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Frequently Bought Together
Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Either Way |
| 2. You Are My Face |
| 3. Impossible Germany |
| 4. Sky Blue Sky |
| 5. Side with the Seeds |
| 6. Shake It Off |
| 7. Please Be Patient with Me |
| 8. Hate It Here |
| 9. Leave Me (Like You Found Me) |
| 10. Walken |
| 11. What Light |
| 12. On and On and On |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
After their wild experimental streak of the past decade, Wilco's sixth studio album might feel like a bit of a comedown. Sky Blue Sky is mellow, moody, and uncharacteristically monotone, opening with a pleasant jangle and Jeff Tweedy singing a simple song: "Maybe the sun will shine today, the clouds will blow away." He doesn't even follow it up with a barbed punchline. Could it be that the restless Chicago band has settled back into its gentle Americana roots--or does this sudden mid-career reappraisal represent Wilco's gutsiest move yet? Mostly written in the studio by the full band, it's certainly the group's most cohesive album in ages, presenting a dense song cycle padded with intricate guitar work, brushed rhythms, and '70s soft-rock accents. In places it sounds like Wings ("Hate It Here"), in others Harry Nilsson ("Walken"), and in the middle it goes a bit Grateful Dead ("Shake It Off"). At the same time, there's a distinct sense of hearing a band finally at ease in its own skin. Sky Blue Sky represents the sound of Wilco finally pulling through its petulant adolescence. --Aidin Vaziri
Review
Currently regarded as one of the best live bands on the planet, due in no small part to their last live album, Kicking Television, Jeff Tweedy's merry crew have weathered the storms of lost shipmates and new blood to deliver this, their seventh album. All the signs are that calmer waters are ahead. And that's a good thing.
With the addition of Nels Cline and Pat Sansone it's unsurprising that Sky Blue Sky's texture is riddled with the sounds of chiming six strings. Depending on whether you belong to the Wilco-as-experimental-pioneers school or just enjoy a little 70s-style riffage this could be seen as bad or good. Certainly the dual attack of 'Impossible Germany' owes as much to the Allman Brothers as Television or Sonic Youth. Jeff Tweedy's humble deprecation is still here, but lacks the self-flailing quality that made Yankee Hotel Foxtrot such a thrilling yet often uncomfortable ride. Instead a song like 'Please Be Patient With Me' is the work of a man who's done his time in therapy and has emerged both more realistic and able to dwell more easily within his own skin. There's humour aplenty too, especially in the George Jones-meets-slackerdom romp of 'Hate It Here'.
If all this sounds bland and vaguely disappointing, it's not. Too many critics seem to cling to the outmoded idea that to be good you have to be in constant pain. The fact is that Sky Blue Sky is made up of awesomely good songs that most bands could never approach. Who cares what shade of mood inspired them? This is obviously the work of a band at peace with themselves and each other. Cline's ease with which he slips between jazzy exptemporising, pedal steel chimes and slide mayhem (the punningly titled 'Walken') proves that the gigging rite-of-passage (documented on Kicking Television) has resulted in him seamlessly becoming a crucial member of the team. The aforementioned 'Imposssible Germany', along with 'Side With The Seeds' and 'Shake It Off' display a perversely Chicagoan sense of the dynamics of post rock while retaining a kick-ass country feel.
Overall this is Wilco returning to their alt-country playground while not abandoning their ability to surprise and worry at any boundaries that remain. At the heart of Sky Blue Sky is a maturity to recognise that we need each other. The closer 'On And On And On' begs us to remember our mortality, not as a burden, but as a liberating force. Wise words indeed! --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
II find that Wilco's sixth studio album sounds a lot like a belated follow-up to "Being There" from 1996. It represents a shift back to an organic, rootsy sound and approach (also suggesting the sounds of '70s soft rock.)
However, it certainly is no backwards step for the band. I would rather say that "Sky Blue Sky" sees Jeff Tweedy relaxing into a groove with his band and allowing himself some fun.
"Sky Blue Sky" is more of a grower than, say, "Yankee" and "Ghost" were. It invites you to join in. "Maybe the sun will shine today," Tweedy sings on the opening line of the opening track, setting the tone for the CD. The band then turns a simple acoustic line into shimmering currents that ebb and flow, mirroring Tweedy's reflections throughout an album which, like its predecessors, is meant to be heard in its entirety.
It is also interesting to see how Tweedy's vocals have continued to improve in clarity and precision.
On the slow-burning "You Are My Face", the guitar talent of Nels Cline is a marvel of subtle implosion. I think, personally, that Cline is the best guitarist that the band has ever had. Speaking of guitars, the freak-outs on "Your Are My Face" and "Side with the Seeds" are truly great.
The other studio "newcomer" Pat Sansone's keyboards also shine. Listen to him adding soulful accents to the aforementioned "Side with the Seeds."
"Impossible Germany" is one marvellous Tweedyian turns of phrase that makes its sense in a kind of crazy way. Jazzy and country overtones mingle on this amazing track.
On "Please Be Patient with Me," Tweedy asks gently, instead of demanding sympathy, as he has sometimes been wont to do. "I should warn you I'm not well."
The lovely closing track, which goes "On and On and On", is destined to be played at lots of weddings-to-be: "On and on and on we'll stay together yet / until we disappear together in a dream. / I will live in you and you will live in me / until we disappear together in a dream."
However, it certainly is no backwards step for the band. I would rather say that "Sky Blue Sky" sees Jeff Tweedy relaxing into a groove with his band and allowing himself some fun.
"Sky Blue Sky" is more of a grower than, say, "Yankee" and "Ghost" were. It invites you to join in. "Maybe the sun will shine today," Tweedy sings on the opening line of the opening track, setting the tone for the CD. The band then turns a simple acoustic line into shimmering currents that ebb and flow, mirroring Tweedy's reflections throughout an album which, like its predecessors, is meant to be heard in its entirety.
It is also interesting to see how Tweedy's vocals have continued to improve in clarity and precision.
On the slow-burning "You Are My Face", the guitar talent of Nels Cline is a marvel of subtle implosion. I think, personally, that Cline is the best guitarist that the band has ever had. Speaking of guitars, the freak-outs on "Your Are My Face" and "Side with the Seeds" are truly great.
The other studio "newcomer" Pat Sansone's keyboards also shine. Listen to him adding soulful accents to the aforementioned "Side with the Seeds."
"Impossible Germany" is one marvellous Tweedyian turns of phrase that makes its sense in a kind of crazy way. Jazzy and country overtones mingle on this amazing track.
On "Please Be Patient with Me," Tweedy asks gently, instead of demanding sympathy, as he has sometimes been wont to do. "I should warn you I'm not well."
The lovely closing track, which goes "On and On and On", is destined to be played at lots of weddings-to-be: "On and on and on we'll stay together yet / until we disappear together in a dream. / I will live in you and you will live in me / until we disappear together in a dream."
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Yes, I enjoyed the experimentation. I championed ghost when some were panning it... But here we have a crowning achievement, a homecoming, and a bold statement. The band that fell apart as YHF was being recorded reassembled itself for Ghost, toured a LOT, and lo and behold became a cohesive unit. Sky blue sky is the proof. Nels Kline is there, Glen Kotche (sp?) s there, as are the others. Tweedy's genius for innovation is tempered by a band of incomparable musicianship, and together they have produced a masterpiece. Although I unashamedly consider him a genius, Tweedy is best when backed by more genius (e.g. Jay Bennet) and now he seems to be comfortably ensconced in another circle of geniuses (genii?). When they toured on ghost, it seemed like they were starting to pull together, and I smugly predicted that this album would be a BAND album. Of course I was right. The production is very intimate, with the mike halfway down Tweedy's throat sometimes. It feels almost like a live performance (this band rocks and rocks and rocks live). Nels' guitar solos blend seamlessly into a rave up chorus. songwriting is comfortably eclectic, but feels firmly rooted in Tweedy's roots for the first time since Being There. i will listen to this over and over with a stupid grin on my face.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I had heard very mixed reviews about this CD and having listened to it a few times I can see why. It's gentle, some (but not me) might say bland, and very smoothed out compared to other Wilco releases.
Since the release of Summerteeth in 1999 Wilco have progressed increasingly further down the road of dissonant, yet musical experimentation that is at times hard to listen to but always utterly captivating. They perfected the journey-in-a-song style, taking the listener from one place and transporting them seamlessly to a completely different place (try playing "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" from A Ghost Is Born from anywhere in the final 1/4 of the song without the context of the rest of the song and you'll see what I mean). Yet this is a facet, and definite plus, of Wilco's music that has been pretty much dropped in their new release.
Gone are the feedback, lengthy experimentation and expertly placed atonal guitars and in comes a new style of smoother country-tinged rock that has less edge, lyrically and musically, than many fans of Wilco's repertoire have come to love and, to a certain extent, expect. The beat is still there in the livelier tracks, but more akin to Van Morrison or Bob Dylan during his time with The Band. The atmosphere is still there in some of the ballads but the lyrical edge has been smoothed.
I was fortunate enough to see Wilco live in London this week and it was interesting to hear how, when played with a bit more dynamic range and grit, these songs were really lifted to a new level and came across very well. This left me feeling that maybe the production of Sky Blue Sky has not done the depth of the music justice.
One personal gripe for me is the excessive guitar noodling in a faux-jazz stylee by Nels Cline. However, I recognise that this may not be an annoyance to other listeners, some may find it very impressive but to me it lacks a little substance and often takes away more than it adds.
Overall I think that this is an interesting album and strikes me as a band, whom we have grown used to being slightly dark and insightful, taking a break from expectation and having a little fun doing what they know best instead. I doubt it will be a CD that I will play incessantly like Summerteeth or YHF but who knows, it may be a grower!
NOW ONTO THE DVD...
I must say... it's pretty good. This interview, inter-cut with live performances, seems to be a genuine attempt on Jeff Tweedy's part to relate where the songs came from and what the intended vision and direction for the album was. Some of the photography is really good to boot.
In part of the interview Jeff Tweedy says that he purposefully avoided some of the darker topics of previous releases, partly because they have already been covered but also because he wanted to make an album that his wife could listen to. Perhaps this accounts for some of the loss of edge? Still, a good album and a very interesting DVD.
Since the release of Summerteeth in 1999 Wilco have progressed increasingly further down the road of dissonant, yet musical experimentation that is at times hard to listen to but always utterly captivating. They perfected the journey-in-a-song style, taking the listener from one place and transporting them seamlessly to a completely different place (try playing "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" from A Ghost Is Born from anywhere in the final 1/4 of the song without the context of the rest of the song and you'll see what I mean). Yet this is a facet, and definite plus, of Wilco's music that has been pretty much dropped in their new release.
Gone are the feedback, lengthy experimentation and expertly placed atonal guitars and in comes a new style of smoother country-tinged rock that has less edge, lyrically and musically, than many fans of Wilco's repertoire have come to love and, to a certain extent, expect. The beat is still there in the livelier tracks, but more akin to Van Morrison or Bob Dylan during his time with The Band. The atmosphere is still there in some of the ballads but the lyrical edge has been smoothed.
I was fortunate enough to see Wilco live in London this week and it was interesting to hear how, when played with a bit more dynamic range and grit, these songs were really lifted to a new level and came across very well. This left me feeling that maybe the production of Sky Blue Sky has not done the depth of the music justice.
One personal gripe for me is the excessive guitar noodling in a faux-jazz stylee by Nels Cline. However, I recognise that this may not be an annoyance to other listeners, some may find it very impressive but to me it lacks a little substance and often takes away more than it adds.
Overall I think that this is an interesting album and strikes me as a band, whom we have grown used to being slightly dark and insightful, taking a break from expectation and having a little fun doing what they know best instead. I doubt it will be a CD that I will play incessantly like Summerteeth or YHF but who knows, it may be a grower!
NOW ONTO THE DVD...
I must say... it's pretty good. This interview, inter-cut with live performances, seems to be a genuine attempt on Jeff Tweedy's part to relate where the songs came from and what the intended vision and direction for the album was. Some of the photography is really good to boot.
In part of the interview Jeff Tweedy says that he purposefully avoided some of the darker topics of previous releases, partly because they have already been covered but also because he wanted to make an album that his wife could listen to. Perhaps this accounts for some of the loss of edge? Still, a good album and a very interesting DVD.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Just Ok
I've loved Wilco since their classic Americana double cd "Being There" from the late 90s. In fact I remember being so blown away by it, that I returned the next day during my lunch... Read more
Published 8 months ago by P. Sharpe
Another masterpiece from Wilco
Wilco are a band who again and again have proven that they can come up with a sequence of recorded songs that merits the term ALBUM. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2009 by J. Eddelbuettel
Mr Blue Sky ! (8/10)
My ongoing love affair with Wilco began at the time of Sky Blue Sky's release, but not, oddly, with the album itself, which received fairly mixed opinions at the time. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2009 by Demob Happy
Best of 2007
Very much a change of style for one of my favourite bands, but for the best. Perfectly arranged songs and playing by Jeff Tweedy and his group.
Published on 9 Dec 2007 by Reader
disappointed
Hopefully this offering is a minor glitch. Wilco have never been boring, but on this album they surely test the patience of their fanbase. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2007 by R. Brewer
Wilco do it again
Jeff Tweedy cannot write an uninteresting song and while this may not be as experimental as some previous Wilco albums it is very addictive. Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2007 by J. H. Bretts
Such a shame...
Following on from two of the best albums of the last few years there was obvious excitement surrounding this release. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2007 by M. J. Lowe
Wilco - Songs with dangerous hints of melody
The reception to this album puzzles the hell of me. This is a stone cold alt country classic and yet it appears that many listeners are getting a bit hot under the collar since... Read more
Published on 30 July 2007 by Red on Black
Great songs - but a great album?
Is the new Wilco album a step forward, back or sideways? Whichever way, there are definitely grounds for the argument that after the mind-melting space rock jams of live album... Read more
Published on 13 July 2007 by Ben
Safe-ish but sound
`Sky Blue Sky', Wilco's sixth album, once again shows Jeff Tweedy's willingness to change the band's style which makes his band so interesting. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2007 by D. Newton
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