Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (CD 2007)

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. Virtually gone is the experimentalism in sound which was so prominent on ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’ and ‘A Ghost Is Born’, instead Wilco deliver a set of laid-back, mellow alt.country/rock songs which exude an atmosphere of contentment.

As we have come to expect from Wilco the standard of musicianship is extremely high. There is a loose, free sound to the record, for example on ‘Impossible Germany’ with its extended guitar workout. On that song and others, notably ‘Please Be Patient With Me’, which reminded me of a cut from Lou Reeds ‘Coney Island Baby’ the guitar sound is very 70s but it works well.

There is satisfying variety too. “Sky Blue Sky’ is a mellow number which would not be out of place on ‘Being There’, whilst the final track builds superbly from a keyboard backing to a great finale.

For me the most interesting song is ‘Side With the Seeds’ which starts with gentle piano then develops with an intricate and insistent electric guitar pattern backed with strings and Hammond organ and finishes with a furious guitar climax. This track recalls some of the experimental spirit of the last two releases.

I gather Tweedy has overcome personal problems and this record certainly sounds like that of a contended man. ‘Maybe you love me/Maybe you don’t’ he sings on the opening track and it sounds like he is not bothered either way.

‘Sky Blue Sky’ is a supremely accomplished rock record, mellow and retro-sounding in places, which confirms Wilco as one of the world’s best bands. If you like their previous edgy approach you may find this record a little safe and cosy, but no-one can deny the quality of the music in display here.