“Sky Blue Sky”
Wilco
Nonesuch Records
Jeff Tweedy hates when people call his music “experimental.” To him, the members of Wilco just play rock ‘n’ roll like they always did, but one listen to their music proves otherwise.
Wilco’s 2002 release “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” and 2004 follow-up “A Ghost is Born” feature dynamic, warping soundscapes, deconstructed samples, and feedback to complement Tweedy’s folksy songwriting.
But on “Sky Blue Sky,” Wilco takes a step back from the sonic deconstruction that characterized its two previous releases. The peaks and valleys that characterized the past two albums are replaced by subtle rolling hills of pedal steel guitar and Tweedy’s reserved croon. Instead of using noise breakdowns and samples to flesh out a song, acoustic guitars keep the spaces open, giving “Sky Blue Sky” an organic, rootsy feel. Other times spaces are filled by Nels Cline’s intricate guitar work, which masterfully blends melodic jazz and rock riffs that provide some of the most creative and exciting moments on the album.
“Side With the Seeds” starts off with a reserved mid-tempo groove of guitar swells, Hammond organ, and Tweedy singing through his teeth, but escalates into an expertly crafted solo by Cline. There are a ton of notes, but it’s not gratuitous guitar wankery. Each note is perfectly placed within the chords to build tension and release. Cline’s solos serve as the perfect complement to Tweedy’s atonal shredding, which is less crafty and shows less skill but makes up for it with Neil Young-esque passion.
“Impossible Germany” would be the hit single of “Sky Blue Sky” if Wilco’s overriding concern were to sell records. It’s one of the few new tunes Wilco has been playing live, and for good reason. The song is a culmination of the best aspects of the album: a solo rising from the dust to reach epic heights, style changes, lyrics and vocal melodies with staying power and most importantly, energy.
Yet while “Sky Blue Sky” shows admirable musicianship with deceptively complex chords and song structure, this complexity is lost in a flat mix and an excessively laid-back feel. It’s a surprise that Wilco didn’t deliver something more profound and forward-thinking to the music world. For years Wilco has been going in a new and exciting direction that no other band could follow. But with “Sky Blue Sky,” the band takes a step backward and leaves its prior innovations behind.
With such a powerhouse of musicians and songwriting talent there is potential beyond the tired classic rock tropes that Wilco has returned to. Sure, it could be argued that “Sky Blue Sky” is a mature, retrospective view of alt-country. And sure, there are some intricate chord progressions and pretty lyrics. But it lacks the heart and plethora of surprises that make Wilco the exceptional band we know.
““ Austin Bauer
E-mail Bauer at abauer@media.ucla.edu.