RIP Jay Bennett

One of the driving forces and creative minds behind my favorite era of Wilco's music (Being There, Summer Teeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot), Jay Bennett, died of undisclosed causes at the age of 45 this past weekend. Known as a pioneer in putting the alt into alt-country, Bennett split with the band in 2001 amidst unpleasant circumstances laid out unflatteringly by the band in the film I Am Trying To Break Your Heart:A Film About Wilco. Disputes continued and just weeks ago Bennett filed suit against his former bandmate Jeff Tweedy for breach of contract relating to his work in Wilco.

Here's a beautiful track from his latest solo album, 2006's Magnificent Defeat.

Survey The Damage