The new Wilco album, “Sky Blue Sky”, while full of the usual bar band guitars and organ, simply isn’t as commanding as some of their previous efforts. That’s not to say it’s not good, some of the songs are just absolutely soft, sprawling and beautiful. While other songs evolve out of the classic bar band sound to use at times a stomping glam rock beat to shake up the album. Where Wilco always shines though, is in their quirky bluesy ballads. The songs that run along with the familiar themes of losing your baby and wanting your baby back are the ones that stand out to me as good Wilco singles. Jeff Tweedy uses not only his uniquely classic and soulful vocals but also his tremendous heart to make “Hate it Here” (8) and “Walken” (10) the standout tracks of the album. Overall, there is definitely a smooth kind of 70’s rock feel that permeates the entire album, while it may not be mind blowingly amazing, it certainly is a more than pleasant listen and excellent addition to Wilco’s catalogue.
and if you’re like me and can’t get enough of this post alternative country indie rock:
Buy “Sky Blue Sky”
Wilco Myspace
Wilco World
MP3 – Walken – Wilco
MP3 – I Hate it Here – Wilco
Artist: JDH & Dave P
Title: Go Commando
This is a DJ mix set CD with the tendency to lean toward old school hard house. There are some familiar dance numbers here from notable indie electronic acts like The Knife and the Rapture but their song structure hasn’t been changed hardly at all, if anything is changed its just an annoying blippy squelch or vocoder over an otherwise unchanged song. The mix shines when it plays unknown dance numbers that lend themselves towards mixing more, although it’s kind of obvious that that would work better. It’s strange that the interludes are some of the most enjoyable pieces on the entire disc. Like “Do not Break” (8). The songs that could stand on their own would be “Mr. Oizo – Halfanedit” (9) which features a ferocious beat and some serious scratching. The other is opener “Jaokim – I wish you were gone” (1) which uses an arpeggiated loop and a vocoder to add to its space age feel. As an original work it is lacking, but as a ready made sound track to get down on the town with, I say to you, “Have at it.”
JDH & Dave P Myspace
Buy “Go COmmando with JDH & Dave P”
Mp3 – “Jaokim – I wish you were gone”
Mp3 – “Mr. Oizo – Halfanedit”
Artist: SJ Esau
Title: Wrong faced Cat Feed Collapse
The main man behind this effort is a British rapper named Sam Wisternoff who has freestyled with 3D of massive attack at parties. That said it is very strange that this album sounds like an Andrew Bird wannabe that thinks his slow songs are boring so he puts the sound of a shaking spray paint can over the acoustic strums. It’s like a guy who flips burgers for a living putting together an album over the course of 10 years. Weird but inviting, with surprising points of accessibility. Outsider art for the ear. Songs that are put together enough to sound like actual songs are the violin laden “Cat Track” (2) and the keyboard accented “All agog” (9). This is clearly not for everyone but if you’re willing to endure some of the strangest, but not totally intolerable, interludes and effects you will find one or two things worth listening to. Like the ones I recommended.
SJ Esau Myspace
Buy “Wrong Faced Cat Feed Collapse”
MP3 -Cat Track – SJ Esau
MP3 – All Agog – SJ Esau
I’ll admit, I didn’t know about the Uncle Tupelo connection between Son Volt and Wilco when I took this CD to review, luckily I have a friend who loves alt country and the whole resource of the internet at my disposal. So here’s the scoop. Uncle Tupelo was the first alt country band to form in the late 80’s and play through the early 90’s until Jeff Tweedy left to form Wilco. Not to be outdone, the other creative force of the famed Uncle Tupelo, Jay Farrar, formed his own new band called Son Volt. This is the latest album from Son Volt.
Artist: Son Volt
Title: The Search
It’s full of mid tempo alt country glory. The kind of aching, sentimental songs that scream nostalgia, sometimes sad and sometimes full of joy. It’s got that looking out over the country side thinking of friends and family while going for a long drive (maybe even going home) kind of feel. The slide guitar riffs and organ licks fit it perfectly, At first I didn’t like the vocals, I thought they were too close to silly R.E.M. vocals, but if there is one thing that Jay Farrar is, it’s serious about his lyrics and vocals. Notable music moments include the use of horns on “The Picture” (2) to inject a big heaping helping of optimism. “Satellite” (9) feels like getting up on a summer day and driving a pick up truck to work as fast as you can, in the best possible way. My favorite moment is around the 2:29 mark in “L Train” (12) where the piano just opens up and does its thing. Did I mention I love cool little piano solos? Well I do. I also think this album is pretty cool.
MP3 – The Picture – Son Volt
MP3 – Satellite – Son Volt
MP3 – L Train – Son Volt
Buy “The Search”
Son Volt Myspace
