Wilco - Wilco (the album) Review
Posted by C.A. Bell on 07.01.2009
The critical darlings of indie rock are back with a new album, but does it live up to the work they've become so beloved for?
Track Listing:
1. Wilco (The Song) – (Tweedy) 2:59
2. Deeper Down – (Sansone, Tweedy) 2:59
3. One Wing – (Tweedy) 3:42
4. Bull Black Nova – (Tweedy) 5:39
5. You and I – (Tweedy) 3:26
6. You Never Know – (Tweedy) 4:21
7. Country Disappeared – (Tweedy) 4:02
8. Solitaire – (Tweedy) 3:04
9. I’ll Flight – (Tweedy) 4:23
10. Sonny Feeling – (Tweedy) 4:13
11. Everlasting Everything – (Tweedy) 4:00
Label: Nonesuch Release Date: 06.30.09 Genre: Alternative Rock, Adult Alternative Running Time: 42:52 Producer: Jim Scott & Wilco
The Players:
Jeff Tweedy – guitar, vocals
John Stirratt – bass
Nels Cline – guitar
Glenn Kotche – percussion
Pat Sansone – keyboard, guitars
Mikael Jorgensen – piano
Leslie Feist – vocals on track 5
Dave Max Crawford – trumpet on track 11
Jason Tobias – slide cimbalom on track 2
Are you under the impression
This isn't your life?
Do you dabble in depression?
Is someone twisting a knife in your back?
Are you being attacked?
Oh this is a fact that you need to know, oh, oh, oh, oh
Wilco, Wilco, Wilco will love you, baby
-Jeff Tweedy, Opening lyrics to “Wilco (the song)”
Wilco is the type of band that seems to have a very strange relationship with criticism. Since the release of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in 2002, Wilco has been on a constant journey of experimentation. They have seemed to be completely oblivious to what critics have to say, yet at the same time it has been the band’s critical support that turned the band from a small cult following on college radio to a massive international success, complete with Grammy awards and regular Billboard Top 40 appearances. With this in mind, it makes sense that Wilco’s tenth release, Wilco (the album), has already been met with an army of critical acclaim. Critics have described the album as ‘spectacular’, ‘wonderful’, and ‘definitive’. The album’s producer, Jim Scott, has said that the album should have been titled, Wilco (their best album ever). It seems almost like a foregone conclusion that a new Wilco release will be well received by the media. What critic in their right mind would pan a work by the genius Jeff Tweedy? It’s for that very reason that I have dreaded writing this review.
With their last several releases, Wilco has become known for their constant experimentation. This is a band that is constantly inventing, always moving on a journey with no destination. So, how does a band that continually surprises their audience with new explorations keep surprising their audience? Well, they quit exploring, of course! Wilco (the album) plays like a career retrospective of original songs. The album is full of the elements that make up the rest of Wilco’s discography. The album’s opener, “Wilco (the song)” displays the same impish humor of “I Can’t Stand It” from Summerteeth. “You and I”, Tweedy’s duet with Feist, harkens back to the band’s collaborations with Natalie Merchant from the Mermaid Avenue recordings. “You Never Know” has the same easy, up-tempo feel of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’s “War on War”. “Country Disappeared” is a ballad very similar to Sky Blue Sky’s “Either Way”. “Sonny Feeling” even carries the way back sound of A.M.’s “I Must Be High”.
While the sounds of the album are spaced with varied influences from past albums, lyrically Tweedy’s content is just as varied. The new songs find Tweedy juxtaposing heady, heavy themes like disillusionment (“Country Disappeared”), martyrdom (“I’ll Fight”) and homicide (“Bull Black Nova”) with acceptance (“You Never Know”), love (“You and I”), and humor (“Wilco (the song)”). Throughout the album, Tweedy exhibits that he is still a fine storyteller. Easy and comfortable, fun, and serious all at the same time, Tweedy’s ultimate triumph with Wilco (the album) would appear to be how he has taken an album of various pieces with varied topics and sounds and still created one flowing piece. The tracks move evenly from one to the next as each individual song seems to compliment the whole.
Wilco (the album) is a good listen for any Wilco fan. It’s fun to take a trip back through the band’s history. But therein lies the album’s biggest weakness. While the songs harken back to tracks from prior albums, none of them sound as good as their corresponding originals. These songs make me want to listen to the band’s back catalogue, which, good as it may be for album sales, it really doesn’t do much for this individual piece of work. While some artists can be successful with new looks back at their previous works (Nine Inch Nails’ The Slip comes to mind), it ends up making this album feel a bit less enthusiastic than Wilco’s last few efforts. Furthermore, while most past Wilco album’s included at least one track that was undeniably addictive from the first listen, like “Heavy Metal Drummer”, “The Late Greats”, “Monday”, “Handshake Drugs”, and “You Are My Face”, Wilco (the album) lacks any track that sounds so good from the first listen that I can’t help but come back to the album, which makes it difficult to really immerse one’s self in the rest of the album’s tracks that require more listens to truly appreciate them.
The 411: While this is a particularly fun little album, Jim Scott would probably have been more accurate by saying they should have called it Coldplay (their greatest album ever). As far as a Wilco release is concerned, this is somewhat lacking. The songs are good and it's nice to see Tweedy being so comfortable with his past, I was really hoping for something a bit more exciting than a greatest hits album. If you are looking for the best Wilco album, buy A Ghost is Born. If you want a career retrospective, buy Kicking Television. But, if you already have all of the other Wilco albums and just need a new Jeff Tweedy fix, there are worse things to spend your money on.
What always strikes me with various critics is not their lack of information or their desire to be honest. It is this: their lack of insight and patience. Any album I have ever purchased (Wilco included) that jumps to my attention immediately as aurally enticing usually becomes tiresome after a few listens. This album has only been released to the public for 48 hours. My guess is that the reviewer may have had a copy a week or two prior as I did. Perhaps it was listened to a couple of times halfheartedly and a few other times while writing other reviews.
In this day and age we have developed a need for the quick fix. An immediate and recognizable, or shall I dare to say, predictable audiological experience. Other times we demand a new stylistic approach each and every time. Nonsense! This new album represents a journey for a band that has, in many respects, once again defined what rock and roll truly is: EXPRESSION. I suggest to anyone that buys this album, to listen to it. If you don't like it, that is subjective. Give it to someone else. Do not claim that they are recreating old themes and structures unless you really know what you're talking about. Music is not something created to please everyone at all times. It is a representation and outpouring of someone's journey. If you're not ready, well I guess another album will appeal to your immediate need for "catchy" tunes. I suggest listening a few times without your important extraneous busy-ness. Wait for it. Anything worthwhile demands that of your ear.
Posted By: Alvin (Guest) on July 02, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Sir, if you're argument is true, then an album should never be reviewed, by anyone. If every listen will bring a different journey, then there is no opinion worth sharing. And if that is how you feel....why would you read any review?
Regardless, I've been a devout Tweedy fan since the mid-90s. Something that I would think required both a little 'insight and patience'. Furthermore, all of those notes about our quick fix society and active listening and blah, blah, blah is a bunch of nonsense. After reading it, I'm not even sure if YOU have listened to the album or have just decided to step up onto a soapbox for the sake of doing it.
P.S. - The album hadn't even been out 24 hours when I wrote the review. How you like them apples?
Posted By: C.A. Bell (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 11:42 PM
