One of the things I had planned on doing when I returned from Kingston was to write about the new Wilco album "Cousin," which I love. I think it's the best thing they've done in 15 years. Then, my friend David, a much deeper Wilco fan than I could ever be, sent me an article from Inside Hook titled "Why Is Everyone Always Saying Such Dumb Shit About Wilco?" The writer, Mike Conklin, pretty much says exactly what I was going to say. When I said that to David, he replied, "It sounds like you." So now, I really don't feel like working so hard. What I want to say has already been said here, so it will only seem like I copied Mr. Conklin. You can read that article and know that I agree.
I will add this.
Like Radiohead, a band I once loved until my ears decided they had lost the plot, Wilco's records beginning with "A Ghost Is Born" started becoming just a little less accessible. I think "A Ghost Is Born" is excellent. "Sky Blue Sky" a little less excellent. "Wilco (The Album)" a little more less excellent. And then, Jeff Tweedy's energy seemed to have disappeared altogether, reminding me more often than not of Eugene Levy impersonating Perry Como. People seemed to love their last, "Cruel Country," a return to the alt-country of their earliest days. I thought it was twice as long as it should be, and by the end, I had forgotten what I thought I was enjoying.
But "Cousin," though no more upbeat or energetic, has something. It feels different. I think producer Cate Le Bon nailed what Tweedy and company haven't been able to on their three previous weird records. Underneath the ominous sounds and strange instrumentation are very accessible songs. "Cousin" feels like a cousin of "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," often cited as the band's masterpiece. "Cousin" doesn't feel weird for the sake of weird. It's naturally weird and almost all, except the tracks "Ten Dead" and "Levee," my two least favorite, work for me. I've played "Cousin" three of four times since that initial spin and still want to hear it again. I haven't felt that way about a Wilco album since I was in my 40's.
6 comments:
I tried it once after seeing it getting lots pf praise. A little underwhelmed so I'll give it another go.
I agree about the decline. After Sky Blue Sky which has some very good sings and, for me, one sublime all timer in Impossible Germany. The Whole Love is good but the rest since SBS has been a band slipping away from my sight.
For me, the decline was after Summerteeth. I kind of liked YHF, but it felt like a bit of a drag after the sunshiny weirdness of Summerteeth. And I pretty much gave up with AGIB, especially that 12 minute drone party/whatever that was. I've listened to parts of the albums since then, but I just feel like they became really pretentious. I understand they're an artsy band now, but I just liked the songs in the first 3 albums.
I saw them do a warm-up show just before Being There was released and it is one of my favorite concert experiences. It was in a lecture hall at a local community college in the Chicago suburbs, and Jeff joked about being 'Professor Tweedy'. His son, Spencer, was a baby and wore sound cancelling headphones during the show. When his mom got ready to take him home mid-show, the band launched into an impromptu version of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' to send him off to bed. It was lovely and funny. I liked that version of the band very much.
As always, I will check out some of the new album. I just don't really have any expectations at this point anymore.
One of those bands I wished I enjoyed more. I seem to like the idea of them more than the execution.
Hey, as Mark Twain famously said, in matters of taste, one's opponent is always an idiot. Or something like that.
Wilco did some alright albums in the beginning, but I found them to be a boring live act. The latter day stuff may be an evolution to some, but not me. Just checked out the new album and nothing on it floors me. I get much more pleasure listening to Uncle Tupelo bootlegs. And I mean that most sincerely. How far my heroes have fallen.
VR
Saw Wilco recently for the first time and they are a terrific live act. A lot of songs that really go over well and the crowd was ecstatic. A lot of fun.
I can really see myself loving this record! Not sure about the staticky fireworks sound at the end of the first song. Kinda made me cringe! Haha!
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