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 a set of mid-tempo, gently upbeat tunes proudly heralding their classic-rock influences and romantic sentiments. “You Never Know” lifts a hook from Sly Stone’s “Everyday People” and pairs it with George Harrison’s signature guitar; “One Wing” boasts some of the most gorgeous harmonies the group’s recorded; “Country Disappeared” and “Solitaire” both nod to mid-period Big Star with their fragile but pretty melodies and melancholy lyrics; “You and I” is a sweet pop duet with Leslie Feist, and “Sunny Feeling” is the best Tom Petty song that Petty never wrote.

For fans of Wilco at its artiest and noisiest, the group offers “Bull Black Nova,” an exquisitely creepy examination of the aftermath of a murder, with Tweedy’s edgiest vocal performance and a guitar explosion worthy of Television. And for those who’ve been longing for a return to “Summerteeth,” there’s the disc-closing “Everlasting Everything,” with big orchestral swells rife with tympani and tubular bells. The more you listen, the more you realize that almost all of these tracks stand beside the best that the band has given us in each genre.
BY JIM DeROGATIS Pop Music Critic Chicago suntimes.com

WILCO – Wilco (The Album) CD sale priced $13.99
Also on high performance 180-gram vinyl (includes free CD)