Review Summary: It’s not perfect by technical or aesthetic means and it doesn't have an interesting story to go along with it, but it sure is authentic, and that works for me.
Wilco does not have anything to prove. They know it too, and audiences now have their best chance to hear their authentic self-assurance on Wilco (the album).
Actually, it’s not as if this is the first time Wilco has asserted their creativity in expression through their music. That’s what sprang the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot ordeal, and that’s why each of their albums has a distinct sound and personality. With one bold step after another throughout their career, Wilco has led listeners to the point where they are at ease creating an album full of free-flowing songs that combine many of their trademark tactics and sounds of the past.
As if the name of the album doesn’t exude enough confidence, “Wilco (the song)” leads off and whether or not you’re initially turned off by the possibility of narcissism, it will be stuck in your head after the second listen.
The third track, “Bull Black Nova,” is the “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” of this album only it’s more focused as it unravels in a more concise manner. “You and I,” Wilco’s first ever duet, is a beautiful change of pace that has the most unexpected sound of any song on the album; the soft, unassuming delivery of Tweedy compliments the delicate vocals of Feist perfectly. With those two songs providing two of the most unique and entertaining cuts from the album and “One Wing” as a reliable set-up song to get listeners attention, the middle of this album stands tallest. With cherry on top coming at the end when they one-up Sky Blue Sky’s closer “On and on and on” by easing listeners down with the even more peaceful, piano-dominated “Everlasting.”
Usually I find that each of their albums’ personality is too strong to be mixed in with any of their other work, but with (the album), this is the first time I’ve felt I could place their new songs on an old album. This is something I thought I would be depressed about, but they make it sound so natural it’s hard not to buy in to. “Country Disappeared” could span a couple different albums with its laid-back beat and subtle piano underlying sparse guitar riffs. “Wilco (the song)” definitely feels like the free alternative rock on Summerteeth. “I’ll Fight” has the purpose and slightly more aggressive rhythm section from YHF and “Sunny Feeling” even goes back to a little of the catchier country rock off A.M.
Wilco finally trusts themselves and the fans finally trust them, and as a result, the group is now flexing its songwriting muscle, just like the opposite circumstances - their angst-ridden, unapproved youthfulness - prompted them to do on Being There. Rather than delving into deeply artistic and emotional endeavors or exploring and stretching particular sounds, Wilco is now making comfortable, self-assured music. Tweedy shows his full range of vocal expression with the band more primed than ever to fit their music around his delivery and vice versa.
Despite some regrettable clumsiness in certain areas - the lyrics in “You Never Know” come off lame at times and the immature verses of “Sunny Feeling,” which still rides an infectious hook - this album is Wilco doing their thing. It’s not perfect by technical or aesthetic means and it doesn't have an interesting story to go along with it, but it sure is authentic, and that works for me.
