Wilco
Summerteeth (Reprise)
Some hear the Beach Boys in Wilco's latest, some hear Big Star. I hear Beck without his samples. The fact that anyone hears these kind of influences is a sign that Wilco is writing and recording quirky rock and pop songs rather than just the straightforward trad rock that has been their stock in trade. Maybe the record succeeds because these Midwesterners never forget the basics when they're adding their flourishes and going off in off-key directions. On a song called "How to Fight Loneliness" the music sounds like its fighting a loneliness all its own. There's a song on the cd called "Pieholden Suite" for crying out loud, in which early on the drums make the sound of rain, a piano breaks out on escape from some French film about a doomed love affair, later on the orchestra chimes in then leaves to let a plucking banjo take over, then the horns come in play a little romp and finish off the song. The damn thing works, and I'm not the person who can tell you why. Summerteeth is a bleak record. Lyrics like "She begs me not to hit her" and "I dreamed about killing you again last night/and it felt alright to me" stand out, for obvious reasons. Lead singer/songwriter/everything Jeff Tweedy is taking risks with these lines and getting away with it because his vocals are resigned enough to evoke a little doubt in the singer's intentions. Bleak yes, but no depression for the listener, and there's enough variety in the record to almost justify its 60 minute length. The band's a good one too. Rating: 8
- Peter Gorman
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