Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

Wilco released this 'back-to-basics' album in 2007.  They had completely left behind the avant-garde feel of A Ghost Is Born.  In its place are soft-rock guitar stylings, exemplified by the lush, if a little bland opener Either Way.  You Are My Face throws in a bit of heavy guitar halfway through, as if the band are saying 'hey we can still rock'.  But mainly the default setting is 'amiable country shuffle' mode, and the album delivers this in spades on tracks like the aforementioned Either Way, and the title track.

Elsewhere, Side with the Seeds and Shake It Off allow the band to stretch out a bit with Nels Cline and Jeff Tweedy's guitars duelling.  The more hushed likes of Please Be Patient With Me also impresses with its wonderfully subtle playing, Hate It Here successfully channels late 60s Beatles, and What Light even evokes early Dylan.  At times all this bonhomie gets a bit much, Walken is a bit perky for its own good.

The standout track is Impossible Germany which opens with intricate, Television-like guitars, before unleashing epic guitar soloing courtesy of Cline.  It's a highlight, not just of the album but of Wilco's entire career.

All in all, those who enjoyed A Ghost Is Born might feel this is the sound of Wilco treading water.  They'll be listening out for the 'twist', and when it doesn't arrive (which it doesn't) that might feel like the biggest twist of the lot.  Songs go in unexpected directions, sure, but there are no noise freakouts to contend with.  Which makes it an album fairly easy to listen to, without being dull.

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