Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

Got my copy of Wilco's seventh studio album during the week and it's growing on me by the day. After a couple of listens I can already safely say that I am enjoying it more that their previous two albums Sky Blue Sky and A Ghost is Born. It is certainly a more mellow sound but also more assured (or should I say comfortable). That is, Tweedy and the band know exactly what they want and how to achieve it. They have probably reached that magic moment in their careers when they no longer care too much about what other people want (or expect) and are happy making music for themselves.

Wilco fans fall into two categories. Those that followed on from the demise of Uncle Tupelo and those who jumped on board after the success of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I fall into the former category and I still yearn for the more country sounds that appeared here and there on albums like A.M. and Being There(My favourite Wilco album) but each album since has always had something I really like that keeps me coming back. This new album seems to have more of those moments and therefore, for me, the album works. Songs like Solitaire, I'll Fight and the duet with Fiest, You and I are particular favorites, all mellow for sure but still with that magic Wilco spark. Through constant evolution the band has had a hard time pleasing both category of fans and they will never please them all (see above) but on this new album they will make more happy than not.

Tweedy has surrounded himself with some top notch musicians (Nels Cline, Mikael Jorgensen, Glenn Kotche, Pat Sansone and John Stirratt) who are all fantastic in their own right. Together they gel as probably the best makers of contemporary popular music in the world right now.

Tweedy and I are roughly the same age and I feel that we have been on a journey together all these years. I am happy to continue along for the ride.

Wilco's Website