As a Wilco fan, I don’t know what I was anticipating with their latest release. They aren’t known for being a band that rocks out; they have a laid back appeal and it usually works well for them. They are able to push boundaries and they’ve blessed us with three minor masterpieces, ”Being There,” “Summerteeth,” and “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.”
So, to be succinct, Wilco (The Album) doesn’t give us anything that made those albums so direly relevant. Sure, there are some great ballads here – like the gorgeous “Country Disappeared.” But there’s nothing here that wasn’t featured on ”Sky Blue Sky.” In fact, you might as well call this album ”Sky Blue Sky Part II.” There are some great songs here, but nothing stands out to distinguish it from their last effort (an effort that was undeservedly panned by some critics.)
With that said, I don’t want to be the guy who panned (The Album). It’s a far more accomplished effort than most bands can achieve. But it’s also from a band that we expect more from; a band that’s been dubbed “America’s Radiohead.” If you’re a Wilco fan, I would definitely reccommend Wilco (The Album); but if you’re not (and intrigued), try out “Sky Blue Sky” as a starting point and then see if you are ready for the sequel.
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