Photo: Shearer/WireImage
Sure, we didn't put up any new posts yesterday, but we have a damn good excuse.
We were hangin' with Wilco!!!
Tuesday morning we flew to Chicago, hopped in a cab and headed straight for the Loft, the band's studio on the North Side. We listened to seven tracks, all of which are slated for the new album (no title as of yet), including "Wilco, The Song," "Deeper Down," "My Country Has Disappeared" and "Sunny Feeling."
We can't give away everything, or else our magazine editors will be pissed, but here's a couple tidbits:
In a blast of creativity, most of the basic tracks were recorded in January, in New Zealand. The majority of the band -- Jeff Tweedy, bassist John Stirratt, multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone and drummer Glenn Kotche -- traveled down there in December to play on tracks for an upcoming Neil Finn album that will benefit Oxfam. They got a great vibe from Finn's studio in Auckland, so they stuck around and nailed the tracks. Producer/engineer/mixer Jim Scott is at the helm. He's worked with everyone under the sun, and Wilco fans know him as the mixing engineer on Summerteeth, Sky Blue Sky and Being There. Master guitarist Nels Cline, and keyboard wiz Mikael Jorgensen added tasty overdubs at the Loft.
Finally, let's just say the record is sick! When we heard Wilco debut the song "One Wing" at Lollapalooza last year, we predicted that the band was consciously moving in a more experimental direction (a la Yankee Hotel Foxtrot), but the songs we heard at the Loft take Wilco in yet another new direction. Great melodies, great lyrics, great playing and great sounds. You're gonna dig it!
Update: Wilco album out in June.
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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.
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S | June 30, 2009 1:13 PM
Great album. Nothing beats A Ghost is Born.
scotchiedude | June 28, 2009 1:15 PM
I think Sky Blue Sky was to Wilco what Goats Head Soup was to the Stones, namely, a major disappointment. Not necessarily a bad album, but just one where they seemed tired, kind of going thru the motions...but I will say this: Impossible Germany is prolly their most dynamic tune--just ballsy as hell in concert...very much akin to the Allman Bros. w/ the harmoinzed guitars...sounds like they have another tune like that on the new album w/ a kick-ass Nels Cline solo on Bull Black Nova. Hoping this album is as good as YHF...man, I can't wait!
Andy | June 6, 2009 2:01 PM
Wilco (The Album) is a great great record....probably my 2nd favorite Wilco album. I became a huge Wilco fan once I heard Sky Blue Sky, easily one of the greatest records I've ever heard.
Bl | May 24, 2009 2:43 PM
Sky Blue Sky is hands down their best album cover to cover (and I am a long time fan - since day 1). And it's funny that someone took a poke at Hate It Here since it's my favorite song on that record. If you like YHF and the experimental side, cool, I love it too, but that doesn't mean the rest sucks. If Sky Blue Sky came out in 1972 it would be right up there in the history of rock / pop with Dark Side of the Moon. I have a full copy of Wilco The Record, and if you didn't like SBS, skip it, because you'll like this even less. I think it's amazing.
Will | May 10, 2009 5:19 PM
Maybe. I think the new one will be pretty good.
Grahame | May 7, 2009 11:12 AM
It's a journey, Will.
Will | May 4, 2009 5:22 PM
If you know uncle tupelo and have been listening to wilco since am i dont understand how you like SBS. Maybe I just don't get it. O well, its just not for me i suppose.
thee | May 2, 2009 10:12 AM
And I knew Uncle Tuppelo an son volt too!
thee onion | May 2, 2009 10:09 AM
I think sky blue sky a superb album. And i listen to wilco since AM!!
Jasper | April 30, 2009 9:51 PM
Ryan, you are dead on with those three tracks. They, along with the closing track On and On, totally make the album a classic (despite some admittedly weaker tracks) and are among the most sublime music I've ever experienced live.
One Wing is cut from the same vein as those songs (video from Lollapolooza is on the interwebs).
Will | April 30, 2009 4:46 PM
The worst thing Wilco can do is get away from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. That is the best album of the 21st century so far. I think that they arent neccesarily getting away from it though. At there show in athens on April 20, they plaed more from YHF than SBS. It was a great show that really got me excited about the new album, but if it's going away from YHF, I'm not looking forward to it. And btw Ryan, those 3 songs SUCK compared to Pot Kettle Black, I'm the man who loves you, I am trying to break your heart, shot in the arm, via chicago, and even too far apart and blue eyed soul.anyway, i love wilco, i just love them more when they arent playing "Hate it Here" or "Walken" or "What Light"
Ryan | April 4, 2009 8:39 PM
I can't believe that Wilco fans continue to put down Sky Blue Sky. Impossible Germany, Side with the seeds and URMy Face are three of the bands best tunes ever. I have been a fan since Tupelo days, each album that they have released has become my fav.
Adam | March 24, 2009 1:00 PM
If you like the guitar, then you like Sky Blue Sky. The first 6 songs are solid..then the album kinda fades from there.
Are you not gonna buy the next one?
That's what I thought. Couldn't have been THAT bed then, right?
jebeal | March 23, 2009 4:31 PM
Wilco DID release a terrible album that Rolling Stone fawned all over--it was called 'Sky Blue Sky.' Let's hope that this new one gets them back on track. 'YHF' and 'AGIB' are two of my favorite albums of all time and I know Tweedy has it in him to make another one. I'll never understand what happend with 'Sky Blue Sky.' You put together one of the best bands in the world and you get "I Hate It Here" out of them?!? Sorry...venting. Tweedy is a genius and he can do it again. Right? RIGHT?!?
Anonymous | March 9, 2009 7:42 PM
I think they get the ear of Rolling Stone because they deserve it by constantly proving themselves as artists. If they ever do make a bad album Rolling Stone and the rest of the listening community will talk about it. But we hardly have to worry about that.
Siena | March 6, 2009 5:16 PM
!!!!!! I am beyond excited. Best news I've gotten in a long time.
Sarchi | March 2, 2009 5:38 PM
Naysayers notwithstanding, there has NEVER been a bad Wilco album. This is great news for 2009, and we can only assume there'll be another awesome 18-month tour following the record. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Derek Smalls | March 2, 2009 2:53 PM
Wow. It must be nice for Wilco to have the ear of Rolling Stone whenever they choose.
Seems they could release a terrible record and RS would still fawn all over it.
Quite sickening.
iheartwisco | February 27, 2009 9:55 AM
fantastic! im very jealous of your meeting with the band...because I'm super in love with tweedy and the music isn't half bad.
troubledog | February 26, 2009 9:23 PM
They played Wilco The Song on Colbert. It's one of my favorite songs of last year; I was wondering if they were going to release it (Tweedy told Colbert it was for his show only).
Party @ the Moontower | February 26, 2009 1:54 PM
This will make a swell birthday present to me.Good timing!
wilcolove | February 26, 2009 12:29 AM
something to look forward to. and the dvd in april.
bjorn_skurj | February 25, 2009 10:24 PM
Wow. This is the best news I've heard all day.
YES | February 25, 2009 5:38 PM
oh hell yes, this is going to be a good year for music
Jrose | February 25, 2009 3:27 PM
WOOOHHHH HOOOOO
Wow | February 25, 2009 12:56 PM
holy crap, I'm sooo excited! will it be out before Bonnaroo? that would be shweeeeeeeeeet. Wilco is amazing.
Chad hampton | February 25, 2009 12:53 PM
Its gonna be sick!!! You guys are so lucky.
T | February 25, 2009 11:43 AM
awesome! is there a projected release date for this yet?
Tuck | February 25, 2009 11:27 AM
Sounds fantastic...can't wait for the new record. thanks for the damn tease!