DiamondClaw

I've been thinking about this lately. On the one hand, Wilco has never really had a true outside producer. O'Rourke would be the closest thing to that. And they don't need direction or anything. On the other hand, I do think Jeff needs someone to challenge him on some of his ideas or at least play devil's advocate with him, to objectively tell him to reconsider some of his first-blush choices (lyrics, vocals, arrangements). Tom Schick is a talented guy, but Jeff would benefit from a shaking things up sound-wise a bit, even if that means a more labor-intensive project.

I wonder if part of the reasoning for releasing Cruel Country so quickly was to allow for another new album relatively soon. Something else this year seems unlikely, but maybe something spring 2023? Even though we don't really know much about this other album aside from Jeff saying it's a "sculpted art pop" with "alien song forms," I'm really looking forward to it.

Update: Just saw footage of "Forget the Flowers." Some extremely kind soul posted a bulk of the show on Youtube. Wow, don't want to sound like sacrilege, but I think Pat plays it better than Nels. Have to get him out from behind the piano on that one from now on!

I watched those videos this morning too. Is it weird that it felt a little exhilarating? I mean, like you said, no one is longing to remove Nels' virtuosity from this band, but there was something novel yet nostalgic about seeing this more "fragile" stripped back lineup.

Just curious, given your style preferences and expectations, why you rank the new one ahead of Star Wars in the post-Whole Love era. That one certainly has more energy and spunk.

*And by deconstructed I don't just mean "noise" or "weird." I mean a song where a more complex or dynamic arrangement, where Jeff's acoustic strumming doesn't take up quite as much room. I like the bulk of Cruel Country, but I understand the "same-y" complaint from some people, because most of these songs don't sound vastly advanced from Jeff sitting on the couch with his acoustic, except there is some beautiful but soft ambient accompaniment.

I agree the collective process is still there, and the collaboration makes this significantly different than a Jeff Tweedy solo album, even with the more subtle approach. I like both straightforward and deconstructed Jeff Tweedy songs — the straightforward ones are beautiful. I just feel like we've been getting a lot less of the deconstructed ones now, and those are the bold and adventurous sonic statements and deviations that would balance the ledger a little.

It's definitely an arrangement and a mix thing. In addition to the songs' dependency on the vocals, as you mentioned, I notice how all these songs are built so tightly around Jeff's acoustic rhythm guitar (arrangement). Jeff's acoustic strumming is also much more prominent relative to the rest of the band's playing (mix). Their playing is there, very tasteful, but it's subtle and less up front. Jeff's rhythm guitar has always been there in the past, of course. It's just that it wasn't as ever-present as it is these days.

I've read a handful of reviews, and the one that captures the album the best to me, context and all, is this one from Stereogum: https://www.stereogum.com/2187467/wilco-cruel-country/reviews/premature-evaluation/

Wow, I just played that track based on your comments. Beautiful! It really shows how talented Pat is. Hopefully he gets a chance to shine like this somewhere on Cruel Country.

Just heard the new one, and I have the opposite reaction! I liked "Falling Apart" OK, but "Tired of Taking it Out on You" is just exquisite.

I haven't seen all the new songs Jeff has debuted on the Tweedy Show, etc., but there was one that really impressed me a while back called "Sunlight's End." I really thought that would be a great Wilco track, but it doesn't appear to be on the list for CC. For all the dedicated Tweedy Show followers, anyone think there's a chance that one's on here under a different name?

Me too! The fact that they all got together to record at the same time is a big factor for me. And The Whole Love is my favorite "modern" Wilco album, so if your read is right, that only adds to the excitement. Can't wait for the official announcement for all this!

I have two amazing seats for tonight’s show. Second row dead center in the orchestra. Asking $300 for the pair, which is under face + fees, but am open to offers. Thanks!

Thanks for the detailed recaps @bböp. Always a pleasure to read these and pore over the details. My head has already exploded from the intersection of my two favorite bands, Spoon and Wilco, in watching the video of Britt singing "Kamera." Here's hoping that performance of "Sunloathe" was taped!! I'd love to see that.

It really was. The whole show was great, and it was cool to see the different spins on Wilco songs, but I was really blown away by how beautiful Roseanne Cash's speech was.

Count me in as one of those appreciative readers of yours, Paul. Always a pleasure! Sub "White Sox" for "Packers," and this perfectly describes me as well!

...or "Kingpin" in a bowling alley?!

I have to believe that Tweedy's anti-Grohl thing is more of a shtick now, right? I can't see him really disliking the guy at this point.

Thanks for picking up with the recaps @u2roolz! I watched part of this today and was blown away by "Moonlight Mile." Just fantastic!

Anybody know this new one they've been playing? Seriously though, can we talk about this song for a second? For all of eternity, I always thought the chords were a straight D-G-Gm throughout. But when I went to look it up for a refresher the other day, that middle G chord has come into question. Some tabs claim it's an Em, which sounds strange to me, but darned if it doesn't look like that's what Jeff plays in some videos (like this one). Could it just look like an Em because he's in drop D and thus not playing the low E string for that chord? Or is he playing something completely dif

Thank you! Those descriptions sound great — I hope we get to hear these soon.

So, has anyone heard these two new Wilco studio tracks yet? It's strange there's been literally no reviews of the songs themselves! I wonder how fleshed out "Half Life" is from the acoustic Tweedy Show version. And seemingly nothing at all is known about "I Can't." I'm hoping, at the very least, these songs make their way to streaming or something soon.

Popping in as a dedicated @bböp reader to say thank you yet again for the wonderful reviews throughout the tour. I thought I was going to sit this show out until I was lucky enough to have tickets come my way at the last moment (even though the torrential downpour in the afternoon knocked power out at my house and I left my wife and kid at home to deal with it while I gallivanted into the city to see a concert ) . Fantastic show by the band. I loved the high-energy approach. When last seen at the Chicago Theatre, they were opening shows with Bright Leaves -> Before U

More than a few! I always look forward to these too. Thanks Paul!