There is something so innocent about Jeff Tweedy’s honest lyrical delivery and that warm feeling is conveyed in the somewhat cute title of Wilco’s ninth studio album (if you count the two ‘Mermaid Avenue’ releases with Billy Bragg).
‘Wilco (The Album)’ kicks off with ‘Wilco (The Song)’ which is filled with such quaint indie pop you could almost be forgiven for thinking you were listening to Belle and Sebastian.
‘Bull Black Nova’ sees the band summoning the ghosts of the great jam bands of the 60s and bringing their spirits into modern alt-country with epic guitar solos.
In an interview with Billboard, singer Jeff Tweedy said they were going to “allow a little bit more leeway in terms of sculpting the sound in the studio and doing overdubs and using the studio as another instrument,” which is none more apparent than in ‘You Never Know’ where George Harrison’s guitar and Jeff Lynne’s production and harmonies are an obvious influence.
The album covers plenty of aspects of Wilco’s sound and is fairly diverse, but there is something about the album that just doesn’t flow like some of their previous works have done.
The final song, however, ‘Everlasting’ really brings this album up a notch. I haven’t heard sounds like this coming from Wilco before. It is so smooth, beautifully produced and immaculately structured.
This is an excellent album. It is diverse, but it still sounds like Wilco and they haven’t repeated themselves. They’ve done it again.
Track Listing for Wilco (The Album)
Wilco (The Song
Deeper Down
One Wing
Bull Black Nova
You And I (feat. Feist)
You Never Know
Country Disappeared
Solitaire
I’ll Fight
Sonny Feeling
Everlasting Everything
