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Sky Blue Sky Review in Observer (UK)


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Nice review:

 

Wilco, Sky Blue Sky

 

 

The return of Jeff Tweedy and co is initially a tame affair. But listen closely, says Graeme Thomson, and something special emerges

 

Sunday April 22, 2007

The Observer

 

 

Wilco would be a pretty fine prospect even if Jeff Tweedy were happy to be just the exemplary country balladeer he has been since his days in Uncle Tupelo. 'I survived, that's good enough for now,' he keens, all too plausibly, on the gentle title track, while 'What Light' comes on like an old Woody Guthrie battle hymn for those bruised souls who are 'strung out like kites'. It's lovely, lilting stuff, all right, but what makes Wilco genuinely great is the fact that Tweedy isn't content to leave it at that.

 

Three years on from A Ghost is Born, at first Sky Blue Sky sounds rather reluctant to step into the spotlight. The closer you listen to the jazzy guitars, Beatles touches and easy, shuffling rhythms, however, the more it transpires that Tweedy is simply allowing the songs sufficient room to speak up for themselves. With successive listens, Sky Blue Sky - the perfect title for this fresh, wide open record - is transformed from a shy, pleasant kid into a camera-shy prodigy.

Rarely is a song allowed to go directly where expected. What might begin as a soft country lament as often as not ends in a Beatles-esque blitz of stomping pianos. Offbeat twists and dizzying instrumental passages abound, and the varying influences on display make agreeably odd bedfellows: the prolonged, twin guitar attack at the end of 'Impossible Germany' sounds like a duel between Thin Lizzy and Television, while the loose, Sticky Fingers-era country-soul of 'Hate it Here' grins wolfishly at the heartfelt, dead man's pop of 'Please Be Patient With Me'.

 

Somehow, it all works. Wilco have got all the sharpest angles covered, and these 12 essays in excellence are up there with their very best.

 

Download: 'Impossible Germany'; 'On and On and On'

 

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestc...2060145,00.html

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Guest tandylacker

I would like to be the first to reply... Unless someone beats me to it. Here's my impression of the YHF fans that are butt hurt about this new album.

 

"Oh, a good review of SBS. Probably the last you'll ever see again."

 

Has there been any bad reviews.... ?

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I would like to be the first to reply... Unless someone beats me to it. Here's my impression of the YHF fans that are butt hurt about this new album.

 

"Oh, a good review of SBS. Probably the last you'll ever see again."

 

Has there been any bad reviews.... ?

 

Not a one. It's a great record, so aside from Pitchork's inevitable 6.whatever review, I'm not expecting a whole lot of disappointment.

 

im one of the YHF/Summerteeth fans that are 'butt hurt' about this album to put it lightly. the only reviews i respect, care about, and take into account are the reviews done by pitchfork. and mmmm, i cant wait for the 4.6

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im one of the YHF/Summerteeth fans that are 'butt hurt' about this album to put it lightly. the only reviews i respect, care about, and take into account are the reviews done by pitchfork. and mmmm, i cant wait for the 4.6

 

Nice avatar. Hope you're joking about trusting only Pitchfork, though.

The album's about an 8.2 in my book.

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Pitchfork's reviews suck no matter what band they're reviewing.

 

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

 

But really, Pfork gets it on the mark more often than people give them credit for. I agree with them around half the time. However, the attitude of some of the writers sometimes leaves something to be desired.

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Guest Speed Racer

Pitchfork gave AGIB a 6.6, remember, and then way so totally has been kissing Wilco's collective asses since then. So their reviews are a) not cumulative of the entire staff's opinion and B) not a reflection of how they'll feel after the other publications they want to be print reviews and features.

 

I like Pitchfork, but I love it when they pan an album and then praise the heck out of it for the rest of the year because everyone else seems to be doing so.

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I would like to be the first to reply... Unless someone beats me to it. Here's my impression of the YHF fans that are butt hurt about this new album.

 

"Oh, a good review of SBS. Probably the last you'll ever see again."

 

Has there been any bad reviews.... ?

http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/wilco/skybluesky

 

under the radar says it sucks

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Pitchfork gave AGIB a 6.6, remember, and then way so totally has been kissing Wilco's collective asses since then. So their reviews are a) not cumulative of the entire staff's opinion and B) not a reflection of how they'll feel after the other publications they want to be print reviews and features.

 

I like Pitchfork, but I love it when they pan an album and then praise the heck out of it for the rest of the year because everyone else seems to be doing so.

pitchfork hasn't been any different in their attitude toward wilco. they gave summerteeth a 9 something and yankee hotel foxtrot a 10... that alone will make them giddy over a band no matter what they release afterward (exception - and you will know us by the trail of dead). i expect they give sbs a 5... it's just not on par with with what tweedy and co. are capable of. i'm waiting for another live cd to hear how these songs should really sound.

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Pitchfork's reviews are wonderful... if you're into reading essays by creative writing majors frustrated by the lack of an appropriate venue eager to showcase their work.

 

Okay, some of their reviewers are pretty good (I read the notices by Dom Leone and Amanda Petrusich), while others are so predictable that I sometimes find myself chuckling out loud at their scrawlings from my desk (Howe, I'm looking in your direction).

 

It's cute that there's at least one person out there who only trusts these guys as far as reviews are concerned. I didn't know people were still that naive in 2007!

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glad there's some pitchfork love on here. most people seem to hate it because one of their reviewers said something mean about their favourite band, or madea joke about them and now can't stand them... yet still takes their reviews so seriously. i bought YHF cos of pitchfork, along with loads and loads of opther great albums like Michigan, The Meadowlands, You Forgot It In People, The Body The Blood The Machine, Friend Opportunity to name a few off the top of my head.

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I remember saying once I first listened to Sky Blue Sky that Pitchfork would give it a 6. But I agree with what most people said in this thread, Pitchfork does give you one of the best understanding of what a record is about in it's reviews. Also not to defend myself but I do buy all the Under The Radar magazines throughout the year and they are off sometimes in their reviews. Modest Mouse a 9 out of 10?

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Overall I like Pitchfork a lot. If they give an album a super-high rating, it makes me search around to other sources to see if others agree. I got the new Menomena and new Sparklehorse mostly because of Pitchfork. Both albums are good...maybe not as brilliant as Pitchfork claim, but good nonetheless. And I LOVE their news tidbits. I know, by checking their site often, I'll be the first to know when the Stripes announce their US dates or when a lead singer of a hip band exposes his weenie. :lol

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Guest Speed Racer
If they give an album a super-high rating, it makes me search around to other sources to see if others agree.

 

Good way to put it; that's how I like to roll. Record reviews are ultimately quite subjective. I would no sooner ask Greg Kot for an objective Wilco review than I would ask my mother who's the prettiest daughter in the whole wide world.

 

Anyone who relies on one media outlet for anything is either lazy or a slavish devotee.

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pitchfork hasn't been any different in their attitude toward wilco. they gave summerteeth a 9 something and yankee hotel foxtrot a 10... that alone will make them giddy over a band no matter what they release afterward (exception - and you will know us by the trail of dead). i expect they give sbs a 5... it's just not on par with with what tweedy and co. are capable of. i'm waiting for another live cd to hear how these songs should really sound.

 

they gave summerteeth and YHF good reviews because they DESERVED good reviews..and no it wont make them 'giddy' over a band no matter what they release afterwards. Ghost, and rightfully so, got a bad review. furthermore, so did being there. so basically...ur wrong.

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they gave summerteeth and YHF good reviews because they DESERVED good reviews..and no it wont make them 'giddy' over a band no matter what they release afterwards. Ghost, and rightfully so, got a bad review. furthermore, so did being there. so basically...ur wrong.

 

Hahahahaha!

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A Ghost Is Born and Being There got bad reviews because they deserved it? To me, as a big Wilco fan I find that funny and furthermore stating that "basically you're wrong" in reference to that statement on a Wilco message board is a little silly don't you think?

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A Ghost Is Born and Being There got bad reviews because they deserved it? To me, as a big Wilco fan I find that funny and furthermore stating that "basically you're wrong" in reference to that statement on a Wilco message board is a little silly don't you think?

 

i am a 'big wilco fan' as well..its this thing called...oh...whats the word im looking for...opinion...OHHHHHHH

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How can you say that when you just said "basically you're all wrong" when talking about the quality of AGIB and BT! I realize everyone has an opinion but you just voiced yours in saying your opinion was the only one that mattered and everyone elses is crap.

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How can you say that when you just said "basically you're all wrong" when talking about the quality of AGIB and BT! I realize everyone has an opinion but you just voiced yours in saying your opinion was the only one that mattered and everyone elses is crap.

 

wow, no, i said "you're wrong" because he said that Pitchfork has been "giddy" about Wilco ever since Summerteeth and YHF got good reviews, which is incorrect. so me saying "youre wrong" is completely justified. and now, i will say it again, to you. you're wrong.

 

How can you say that when you just said "basically you're ALL wrong"

 

furthermore, i didnt say all. i was referring to one persons post regarding pitchfork's attitude towards wilco.

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they gave summerteeth and YHF good reviews because they DESERVED good reviews..and no it wont make them 'giddy' over a band no matter what they release afterwards. Ghost, and rightfully so, got a bad review. furthermore, so did being there. so basically...ur wrong.

 

 

For some reason, I don't mind people being critical of Ghost. I love the record, but at the same time, agree that's a little all over the place. To me, the first half is brilliant....then trails off a tad.

 

But I do get defensive when Being There is brought up. NO WAY does that record deserve anything less than A marks. Pitchfork missed the boat on the that one.

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i am a 'big wilco fan' as well..its this thing called...oh...whats the word im looking for...opinion...OHHHHHHH

 

My opinion is that you need to simmer down a little.

 

As for Pitchfork, I trust it for its number ratings and its news, and that's about it. It is also very comprehensive, which is a big plus.

 

However, their editorials and reviews are often just downright annoying, a feature which I don't think is very debatable.

 

As far as intergrity, though, I trust the less comprehensive but more consistently dead-on AV Club.

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