2008 Woodie Awards
CD Review
On Wilco's upcoming album, what you hear is what you get
JACK D'ISIDIRO
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Let's keep a secret. Through the vast elegant intricacies of what is the internet, Wilco's forthcoming album, Sky Blue Sky, made it onto my hard drive a good month before its intended release date. Wilco definitely saw this coming. Considering they made the record available to the public through a stream on their website a few weeks back, it was only a matter of time before some technologically inclined fan-geek ripped it and released into the immeasurable chasm of file-sharing networks. Well then, I'm a thief, one who's got his hands on a pretty damn good album. I could only expect on a first listen to not be able to expect anything; all of Wilco's albums are peculiarly little whelps, no two having a similar sound.
Honestly, this album is going to disappoint you at first. Void of any of the compelling static feedback and antiquated melodies found on 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or aural psychedelics of 2004's A Ghost is Born, this record dares to be humbly devoid of any pretentious indie-blogger intellect bunk. The only thing this album can offer is a good set of tunes with some heavy soul. The warm country-blues guitar derelicts and elegant Hammond tones sweetly underscore lead singer Jeff Tweedy's guttural crooning wails, affirming the band's newborn consanguinity. The album relies mostly on Tweedy's lyrical domesticity and guitarist's Nels Cline's jazz influenced progressive guitar heroics, sounding like some seventies soft A.M. easy rockers. There are some quieter acoustic moments on the album, but they sound too tender for any real live setting. The lyrics are thoughtful, but painfully emblematic of the maturity of the group. If you're expecting some deep profound statement out of this record, then don't expect much. I think Tweedy says it best in the albums last song, "What Light", "And if the whole world's singing your songs/And all of your paintings have been hung/Just remember what was yours is everyone's from now on/And that's not wrong or right". People will always take some meaning from whatever music he's made, giving it some unique importance to that individual. However, Wilco seems to play it safe, conversely staying within the sonic limits they set with previous albums. Even so, people will still look for their truth in the album's statement. The statement being, there's no need for a statement. Take everything away and all you've got is the music.
What Wilco's done is made some plain good tunes. If you need to look for some higher meaning and can't accept that, then it's not your deal. Sky Blue Sky is an album you have to enjoy by listening. The real meaning is in what you hear.
Honestly, this album is going to disappoint you at first. Void of any of the compelling static feedback and antiquated melodies found on 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or aural psychedelics of 2004's A Ghost is Born, this record dares to be humbly devoid of any pretentious indie-blogger intellect bunk. The only thing this album can offer is a good set of tunes with some heavy soul. The warm country-blues guitar derelicts and elegant Hammond tones sweetly underscore lead singer Jeff Tweedy's guttural crooning wails, affirming the band's newborn consanguinity. The album relies mostly on Tweedy's lyrical domesticity and guitarist's Nels Cline's jazz influenced progressive guitar heroics, sounding like some seventies soft A.M. easy rockers. There are some quieter acoustic moments on the album, but they sound too tender for any real live setting. The lyrics are thoughtful, but painfully emblematic of the maturity of the group. If you're expecting some deep profound statement out of this record, then don't expect much. I think Tweedy says it best in the albums last song, "What Light", "And if the whole world's singing your songs/And all of your paintings have been hung/Just remember what was yours is everyone's from now on/And that's not wrong or right". People will always take some meaning from whatever music he's made, giving it some unique importance to that individual. However, Wilco seems to play it safe, conversely staying within the sonic limits they set with previous albums. Even so, people will still look for their truth in the album's statement. The statement being, there's no need for a statement. Take everything away and all you've got is the music.
What Wilco's done is made some plain good tunes. If you need to look for some higher meaning and can't accept that, then it's not your deal. Sky Blue Sky is an album you have to enjoy by listening. The real meaning is in what you hear.
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