Surprising and relaxed Sky Blue Sky
The surprising new Wilco album, Sky Blue Sky, came out a couple of months ago. The band uses new media to brilliantly create buzz and sell tickets, in this case it had been streaming the album for windows of time on its website. I say “surprising,†because the relaxed album, at the surface at least, sounds like a departure from the noisy path the band had been taking.
I do not think the album is really a departure for the band, but at first pass it does sound like a Wilco album from a different time period, say around Being There. After many listens, though, this album does seem like a logical next step for the band.
The album is the first for this latest incarnation of the band to be recorded together, even though they have been touring for a while. The band has gelled nicely and sound great together. I love Nels Cline’s guitar licks on “Impossible Germany†and a couple of other tracks. I am so glad he joined this band, and am happy to finally hear him on disc after listening to him in live shows. The album has an easy feel to it, with the layers of sound settling lightly onto each other.
Sky Blue Sky was a little too relaxed and easy on the first couple of listens. The songs went in and out of my head, leaving me a little unfulfilled and wanted to listen to old Wilco albums to scratch the itch. This is not the first time I have had to listen to one of their albums for a while before I fall under its spell. There are some beautiful songs on the album, like the opener “Either Way†or the titular track. I love “Impossible Germany†and “Leave Me (Like You Found Me)â€Â, though I could do without the loud repetitions that grow on “Shake It Offâ€Â. I also think “What Light†might be a good Quaker song with all of its lyrics about inner lights.
I recommend this album, despite the lukewarm press it has been receiving. It’s the perfect morning album and I am looking forward to hearing these songs live next time the band’s in town.
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