Wilco’s new album, Blue Sky Blue – leaked tracks

Thanks to James Ketchell:

“Wilco’s seventh album Blue Sky Blue is just around the corner with a May 23rd release date. It is the first album that singer/songwriter Jeff Tweedy has written since his stint in rehab just after their previous album A Ghost is Born was recorded. In many respects this has influenced these new songs with a more ‘mellow’ mood. In fact many commentators have described the album as a rock-soul record or even (gasp!) A.O.R.

“The album has surfaced online in poor quality thanks to the band streaming a preview of the album on their website last week. I’ve only heard three songs: ‘Either Way’, ‘You Are My Face’ and ‘Walken’ and first impressions are that these three tracks sound very different to anything the band have done in the past.

“‘Either Way’, the first song on Blue Sky Blue is a simple love song which starts with the most optimistic statement from Tweedy ever, “Maybe the sun will shine today”. The song becomes a lament to a lover who may or may not still be in love with him, but either way, it is fine.

“‘You Are My Face’ is perhaps one of the most lyrically ambiguous songs that Tweedy has ever written. But whatever the real meaning, it is pure poetic bliss. I cannot find another word to describe it. The song starts off in a similar vein to ‘Either Way’ – mellow, soft, tender – until the guitars kick in a very Wilco-esque manner, building the song thanks to guitarist Nels Cline’s ability to force through angular guitar riffs. Despite the song’s lyrical beauty, it still feels as if it is a sketch, or a work in progress. I can’t wait to hear this one live and see how Wilco elaborate on it.

“‘Walken’ sounds like a Wilco interpretation of a Randy Newman song. It is the loudest of the three songs and is probably best described as a mid-tempo rocker. The song then descends into a chorus of repetitive guitar riffs and loud drums. Brilliant stuff.

“Although it is difficult to fully assess an album on three, poor quality recordings of songs, it appears as if Wilco have done it again and produced a startling record unlike any of their previous.

“If there is a more inventive, interesting and musically challenging modern band than Wilco then I’d like to hear them. With my ticket for their London gig already booked and the release of Blue Sky Blue, May cannot come quickly enough as far as I am concerned.”