Wilco (The Album)

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Wilco (The Album)

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

You've gotta be pretty audacious to name not only an album after yourself, but a song on said self-titled album. Either that, or they just really don't care at all, which seems a hell of a lot more Wilco to me than the former. Here's Mason's self-titled review.

Reviewer
Mason
Categories
Music

Reviewed by Mason Stillwell

Wilco (The Album)

In 2007, Wilco came out and unleashed a new style of their music in Sky Blue Sky, mostly at the hands of Nels Cline, who added some new depth to the band. But without a doubt, it became one of the best Wilco albums since perhaps 2002, largely due to its drastic change into a more mellow and certainly more mood driven album that was filled with intricate guitar work, somewhat psychedelic transitions and a hard rock n' roll sound. But while we sat around and intrigued ourselves with this new sound Wilco provided on their last studio LP, they were off to the Chicago loft to establish a whole new idea for their seventh LP, Wilco (The Album).

Wilco begins with a few great tunes, "Wilco the Song" and "One Wing", especially. "Wilco the Song" is described as "a great upbeat song professing our love for our fans" by Glenn Kotche, the drummer of Wilco. I couldn't agree more honestly, the song is great. The mood is taken down slightly going into the next song, "Deeper Down", which is something I have noticed a lot in the new album. Alot of mood shifting. "Deeper Down" isn't one of the best from the album but it sure does set you up for one of the best, "One Wing", a very slow ballad that hosts some of the best lyrics and atmospheric guitar work.

From there we're off to "Bull Black Nova", which starts off slow until Nels explodes hard on to the track. This song jams out and clocks in at almost 6 minutes long, the longest on the entire LP. Nova could be called the most powerfull tune on the entire album. Guess what? This song was written from the point of view of a man who just killed his girlfriend, and upon listening it is pretty apparent. "You Never Know" and "You and I" are the next tracks due up. "You Never Know" is actually the bands first single since 2002 ("War on War"). Along with being the catchiest tune on the album, it as well holds some of the best keys any Wilco album has to offer.

Honestly, when I first heard this album I was totally unsure about how to feel about it. I mean it's almost a direct change from what was captured on Sky Blue Sky. Much, much, more slow paced and those Nels solo's sure are trimmed down. However, it doesn't really sway the outcome of this album. After about two weeks I was completely hooked, and my friend, as long as Wilco can make me want to listen, they succeed. Wilco this time instead of using crazy intricate styles, uses a completely simplistic structure and welcoming sound to show what they are made of. "Sunny Feeling" and "Everlasting" are the final two songs that wrap this LP up, "Sunny Feeling" is one of the most prestigious songs on the album, gripping that upbeat folk genre in its fists. Sure I wish every song sounded like the Sky Blue Sky bonus track, "Let's Not Get Carried Away" but thats just a tad bit impractical.

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