Despite indie-rock bloggers who dismiss the group as “dad rock,” the band has cemented a reputation as one of the most creative forces in rock today, with Tweedy evoking comparisons to greats such as Bob Dylan and Neil Young. It’s become a vibrant commercial enterprise, too, selling out multiple nights at mid-sized theaters across the United States and in Europe.

By all accounts, at age 41, a record-collecting geek and ardent student of rock history, Chicagoan and Wilco leader Jeff Tweedy is happier and healthier than ever, comfortably living with his wife and two sons on the Northwest Side. And Wilco’s current lineup of bassist John Stirratt, drummer Glenn Kotche, guitarist Nels Cline and multi-instrumentalists Pat Sansone and Mikael Jorgensen is not only its most virtuosic, but its steadiest, and the first to remain intact for two consecutive recordings.

“Wilco (the Album)” therefore is a summing-up of what the band is and everywhere it’s been, and it fittingly opens with “Wilco (the Song).” Giddy and goofy — both rarities for this band — it’s a heartfelt country-pop thank you to the fans, as well as an idealistic statement about the healing power of music. This is evidenced by

YES WE are OPEN SATURDAY JULY 4th! 10am- 6pm. FREE Moon Pies and RC Cola for all, and maybe a few surprises, so stop in.

“Nobody told me there’d be days like these, Strange days indeed — strange days indeed” —John Lennon

“I read the news today oh, boy. About a lucky man who made the grade. And though the news was rather sad; Well, I just had to laugh.” —Lennon/McCartney.

“And don’t speak too soon / For the wheel’s still in spin / And there’s no tellin’ who / That it’s namin’ /
For the loser now / Will be later to win / For the times they are a-changin’ “ —Bob Dylan

Oh well. No real excuse, I felt like quoting Beatles, Lennon, and Dylan; it just seemed like the thing to do. It’s weird, but despite an unsettled economy and anxious markets, volatile and scary stuff in North Korea and Iran, sadness in Gaza and struggles across the US and right here in the upstate I’m hearing about from so many of our regulars about the hardships in their lives, I’m lately becoming hopeful. I do think that messages from our modern music troubadours like journeymen and women such as Patterson Hood (of the Drive-by Truckers), Pete Yorn, and Neko Case bring us a lift same as long haul road warriors like Levon Helm do and the work and messages of guiding lights Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson inject a profound and therapeutic value in our lives. Likewise the sonic audio release of bands such as Tortoise, Radio Moscow or Sonic Youth break us out of the grime and dust of every existence. Thank Goodness!! There’s more than enough annoying