WILCO – THE WHOLE LOVE
- Author:
- Chris Peken
- Posted:
- Tuesday, 31 January 2012
After taking a break for much of 2010, Wilco release The Whole Love in the tail end of 2011. And a break is as good as a holiday. Not that Wilco have put out a bad album yet, it’s just that The Whole Love is, much like its title, the whole package from the band. Encompassing all the elements that make Wilco what they are. There is Tweddy’s consistently strong song-writing; there is a band that are up for any challenge stylistically; and there is a return to the sense of fun and enjoyment in playing and recording music – after all, can there be a better job? They have the confidence to open with seven plus minutes of dissonance and art rock that is The Art of Almsot, but then show they have a sense of humour by following it up with the albums most playful pop moment I Might. Take that they say, and from there on in it’s open slather. The sombre Red Lung, the rockin’ Standing O, and the albums closing slow, epic 12 minute sprawling One Sunday Morning (song for Jane Smiley’s boyfriend). Every moment a joy.
****1/2
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Story posted on Tuesday, 31 January 2012, filed under CD Reviews. Follow responses via the RSS feed.
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