ReviewsRanked #14 in the Village Voice's 1996 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll., "...Tweedy doesn't rehash country cliches; he gets inside and makes them real....awkward but self-assured, lingering with a supreme melancholy that's offset by humor and humility and hope....doesn't so much introduce a new Wilco sound as document the process of searching for one...", Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1997.", 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...Tweedy and his band break free from the confines of the narrow Tupelo legacy by exploring the nuances of noise and atmosphere....a product of ambitious versatility, particularly in the string-band textures conjured by...Max Johnston...", "...Leader Jeff Tweedy's new songs--a sprawling mix of moody late-night ballads, and infectious pop-rock tunes--confront adult insecurities forthrightly and tunefully and document the maturation of a good band into a potentially great one." - Rating: A, Ranked #6 on Rolling Stone's List of the "Ten Best Albums" of 1996., Ranked #37 in Nme's 1997 Critics' Poll., Included in A.P.'s "10 Essential Alt-Country Albums" - "An eclectic, genre-shifting double-CD....BEING THERE covers much of the 1970s FM dial, yet displays consistent prowess on all stations.", "Being there Is a Straight-Up Celebration of the Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle.", 7 (out of 10) - "...trades unity in for riskier mood swings....For all his banjo-loving folksiness, he understands a simple secret: That rock'n'roll was invented to fly in the face of country's qualms...to offer a few hot little minutes of joy..."
Additional InformationSprawling, ambitious double album that redefined the band and established its reputation with critics and discerning listeners., The group's breakthrough 1996 album is expanded to a five-disc set with demos, outtakes, alternate versions, and a full concert.