The release of new Wilco and Son Volt albums on consecutive weeks will spark further inevitable comparisons between former Uncle Tupelo bandmates Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar. I've been one to stoke that fire myself in previous blogs, but I'm not going there this time. Not yet, anyway.Each album deserves a fair listen and review without bringing the other into the equation. So Tweedy's "Wilco (the album)'', released last week, is going into the player first. Farrar's "American Central Dust'', which is out today, will follow in due time.
Followers of the bands are fortunate to have two discs like this, back to back, to help make it through the summer. It's kind of like having two fields of knee-high corn by the Fourth of July. You're not sure how they're going to turn out, but the prospects are very promising indeed.
I've been listening to Wilco's new album for the past six weeks or so, and it's great. There have been complaints that it doesn't contain enough "experimentation," but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Lyrically, I think it's some of Tweedy's best work. "One Wing," "I'll Fight" and "Solitaire" are my favorites. I'll have to grab ACD at some point. Read a Paste review that said Farrar's voice tends to overshadow a lot of his music. I tend to agree with that. Still, it's getting generally good reviews, so I'm sure it's worth picking up.
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