Sky Blue Sky

The new record from Wilco, in short, works a little better in theory than in practice. The general standout value of the album is that it is filled with more mellow lo-fi songs than Wilco usually makes. This is exactly the kind of album we have waited for from Wilco, although I haven't quite scaled all the reaches of their career so I can only say so much. But a little less country and a little more rock and roll seems like the ideal new direction after having made A Ghost Is Born, possibly the bands most riff-y electric album yet. So it is really nice to have a few more mellow songs. But the album isn't as mellow as you have been told. There are a myriad of louder stomps that Wilco has made before. The quality is pretty mixed. There is some stuff that is really good and some stuff that is downright disappointing. But I'd call it a winner in the end, there is definitely more good than bad.

Even if it isn't quite as quiet as advertised, it still feels like three parts folk and only one part country and rock. The opening song, Either Way, is a personal favorite and in my opinion one of the better songs Wilco has made. Two acoustic guitars, a quiet organ, soft beats, and a warm bass sound like half of the number they really are, and this is practically a lullaby for a midday nap. What struck me about this song is how fricking good the guitar solo is. I think the band has a new guitarist since A Ghost Is Born, and if he is the one showing his chops all over the place, I'm impressed. Technically the solos are simply but sound very right to the ear. Either way and the song Sky Blue Sky are soothing folky ballads more than worthy of being included on a best of comp. But these songs are sadly rather lonely. if the whole album had more songs like this, I would be more than happy, but instead a more long winded approach is taken to the majority of the songs. That's okay though. Sometimes time heals, as it does on Impossible Germany where a completely dull and unimmaginative riff is eventually transformed into something truly beautiful (and another solo heaven at that).

But the weaknesses aren't insignificant at times. Some of the songs are just too tired. I am not too keen on You Are My Face. Shake It Off is just unbearably dull. And Side With The Seeds is a generally good song ruined by Jeff Tweedy's really mediocre vocal performance. But to be honest, I have always had serious issues with Tweedy's vocals. The only thing that stops me from giving Yankee Hotel Foxtrot five stars is a few minor vocal issues I have, specifically with songs like Radio Cure and War on War. I get the feeling, at times, that some of Wilco's songs would be better left instrumentals considering they have enough experimental instrumentation as it is. However, poetically he is very solid. Half the fun of YHF was the lyrics. He fumbles on Sky Blue Sky more than once as though. A lot of times, namely on Side With The Seeds and Walken, he sings way louder than he needs to, and his vocal melodies just aren't as good as they should be. He has that problem a lot. He doesn't quite know how to yell, and to be honest, he really shouldn't. He should just sing.

But in the end the album is more than justified. Over half the songs are very lovely. My highlights are Either Way, Sky Blue Sky, Impossible Germany, and Please Be Patient With Me. There is actually a significant forward step made here in style at points, although it wasn't really expanded on as much as I would like. If the entire album was more folky quiet stuff I would appreciate it more, but in the end it's worth your money if you like Wilco and has some of the best songs this year has had to offer.

Good for commiserating about how crappy your life is....if it's good for anything?

The skill is there, just the lyrics spell out drab stuff. not so much fun.

Don't recall ever hearing this group until they came bursting (well, not bursting) through the PA speakers at Barnes & Noble. After purchasing the CD at said site (no plug), and playing it through at home, I gotta say maybe it was the group which was new to me, but the *sound* must have rung a bell reminding me why I enjoy the music of John Lennon, Mark Bolan, Jonathan Richman, Steve Forbert, Robert Plant...Arlo Guthrie?
It's okay to be "derivative" if the music is honest, which it is here. But with the exception of two memorable tracks, "Please Be Patient With Me" and the closer, "On And On And On", we have a set of arrangements, all excessive, meandering from cliche to cliche, in search of a hook. Actually, they find many on this CD. Too bad they couldn't scale down the foggy wandering around and offer some nice, car speaker-friendly opuses.
I think John Fogerty should have been enlisted to tighten up and brighten up the proceedings. Or maybe get Jeff T. a personal trainor - get off that park bench and get onto that jogging track!

First let me say I think Jeff Tweedy is the very best male talent around today period (Jewel being the best female). This is his very best album, he uses Nels Cline to perfection, the writing is sharp and clear and the sounds delightful. This is the sound of a mind set free after years of addiction and just hard living. Like it or not WILCO is Jeff Tweedys project to do , say and use people in his vision. And here he uses everyone to perfection. This album is a bloomer if you dont love it at first try try again. Some of the very best songs took me a while to set in, SHAKE IT OFF for instance, I thought was the weak link first few listens. Now I think it one of his very best songs. This is WILCO's very most Joy filled album. I highly recommend it to all, especially to you 40 and over people desperate for something as good as the classic rock we knew.

I've been listening to this album a lot lately and it's settling in -- in a really good way. It's nowhere near the ambition or energy of Ghost is Born, but it feels like a natural progression, and it's just a really good album. And I still call Wilco America's greatest living rock band.