Micro Music Review: Sky Blue Sky

June 12, 2007  |  Posted by: Al

Sky Blue Sky
Wilco
Nonesuch Records
2 stars

Wilco turns back the clock in their latest release Sky Blue Sky. In homage to 70s rock, Wilco strips the bells and whistles found on previous albums and puts out their most organic album since their 1995 debut A.M. Lyrically, Jeff Tweedy doesn’t mess around with vague lyrics that are left up to interpretation. They are pleasant, straight forward, and get directly to the point.

Fans of Jeff Tweedy’s work with Uncle Tupelo and earlier Wilco albums will embrace the albums back-to-basics musical approach. Tweedy and guitarist Nels Cline make a slick guitar tandem which is highlighted on the last three minutes of “Impossible Germany”, a track they’ve been kicking around for years. For the most part, the instrumentation on the album seems polished and near flawless. However, there is not enough substance and hooks throughout the album that works for me. Sky Blue Sky may have been better served as a six-song EP featuring the first four tracks “Either Way”, “You Are My Face”, “Sky Blue Sky”, “Impossible Germany” along with “Leave Me (Like You Found Me)” and “What Light”. After first listen, Sky Blue Sky had me slightly disappointed and wanting more. After second listen, I began to appreciate the songs I initially liked even more because of their simplicity and sincerity. My feelings for the other six tracks didn’t change on second try ironically for the same reason: too simple (and too boring).

For the last decade, Wilco has possibly been one of America’s greatest and most intriguing rock bands jumping from their rootsy alt-country sound (A.M. and Being There) to its experimentation with noise-infested pop and rock & roll (Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) and back full circle to a warmer, more tuneful sound (A Ghost Is Born and moreover on Sky Blue Sky). Therefore, they are allowed a pass when dropping a lackluster album for the first time in their 12-year existence. The big question now is: Which direction does Wilco go next? If it was up to me, Sky Blue Sky would simply be a quick stop home to where the gang came from before taking off into their second journey toward something more interesting and adventurous.

Is Sky Blue Sky worth your time?

Depends. Since there are three types of Wilco fans (ones who only like the alt-country albums, ones who like the experimental stuff, and ones who can enjoy all of it), your interest could vary with this one. If you are a Wilco completest, you already own the album and have formulated opinions by the time you read this. If you are a casual Wilco fan or a fan of well-crafted guitar rock circa 1968-1974, you may want to start with “Sky Blue Sky” and “Impossible Germany” and then purchase the other four suggested tracks if you can get into these two. After that, proceed with caution.

Hearing Sky Blue Sky tracks in concert may be the best vehicle for experiencing these songs. Wilco has a knack for bringing out the best in songs that may seem bogged down on albums. For proof, check out their live album Kicking Television: Live in Chicago and what they do with tracks like Foxtrot’s “Poor Places” (minus the last 1:30 of feedback) along with their tracks from A Ghost Is Born. Wilco is touring North America starting June 13th with opening act Low.

Al’s scores for previous Wilco albums:

A.M. (1995) 3 stars
Being There (1996) 3 ¼ stars
Summerteeth (1999) 4 stars
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) 3 ¾ stars
A Ghost Is Born (2004) 3 ¼ stars

Category: Music, Reviews  |  Time: 7:36 pm (CST)  |