Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

Wilco will release its sixth studio album, Sky Blue Sky, May 15th on NoneSuch Records. This will end a nearly three year period since the band's last studio effort, the sometimes unfairly maligned A Ghost is Born. The entirety of the album has been available on the internet for well over a month now, and while some initial impressions around the internets were less than overly-enthusiastic, it appears some subsequent listens have changed at least a few minds. Sky Blue Sky contains scarcely any of the experimental flare that shaped their last couple outings and, truth be told, it initially comes across as a bit flat. But, stick with it, the subtle intricacies and masterful musicianship reveal themselves in due time. Considering the strength of Tweedy's back catalog, you owe it to the man (not to mention yourself) to spend some time fully absorbing this effort.

The band's last album A Ghost is Born was, upon its release, often referred to as a "transitional" record. Whatever direction critics imagined Wilco would take following that effort, I'd surmise that few would have predicted the band would follow it with a record as straightforward, understated, and mellow as Sky Blue Sky. Accordingly, this album is precisely the type to usher in a new era for the band and Ghost's "transitional" label now seems apt. Considering the plight of a group unsure of how to follow-up a masterpiece like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, they produced an album that-- notwithstanding a couple of experimental clunkers-- had more than its share of good tunes. In fact, if you start the Ghost on track 4, it's pretty solid. But to many ears, it came across as tired and bloated and I can understand that criticism to some extent. On Sky Blue Sky, Wilco's mid-career growing pains give way to an adulthood marked by quite confidence and assured professionalism.

Instead of employing their recent tendency to obscure songs in noise and experimentation, here the songs are given ample open space and room to breathe. In light of Jeff Tweedy's well-documented struggle with painkillers, it would not be a stretch to view his newly found soberity as a key in informing the clarity in the songwriting and vocal performances on this album. Sky Blue Sky's most apparent sonic reference point is 70's-Americana and the breezy feel of the album is unmistakably the product of a band completely comfortable in their own skin. While the songwriting is clearly the focus of any Wilco album, Nels Cline's amazing guitar work occasionally comes close to stealing the show-- see, i.e., the outro of "Impossible Germany". The laid-back and loose vibe of this album supports the accounts of how the album came together organically and spontaneously in the studio.

Album opener "Either Way" is a sleeper and could potentially be overlooked by many. This is a shame, because although it initially comes across as unassuming and deceptively simple, its masterfully layered, tasteful performances provide an excellent example of musical economy. "You are My Face" starts as a gentle ballad, then Nels Cline's inspired guitar work serves to transition the tune into a shuffling pop-ditty with playful organ figures, and then finally returns to where it started. "Impossible Germany", a recent live favorite, is one of the most immediately catchy tunes on the album and features a killer dual-guitar outro. The title track and "Please Be Patient With Me" find Tweedy in alt-country balladeer mode and the latter could be viewed as addressing the listener directly-- imploring us to hang in there until the album's second half picks up steam. The album's last three tracks are among the strongest: "Walken" is a top-tapping piano-led pop tune which features Tweedy employing his best McCartney-type falsetto in the choruses and some album's best guitar work; "What Light" is a weary, yet ultimately uplifting tune that, like "The Late Greats" from Ghost, vaguely refers to the modern music community; and "On and On and On" is an excellent closer that forgoes the album's breezy vibe for heavier subject matter, and thus, is the most emotionally-affecting tune present.

Every new Wilco album is greeted with a bit trepidation and uneasiness on the part of their fanbase, and Sky Blue Sky will be no different. What is different this time around is the fact that this album is difficult to pigeonhole stylistically. The album is not easily referenced by referring to one of their previous efforts, nor can it be easily tagged as falling within a particular genre (e.g., "experimental rock" or "alt-country", etc.). Provided listeners approach this album without preconceived notions that is too "soft-rock" or "easy listening" or particularly lofty expectations that is a "return to form" (whatever that really means) or "hits upon the best of the band's back catalog", they will undoubtedly find something they enjoy here.

Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment is that the band seems to have made the album they wanted to make on their own terms. Despite the amount of critical praise they've received and the fanbase they've garnered, they've done so without fear of how this album would be received by others. That type of move takes balls-- and taking these kinds of risks is part of what made Wilco great in the first place.


MP3: Wilco - "Impossible Germany"
MP3: Wilco - "Walken"

Buy the album here

Handsome Furs - Plague Park

Handsome Furs are Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade guitarist/co-vocalist) and his fiancée, Alexei Perry. The duo will release their debut album, Plague Park, 5/22 on Sub Pop. While the dust has been slowly accumulating on Wolf Parade's excellent 2005 album Apologies to the Queen Mary for a little while now, Boeckner’s partner-in-crime, Spencer Krug, has remained quite busy during this downtime with various side-projects. These included an EP and the incredibly well-received full length Shut Up I'm Dreaming from his Sunset Rubdown project and the Swan Lake LP with buddies Carey Mercer of Frog Eyes and Dan Bejar of Destroyer and New Pornographers fame. Personal preferences regarding favorite Wolf Parade vocalist aside-- in the wake of Krug's side projects, it's fair to say that Boeckner has increasingly become known as the "other" dude in Wolf Parade.

Accordingly, Plague Park couldn't have came at a better time for Boeckner. He handles vocals, guitar, and keyboards, while his fiancée takes care of the drum machine programming and keys. But, make no mistake, this album sounds like a Boeckner solo project. His disenchanted vocals are featured prominently throughout, sounding fantastic and providing the album a good portion of its appeal. This short effort (9 tracks & 36.5 minutes) is fairly small in scope, but it is, by far and away, the strongest and most consistent Wolf Parade spin-off project to date. And, yes, this includes Shut Up I'm Dreaming.

A distinct big-city/rural tension is readily apparent on Plague Park-- not only in terms of lyrical content and song titles, but within the music itself. The juxtaposition of the traditional "rock" elements (ragged guitars, charismatic vocals) and the more synthetic elements (drum machine and keyboards) underscores this thematic restlessness. The urban isolation and open road escapism described in "Dead + Rural" resonates loud and clear when Boeckner repeats "wheels just spinning in the ground". Album standouts "Handsome Furs Hate This City" and "Cannot Get Started" also highlight this longing for change of scenery, but seem to recognize the fact that maybe what we're running away from has little to do with our immediate environs.

The lo-fi recording and sense of open space only gives these songs more character and serves to showcase Boeckner's unique and compelling vocal performance. Surprisingly, his voice sounds remarkably close to Beck's on a few of the tracks-- see, i.e., the great "Sing! Captain" and, to a lesser extent, "Hearts of Iron". He wisely forgoes any tendency to yelp (like his Wolf Parade brethen Krug) or to employ his Springsteen-esque drawl ala "This Hearts on Fire" from Apologies to the Queen Mary, making significant strides towards finding his own voice in the process.

With both Boeckner and Krug demonstrating they have no shortage of creative juices, the upcoming Wolf Parade album ought to be something special. Judging by their respective material outside of their main gig, it's becoming increasingly clear that one of Boeckner's roles in Wolf Parade is to rein-in Krug's more esoteric explorations and maintain their pop sensibilities. Animal Collective's Panda Bear and Avey Tare most likely share a similar working relationship, although their roles are not nearly as clear-cut. Plague Park is so strong that it just may re-ignite the classic 2005 indie-nerd "Krug vs. Boeckner" debate. Consequently, it's highly doubtful Boeckner will remain relegated to "other guy" status for long.


MP3: Handsome Furs - "Cannot Get Started"
MP3: Handsome Furs - "Handsome Furs Hate This City"

Download the album opener, "What We Had", via the band's MySpace page.

Buy the album here