Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
Wilco were at one point one of the most respected rock bands in the world as they dabbled with different styles of music. Recently, however, they’ve been accused of being past their best, especially with 2007′s Sky Blue Sky. Wilco (The Album) can be best described is a solid collection of carefully crafted songs. They are all about capturing what it feels like to be living in the modern world and each song has its own character. Romantic troubles dominate lyrically but there are also some brighter moments that keep it from going down one solid path. Fans of their more experimental compositions might bemoan the lack of adventure but it shouldn’t matter too much because the quality of the songwriting on the record is solid.
The most positive song on Wilco (The Album) is album opener Wilco (The Song). It’s a band anthem that feels big and grandiose without being too overblown and has a sense of humour to it that draws the listener in and arrests their attention. The chances are that people will use this as their own reassurance when they fall into hard times and it will most likely pick them up again, and for that I can see it being one of their most popular songs. Put simply, it’s one of the best slices of indie pop you’ll hear all year.
In the past, Wilco’s music was packaged with a level of uneasiness and terror, which also mirrored the problems that singer Jeff Tweedy had with drug addictions and migraines. Yet now, Tweedy is one of the more endearing singers in his band’s genre, as his voice is sung in a tone that is as listenable as it is tender, whether it’s a gentle whisper or a falsetto. It’s just innocent and warm sounding, and it helps make this album the success that it is. The clarity of his singing also makes things sound remarkably more intimate than previous Wilco albums.
You & I is a touching duet between Wilco and Feist that is as gentle as the relationship in the song’s lyrics. Speaking of gentle songs, there is also the outstanding album closer, Everlasting, which is beautifully arranged and a somewhat soaring finale. On Bull Black Nova, Tweedy is screaming amidst a sea of guitars. It’s spiralling, hypnotic and has an awesome solo from Nels Cline towards the end. As far as dark songs go, it takes the crown on this album and could be one of their most tortured songs ever. The song is needed on the album, not just for the mere fact that it’s a great song, because to put things in context. On the other side of the coin, you have the rather jolly sounding You Never Know which has the most wonderful harmonies. Tweedy accuses children of ‘acting like children’ and says that ‘every generation thinks it’s the end of the world.’ One can’t help but wonder whether it is his own take on the musical landscape of today.
Whether this album was written in response to the criticism the greeted Sky Blue Sky will be possibly forever unknown. However, not only does this record have the familiarities of past Wilco albums but also adds new touches to their sound. The smoothness of the production, the dynamics of their arrangements – which can be either simple and effective or complex and intricate – and the quality of the songs are the three main reasons why Wilco (The Album) works on many levels. It’s the sound of a band that feel comfortable with what they are achieving in the present day. It also proves music this good proves that you shouldn’t judge an album by its name.
RATING – 4/5
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Posted on June 30th, 2009 by Max
Filed under: Albums, Reviews
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Wilco (The Album) is essentially an extension of Sky Blue Sky, but borrowing sonic elements from their previous releases to create an amalgamation of sorts. They work as companions so I will never understand how people can warmly embrace this new album, but shun its 2007 predecessor. I find the latter to be the band’s greatest achievement. Like Sky Blue Sky, the new album is only mildly innovative, but has a profound emotional core and is still an essential release that contains some finely crafted songs. This release provides further evidence Wilco is still a band very much at the height of its powers. “You Never Know” is an instant winner and shimmers with genius.
Good review, couldn’t agree more. Wilco (the album) shows a band at one with itself, happy with its elite alternative rock status and confident of its talents. Here’s a link here to our review http://www.neonfiller.com/page3.htm#wilco, if you are feeling generous enough to give us a plug.
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