• Artist: Wilco
• Album: Sky Blue Sky
• Label: Nonesuch
• Release: 2007
• Links: Official Site

I read a recent interview with Jeff Tweedy where he said that Sky Blue Sky was the easiest Wilco record to complete. This isn’t surprising to learn when listening to the album. There are certainly some fantastic performances on Sky Blue Sky, but the tone is dramatically laidback, especially in comparison to 2005’s morose A Ghost Is Born. At times, this shift in mood is a rewarding one. Sky aims to remind the listener just how good a straight-up songwriter Tweedy can be. Delicate songs such as “Either Way” and the title track accomplish this with grace. Tedious moments like “Shake It Off” hurt the album because the band simply sounds far too comfortable. I can understand why Tweedy would want to make an album like this, but a band should never stop pushing themselves, no matter what they have accomplished. With that said, I am thankful for about half of Sky Blue Sky. It is a passable album, but I think everyone knows Tweedy is still capable of doing better.

(5/18/07)

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