There are few bands in today’s current pop landscape who are willing to reinvent themselves for the sake of their art. Chicago’s Wilco is in a league of their own, which sometimes can frustrate both fans and critics alike who wish the band could just stay in one place.
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Wilco
|  Entertainment
 Art
"Sky Blue Sky"
(Nonesuch)
Released May 15, 2007
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On “Sky Blue Sky” , the group’s 6th album it’s blatantly obvious that Jeff Tweedy and the boys were listening to way too much 1970’s soft rock.
When the band ditched its Country rock roots for Sonic Experimentation, we all thought it was for good. On this latest incarnation the band has ditched the sound that made “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” and “A Ghost Is Born” critical successes for a more down home sound that could best be describe as six guys walking into a room and jamming until sunrise.
As a music lover, I welcome any change to an artist’s sound, but “Sky Blue Sky” comes off more like an overwhelming love letter to the sweetly California rock genre of the 1970’s.
Tracks like “Impossible Germany,” “Hate it Here,” and “Shake It Off,” come across as lost outtakes from Steely Dan, Paul McCartney and Wings, and The Grateful Dead. The opening track “Either Way” sets up the mellow atmosphere for the record with a slight acoustic guitar intro followed by an average at best guitar solo from guitarist Nels Cline who for a few exceptions (“You Are My Face,” “Side With the Seeds”) comes across as subdued, a stark contrast from his blistering performance on Wilco’s live album, Kicking Television.
The live album “Kicking Television” was supposed to usher in a new era in the band, but from hearing this album top to bottom it’s as though the band was content on paying homage to their influences, which isn’t a bad thing if you’re not obviously ripping off from them. Does Lenny Kravitz ring a bell?
“Sky Blue Sky” by no means is a lousy album. There are sublime tracks that deal with crumbling relationships (“Leave Me”) and the death of Jeff Tweedy’s father (“On and On and On”). The band isn’t shy when it comes to showing their gloomy side, and Tweedy’s lyrics are more personal than ever before, but the rest comes across as contrived and too mid 1970’s.
Trust me, if this album came out around 1974-1975, it would’ve been a huge hit.
Who knows where the next incarnation will take Wilco. Let’s just hope it leads them back into the 21st century.
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Finally
Written by Guest on 2007-05-22 13:16:51
All of my friends have been praising this album like it's a masterpiece, but I share your sentiments about this backward step. Thanks for being right on. |
No.
Written by Guest on 2009-05-30 20:09:49
Wrong. |
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