Wilco

‘Wilco (The Album)’

Release Date: 6/30

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Record Label: Nonesuch

Rating: B-

Everyone has a favorite hoodie or sweater that gets worn numerous times during the week. It is the most comfortable clothing article in the closet and while it may not be the flashiest piece, it just fits so right.

Rock veterans Wilco’s latest, ‘Wilco (The Album)’ has all of these ‘best hoodie ever’ qualities and more.

The record takes all of the adventurousness of the band’s previous material and refines it into one of the most consistent rock album’s of the year.

Jeff Tweedy’s unique, comforting voice is the album’s central point, as the music created around it shimmers in a 70s, Harrison-esque vibe.

The term ‘dad rock’ gets thrown at the band more often than not these days, whatever that term means. Such a broad ‘genre’ is being attached because people are still having a hard time pegging the band.

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Even though this record stays pretty close to Adult Alternative guidelines, there are still flashes of experimentation and darkness. ‘Bull Black Nova’ is written from the perspective of a man who has just murdered his lover and ‘One Wing”s spaciousness would fit right in on 2002’s ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’.

Just because the band is embracing classic pop song structures does not mean they have gotten boring or just for ‘dads.’ It just means they are starting to settle in to their sound.

And this is a good thing.

Luke McCormick can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 275