Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

The only real form of consistency in Wilco since the release of A.M. back in '95 has been that Jeff Tweedy is the centerpiece. He's always been the clear voice of Wilco, both literally and figuratively. The only real exception being Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, firstly because it didn't really have a clear voice, but also because Jay Bennett had a hefty hand in the honeypot. If you've seen the documentary of the making of YHF it's pretty clear that the album was the explosive finale of Jay Bennett's Wilco tenure. By far their most diverse work, clearly frustrations ran a bit higher than usual. Maybe it was adjusting to their new home with Nonesuch Records, and their artistic liberation, but most likely it was because Jay Bennett's a douche. Whatever the case, the evident lack of Bennett showed through on the follow-up A Ghost is Born where mathematical experimentation gave way to a sloppier hit or miss patchworking. All this despite the fact that pop culture chose this moment to start paying attention to Wilco. I guess that's Good News (For People Who Love Bad News).

So with the departure of their Beloved Enemy, and now brought to you for the first time ever in cooperation with Volkswagen, we have a clean and sober Jeff Tweedy. What does this mean for Wilco? A rejuvenated, ready-to-rock Wilco? Maybe a less inspired back-to-basics rock record? Well surely it can't be that bad Either Way.

Either Way
My guess is Tweedy wrestled with the decision to start with this track or the equally tepid sentiment of Please Be Patient With Me. But either way (sometimes I just need to use that phrase), the effectual message is the same. This is a new, more earnest Wilco. Um...yay? No, that's not the word I'm looking for.
You Are My Face
Some nice harmonies, lovely lyrics as usual. Tweedy's songwriting ability has certainly never been called into question for me. And there is a bit of hope on this track. They employ a similar trick as the one they used on At Least That's What You Said with the sudden burst of electric guitar, but unlike the former, this track quickly reverts back. A double trick perhaps? I do see that the next track is called Impossible Germany. Maybe it'll be a fun non-sense rocker like I'm a Wheel or Hoodoo Voodoo?
Impossible Germany
Damn. Nonesuch luck. Tweedy claims to "know you're not listening", which seems to be the general motif of the album. If the fact that Wilco was going in a new direction with their music was just a fact and not the defensive positioning built in to the structure of the album, I'd probably be more okay with it.
Sky Blue Sky
Here we have the album's namesake batting clean-up. I've previously made my feelings on these types of tracks known, and when you combine that with the album's soft-hearted propensity, you get about the track you'd expect.
Side With the Seeds
This track supports my back-to-basics theory as well as making it blatantly obvious that there is very little conviction to any of the lyrics. "I'll side with you/If you side with me"? Come on Jeff, stop whining. Shake It Off!

The next track is, as implied by my always delicious puns, entitled Shake It Off. It is one of the better tracks on the album, but it's also a good place to call it quits on my established reviewing style. There's really just not a whole lot to say about any single track, and continuing on like this will only lead to me bashing the album more than I really had in mind. The reality is that it isn't an album deserving of abusive reproach. I just expect more from the band. All in all, it's an affable summertime listen. Nothing more, nothing less.

My overall album rating: 6.4