accents and thicker guitars.
  6. Paste Magazine
    90
    A vivid document not only of how far Wilco has come, but also of how distinct its vision has been all along. [Dec 2005, p.112]
  7. Los Angeles Times
    88
    It embraces both Tweedy's classicism and his refusal to settle for the familiar. [20 Nov 2005]
  8. So this is what A Ghost Is Born is supposed to sound like.
  9. Uncut
    80
    In this live setting, fascinatingly, the brutality to which the songs are subjected only serves to underscore their poignancy. [Dec 2005, p.100]
  10. "Kicking Television" documents a band on fire and a frontman in clarion clear voice.
  11. Blender
    80
    Sounds like a greatest hits set. [Dec 2005, p.156]
  12. Kicking Television is the best sort of live album -- a recording that doesn't merely retread a band's back catalog, but puts their songs in a new perspective.
  13. Q Magazine
    80
    Live albums rarely come equipped with such a strong pulse. [Jan 2006, p.124]
  14. Under The Radar
    80
    Captures a band at the height of their creative powers. [#12, p.95]
  15. If you love guitar histrionics, Live in Chicago is a white-hot keeper.
  16. Kicking Television is consistent, professional, and unapologetically inclusive. It’s also a uniformly strong testament from one of rock’s most endearing acts, capable of producing both heady noise jams and shameless lighter-wavers.
  17. When the band truly comes together, there's a lightness of touch and a winning intimacy.
  18. With smart sequencing and good production, the album documents one of rock's most engaging acts in the manner they deserve.
  19. Rolling Stone
    70
    Both a love letter to Wilco's dedicated fans and a definitive live statement from America's foremost rock impressionists. [3 Nov 2005, p.88]
  20. Mojo
    70
    A worthy snapshot of a band at its peak. [Dec 2005, p.104]
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 52 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 52
  2. Negative: 2 out of 52
  1. davidh
    Jan 6, 2007
    9
    A live album of historic proportions. The band transforms their songs, maing the most of new members Nels Cline and Pat Sansone and Glenn A live album of historic proportions. The band transforms their songs, maing the most of new members Nels Cline and Pat Sansone and Glenn Kotche's powerful drumming to set the always heavily studio-driven Wilco sound soaring.Took a few listens to get past the relatively unvarnished sound quality. Full Review »
  2. ale
    Sep 20, 2006
    10
    A great live album by a great band. Nels Cline is a great addition, and this really shows the bands strengths, and highlights JT's A great live album by a great band. Nels Cline is a great addition, and this really shows the bands strengths, and highlights JT's excellent songwriting. Full Review »
  3. [Anonymous]
    Mar 3, 2006
    10
    Best live rock album since "Waiting for Columbus" or the like. Stands up to many repeated listenings, and some tracks are really incredible. Best live rock album since "Waiting for Columbus" or the like. Stands up to many repeated listenings, and some tracks are really incredible. For Wilco fans, reveals more depth to many songs that probably were not favorites (e.g., Airline to Heaven; Wishful Thinking). Non-Wilco fans who have heard it also express admiration. Tweedy's vocals are sometimes a bit weak, but the overall musicianship of the band and the strength and originality of the songs (with the exception of the last track) make this a classic. Full Review »