If you like your Wilco mid-tempo, melodic and breathy, then 鈥淐ousin鈥� is for you.
Taking yet another departure in tone after last year's epic double album the Chicago combo's latest is more along the lines of 2019's 鈥淥de to Joy.鈥�
Wilco enlisted Welsh artist Cate Le Bon to produce the 10 tracks on 鈥淐ousin," the band's 13th studio record. It marked the first time since 2007's 鈥淪ky Blue Sky鈥� that Wilco went outside the band for a producer.
The result is a deeply layered, musically rich record, albeit heavy on the slower tracks. At times, like on 鈥淧ittsburgh,鈥� the soundscape is so thick it feels like an aural impressionist painting, with layer upon layer of music melded together to create a sonic image.
This is music for late at night, with the lights down low, a favorite beverage within reach, and no distractions.
鈥淚nfinite Surprise鈥� is a standout, leading off 鈥淐ousin鈥� slowly and then building to a cacophonous crescendo. But songwriter and Wilco impresario Jeff Tweedy quickly brings things back down with the next track 鈥淭en Dead鈥� that opens with, 鈥淚 woke up this morning and I went back to bed/Ten dead/Ten dead/Now there are 10 dead."
It's got a catchy melody, but not exactly a tune to spin at a Friday afternoon happy hour. And that's OK.
Wilco fans who like the rocking side of the venerable band will find a lot to like in the album closer 鈥淢eant to Be,鈥� which is definitely destined to be a crowd pleaser live with the catchy chorus of 鈥淥ur love was meant to be.鈥� It wasn't meant to be for the rest of 鈥淐ousin鈥� to swing as hard, but there's still plenty to love.
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AP music reviews:
Scott Bauer, The Associated Press
