Being There is the second album by Wilco. Released on October 29, 1996, the album was an improvement for the band in both sales and critical reception as compared with their first album, AM. Taking its name from the 1979 film Being There, the self-produced effort featured more surrealistic and introspective writing than their previous album. This was due in part to several significant changes in Tweedy's life, including the birth of his first child. Musically, it juxtaposed the alternative country styles songs reminiscent of Uncle Tupelo with psychedelic, surreal songs. Wilco was formed in 1994 after creative differences between Tweedy and Jay Farrar caused the breakup of Uncle Tupelo. The band entered the recording studio almost immediately afterwards to record and release AM in 1995, which saw disappointing sales. Jay Farrar's new band Son Volt released Trace in late 1995 to critical praise and good sales numbers. Tweedy felt that Wilco was incomplete without a second guit! arist due to the departure of Brian Henneman after the AM recording sessions. Tweedy contacted Jay Bennett, a multi-instrumentalist who had been looking for a new band to join since his power pop band Titanic Love Affair had been dismissed from its record label. Tweedy was intrigued by the fact that Bennett could play keyboards, an instrument no other Wilco member was able to play. The first conceptions of material for the album came during a particularly stressful time in Tweedy's life. Tweedy had
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