Sky Blue Sky Review from Uncut.com

[with1]

by John Mulvey

 

Sky Blue Sky

2007-03-05 16:35:01

 

Jeff Tweedy has always been a perverse bugger. When Wilco became the toast of the Americana classes, Tweedy did everything in his considerable power to disassociate himself from the scene. He made the two greatest albums of his career, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and "A Ghost Is Born", and saw his band hailed as so adventurous as to be virtually avant-garde. Clearly, though, being stereotyped as a radical is starting to get on his nerves.

 

Initially "Sky Blue Sky", the new Wilco album, sounds like a conscious attempt to get rid of all those Sonic Youth fans who've jumped on the bandwagon in the past couple of years. This, you fear, is the record all the Americana diehards have been willing him to make again, as they gritted their teeth through the Krautrock jams and frictional skronk.

 

Tweedy isn't one of those artists who lets a desire to confound expectations totally dictate his musical direction. But I can't help thinking there's a profound mischief in getting Nels Cline and Glenn Kotche, two of America's finest leftfield improvisers, into becoming permanent Wilco members, then encouraging them to co-write what is ostensibly mellow country and soul-tinged '70s rock.

 

Extremely good mellow country and soul-tinged '70s rock, of course. For those of us who've enjoyed Tweedy's progress since Uncle Tupelo, "Sky Blue Sky" is another bundle of riches. These are terrific songs, many developing on the Band influence that came to the fore in the more straightforward parts of "A Ghost Is Born". The cover of Charles Wright's "Comment" on the "Kicking Television" live set is a good indicator of what to expect here, too, with Tweedy's voice having a warm, soulful edge on the likes of "Hate It Here".

 

I must admit, I'm one of the people who loved "Less Than You Think", the epic excursion into rustling noise that gloriously destroyed the flow of "A Ghost Is Born", so the happy approachability of "Sky Blue Sky" initially seemed a slight letdown. But the more I listen to apparently simple songs like "Please Be Patient With Me", the more they reveal of themselves. This one feels like the work of a band who are relaxed enough to absorb their experimental impulses rather than flaunt them.

 

I think I've listened to the album eight or nine times now, and at the moment the stand-out is called "Side With The Seeds". It sways in with a great broken-back piano line, Tweedy singing high and cracked, slowly gathering other instruments as it goes. Then after a minute and a half, the band shift a gear and start climbing towards the peaks, with Tweedy and Cline indulging in the kind of Television-ish guitar interplay that made live versions of "Handshake Drugs" so striking on recent tours. By the end, Cline (or at least I reckon it's Cline) has slipped the leash and is playing one of those needling, high-end solos at which he excels.

 

Again, though, it's striking in its economy. "Side With The Seeds" only lasts for four minutes and 15 seconds, but it could go on for another five. By the time Wilco reach the UK in May - by the time "Sky Blue Sky" is released, in fact - perhaps it will.

[danelectro]

That's a pretty accurate review.

[socbret]

Yep, glad to see the first semi-"official" review to come in wasn't somebody's knee-jerk reaction. It's a grower I tell ya...

[Chris_H_2]

I think I've listened to the album eight or nine times now, and at the moment the stand-out is called "Side With The Seeds".

 

 

Couldn't agree more . . .

[emilminty]

Nicely put. Something to be said for waiting, uh, a day before reviewing the record.

[Nonlinear Nonfiction]

Inevitably this album will be compared to YHF and AGiB but I would like to see someone review Sky Blue Sky without having to comment on Tweedy and Wilco's history in order to make excuses or explanations for the new songs. As someone who can do that for myself, I beg the question: how will someone feel about this album who has NEVER heard Wilco before?

[coast to coast]

I agree with that review so so so much. Nail accurately smashed on the head. Well done sir.

[Guest tandylacker]

Initially "Sky Blue Sky", the new Wilco album, sounds like a conscious attempt to get rid of all those Sonic Youth fans who've jumped on the bandwagon in the past couple of years.

 

 

I happily agree. And Side With the Seeds or whatever it is called may be the best Wilco song ever. For me that is.

[quarter23cd]

That's a pretty accurate review.

I find myself in complete agreement with this assessment...which makes absolutely no sense since I've only heard the three tracks that leaked last week.

 

Nevermind me, I'm just killing time until I can go home and hear the rest of this!

[Gobias Industries]

Inevitably this album will be compared to YHF and AGiB but I would like to see someone review Sky Blue Sky without having to comment on Tweedy and Wilco's history in order to make excuses or explanations for the new songs. As someone who can do that for myself, I beg the question: how will someone feel about this album who has NEVER heard Wilco before?

 

Someone has his head screwed on right.

[Beltmann]

Inevitably this album will be compared to YHF and AGiB but I would like to see someone review Sky Blue Sky without having to comment on Tweedy and Wilco's history in order to make excuses or explanations for the new songs. As someone who can do that for myself, I beg the question: how will someone feel about this album who has NEVER heard Wilco before?

What you call excuses or explanations, others might call context--and someone who has never heard Wilco before might appreciate learning about this album's context.

[*pann]

That's a pretty accurate review.

yeah sure.... he spent more time talking about their past records than sky blue sky.

[explodo]

yeah sure.... he spent more time talking about their past records than sky blue sky.

This is a trend that I'm noticing more and more in music journalism these days. The author either explains every album that a band has released and then gives a paragraph about the current album, or the author tells some stupid story surrounding the current album and/or band member's personal situation before giving a paragraph about the current album.

 

For example:

 

Fall Out Boy : [insert Title of FOB Album Here]

 

The guy that always gets his picture taken is so neat. He has had sex with many celebrities. He has a tattoo to celebrate each individual celebrity sex encounter. One is of a hawk. Also, his new record is alright.

[coast to coast]

its nothing new, its been done as long as i can remember.

[yermom]

What you call excuses or explanations, others might call context--and someone who has never heard Wilco before might appreciate learning about this album's context.

My thought also.

[Wilco LP #7]

a grower indeed.