Wilco (the review)

Describing his 2001 masterpiece “Love and Theft,” Bob Dylan said it sounded to him like a “greatest hits album without the hits.” By touching on many of the styles and approaches at which they have excelled over the years - from ballads to expereimental Kraut-rock freak-outs to Americana-flavored rock & roll - Wilco’s new record Wilco (the album) achieves a similar feat. It’s one of their most pleasant, most enjoyable albums start to finish.

Unlike 2004's A Ghost is Born, which was inspired by leader Jeff Tweedy's inner demons, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot which evoked 9/11 (even though it was recorded before that), Wilco (the album)’s theme seems to be Good Songs Played Well, making it an excellent companion piece to 2007’s Sky Blue Sky.

The relatively light mood is established right away with the cheekily titled “Wilco (the song)” probably the funniest song they've recorded since Mermaid Avenue's "Hoodoo Voodoo." I'm not sure whether they are poking fun at excessive fan worship of bands or pharmaceutical ads that claim to cure all ills ("do you dabble in depression?") but it's a snappy, catchy tune, and the first Wilco record in many years that hasn't kicked off with something that could be construed as an Important Statement.

“Deeper Down” is a baroque number full of tricky changes and some harpsicord that highlights Wilco’s virtuosity which is almost unparalleled in the rock world. You really have to know what you're doing to write and perform a song like this. Having a bandfull of master musicians, particularly ace guitarist Nels Cline, certainly helps.

“Bull Black Nova,” a road tune that’s one of the best tracks on the record, builds up an almost unbearable amount of tension with its minimalist piano figure, reminiscent of “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” from A Ghost is Born.

“You and I” is a beautiful duet with Jeff Tweedy and the lovely Leslie Feist. A sweet ode to keeping an air of mystery in a relationship, it would make an excellent starting point for Zooey Deshanel's next romantic comedy: I don’t need to know everything about you/And you don’t need to know that much about me

"You Never Know", with a hook that recalls Tom Petty’s “Jammin’ Me” is a great party tune. And “Sonny Feeling” is a classic summer drive-with-the-top-down rocker, reminiscent of early Wilco tracks like “Casino Queen” and “I Got You (At the End of the Century).”

Wilco, easily the best working band in America right now, has delievered another great record. Their unending streak of quality recalls similar runs by Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, I.R.S.-era R.E.M., Mick-Taylor era Rolling Stones and Wilco's only true contemporary peers Radiohead.

And the new songs are sure to sound as great as the older ones when I see them tonight in Wappingers Falls, NY. I believe tickets are still available. You would be well advised to attend.

Wilco: "You and I" with Feist, Late Show with David Letterman 7/14/09