Sky Blue Sky

by 
AlbumMay 11 / 200713 songs, 55m 15s
Alternative Rock Alt-Country Pop Rock
Popular

Songwriter Jeff Tweedy is succinct and soulful on “the most musically direct and down to earth of the band’s six-album career” (Los Angeles Times). Spin calls it “near perfect.” Wilco does leave room for inspired jamming, especially on “Impossible Germany.”

5.2 / 10

Despite the experimental pedigree of their new lineup, Wilco's sixth album finds them receding into the comfort zone. The result is an album that exposes the dad-rock gene the band has always carried but attempted to disguise-- the stylistic equivalent of a wardrobe change into sweatpants and a tank top.

A-

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot may have been the best and worst thing to happen to Wilco. Worst because it invited a backlash among fans who balked at Jeff Tweedy, one of roots-rock's première tunesmiths, pulling his songs apart in a fit of inexpressible irritation. And best because Tweedy almost immediately rejected that style…

7 / 10

Wilco have always had the tendency to wrong foot their fans and listeners. After the two disc country rock stomp of Being There we had the Beach Boys-tinged pop of Summerteeth, after that the experimental Sonic Youth excellence of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot…

8.0 / 10

In 1999, Wilco willingly abdicated their position as one of the leading acts in the alt-country movement to dive head-first into the challenging waters of experimental pop with their album Summerteeth, and moved even further away from their rootsy origins with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born, winning the group a new and enthusiastic audience along the way.

5.0 / 10

<p>The return of Jeff Tweedy and co is initially a tame affair. But listen closely, says <strong>Graeme Thomson</strong>, and something special emerges.</p>

Even at their most retro, Wilco is among contemporary pop music’s most vital acts.

9 / 10

<p>(Nonesuch)</p>

6 / 10