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* BrokenBase: In addition to the debate over whether or not their post-''A Ghost Is Born'' material has declined in quality due to not being as experimental or dark, some fans are divided on whether or not the band improved or declined after Jay Bennett (considered a crucial ingredient to the sound of ''Being There'', ''Summerteeth'', and to a lesser extent, ''Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'') was thrown out of the band.
* CoveredUp: The concept behind the the ''Mermaid Avenue'' albums.
* EpicRiff: "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" is basically a pretext for a massive one of these, which forms almost the entire musical material of the chorus.
* EpilepticTrees: Some reviewers and fans saw the songs from ''Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'' as being about the 9/11 attacks, even though the album was recorded before the attacks happened.
* FandomRivalry: Between Wilco and Music/SonVolt fans, mainly due to Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar's rivalry post-Music/UncleTupelo and due to differences between the two bands' styles.
* GrowingTheBeard: Their first album, ''A.M.'' sold relatively poorly (especially compared to Music/SonVolt's debut album, ''Trace'') and was considered SoOkayItsAverage by critics, being generally regarded as watered-down Uncle Tupelo. ''Being There'' is where the band really grew the beard for fans, with the band truly finding its own sound on ''Summerteeth''.
* HarsherInHindsight: "Tall buildings shake, voices escape singing sad, sad songs" (from "Jesus, Etc.") became harsher following [[UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror 9/11]].
* MorePopularSpinoff: To Music/UncleTupelo, in terms of sales.
* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: ''Being There'' is seen as one to ''A.M.''; it received better reviews, and it became the band's first album to chart on the Billboard Top 200.
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