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After a string of moderately received albums, many wondered if The Whole Love would be the record where Wilco return to form. If you ask long time fans, you might get some skepticism, but by and large, this is probably one of the most enjoyable listens for the band since the days of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
“Art of Almost” opens with bits of sporadic noise gurgling through your speakers. For those familiar with Wilco‘s foray into bits of experimental Americana, this might seem like a throwback. Instead, light string arrangements open up to Tweedy’s voice, with him sounding as confident as he’s sounded in years. There’s an open density to this song, and the band does a decent job of filling in the spaces, though some editing might have been sufficient.
“I Might” demonstrates the great strides the band has made since their beginning, with a bit of a stomp pushing the number forward. It’s about as far away from their early days as one could get, but if you can’t enjoy Jeff’s delivery during the chorus, then you might want to get your ears checked. Similarly, “Dawned on Me” has a very modern feel, with a an emphatic bit of bounce meeting up with guitar bits that slice through the steady melody of the track. For all their soft moments on the last two records, The Whole Love seems to show a revitalized group just kicking out solid numbers.
While a great bit of the record focus on these decent pop numbers, there’s a bit of casual warmth that breaks up the possible monotony that listeners see coming. “Open Mind” is about as slow a track as you’ll find from Wilco on this outing, and its got the powerful Tweedy owning the song, with a gentle slide guitar riding in the background. Admittedly, its far from spectacular, but it serves a great purpose breaking up the pacing just enough to allow a bit of a breather for the record. It’s a tactic the band use well, and they go at it again with “Red Rising Lung,” which follows the rocker “Standing O,” in so much as the band give us an all out rocker.
One of the interesting things about listening to The Whole Love is that there seems to be an odd sense of comfort in the band’s songwriting. After several albums, and several more, Wilco seems intent on just enjoying the process of writing a good song. It’s not a record that breaks new ground or challenges record labels, but it’s full of great songs that you can go back to time and time again, each instance finding yourself a new favorite track. It all makes for one of the better listens in the band’s recent catalog.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/02-I-Might.mp3]
Download: Wilco – I Might [MP3]
Norwegian outfit Real Ones dropped their latest LP, Love Your Mother, last week, and as I’m going back on my listening over the last few days, I was reminded about how much I enjoyed the record, particularly this single. There’s something communal in the band’s approach, reminiscent of the classic rock era; it also has a tendency to bring in these huge swinging harmonies that match that vibe too. It’s kind of like the group have been hanging out studying an equal combination of the Dead’s early work and the whole of Wilco’s catalog; it’s the perfect feel good listen, so grab onto “the Feeling.”
I walked into the Moody Theater on Sunday evening unsure of myself; I’ve listened to the new record a handful of times, but by and large, my Wilco listening habits have been sporadic over the last decade, popping in for the singles but barely getting too deeply involved in the albums themselves, until Ode To Joy. 
