Wilco: Wilco (the album), 2009 Music Review
Featuring Wilco (the song), Deeper Down, You and I, One Wing
Jun 29, 2009
Is Wilco trying to tell us something by making their seventh studio album a self-titled affair? (Or if not self-titled, pretty darn close.) The title, Wilco (the album), toys with us, making us wonder if the album is a purposeful statement about the band’s identity, or not really. Just like the record is self-titled, but not really.
Who Is Wilco?
Fifteen years after the group founded, it’s still difficult to sum up who Wilco really is. And maybe that’s a good thing. The band has gone through a number of stylistic changes over the last 15 years, as well as several versions of the band. Its only constants since its inception have been leader Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt.
The current Wilco has been around for five years and this is their second album together. The consistency can be seen in this second album as it picks things up exactly where Sky Blue Sky (their last release) left off. The writing, the scope of the album, and the way all the assorted Wilco fabrics are woven, indicate that this album could have only come after Sky Blue Sky. But it’s still a bit of a hodgepodge.
Wilco has embraced several different musical personas on Wilco (the album). Fortunately, there’s a little something for everyone on the group’s new disc.
Songs on Wilco (the album)
- The opening song on Wilco (the album) is a bright, fun tune called “Wilco (The Song).” It’s a greeting card to the band’s fans, a note of accountability: "When you need us, we’ll be there". A little cheesy, but appreciated nevertheless.
- "Deeper Down," is a whimsical, ethereal tune. The fragile vocals are complimented with waves of guitar.
- "You and I," a duet with Canadian singer, Feist, is a slightly ordinary relationship tune that lends a subtle intimacy to the album.
- “One Wing” builds gradually from a quiet folk song to a towering, arena-appropriate anthem, and it’s a terrific advertisement of Wilco’s strengths in balance and musicality.
- Arguably the strongest song on the album, "Bull Black Nova," is one of the darkest, heaviest songs they've ever created. Full of cool staccato piano hits and a strong drumbeat, the song is full of dramatic energy.
While it may not be the most enterprising of Wilco’s endeavors, it is a strong collection of songs. The album is an affirmation of just how all-over-the-map the group really is, and just how inconsistent (in style) their music can be. Which isn’t really a bad thing. Wilco (the album) is simply a collection of good songs. And while it may be a mixed bag, it’s also the band’s most humble and unpretentious record ever, and as such it is a more than valiant effort.
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