The sudden and tragic passing of former band mate Jay Bennett just as the new album hit the stores served to remind every Wilco fan of the whole “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”/Reprise Records debacle. According to legend, and witnessed via the excellent documentary that catalogued the recording of said album (“I Am Trying To Break Your Heart”), Bennett outstayed his welcome. The Record label rejected the more experimental structures the band served up and were unceremoniously thrown off the label. Almost a decade later, there feels an almost ironic twist in that “Wilco (The Album)” sounds exactly like the conventional, classic guitar rock album that Reprise would have been looking for. The straightforward, simple arrangements convey a band approaching middle age with a positive and yet more relaxed demeanor than on any recording before. The songs are clipped of any textured excess, unassuming and yet still identifiably Wilco.
The highlights come early on, from the playful opener (“Wilco”), the influences are firmly imprinted throughout. “One Wing” could have sat comfortably on any Tom Petty album and there’s a glaringly obvious nod to George Harrison on “You Never Know”, even down to the “My Sweet Lord” guitar refrain. When lead guitarist Nels Cline finds room he fills it with terrific bursts, particularly on the outstanding moment from the album, “Bull Black Nova”. The dual vocal with guest Feist on “You And I” is surprisingly underwhelming, as is the acoustic ballad “Solitaire”. Indeed, the latter half of the album tends to fizzle out up until the passionately delivered closer “Everlasting Everything”.
Some will find “Wilco (The Album)” a disappointment due to its thoroughly mainstream tendencies. It is workmanlike, a little safer than previous outings, but the overall quality is still there, and at least proves that Jeff Tweedy never lets the sonics stagnate. Every Wilco album has been a development from the last, and for that reason deserves utmost credit.
7/10
1 Wilco (The Song) 2:59
2 Deeper Down 2:59
3 One Wing 3:42
4 Bull Black Nova 5:39
5 You and I 3:26
6 You Never Know 4:21
7 Country Disappeared 4:02
8 Solitaire 3:04
9 I’ll Fight 4:23
10 Sonny Feeling 4:13
11 Everlasting Everything 3:58
You Never Know
Bull Black Nova
