Wilco: The Whole Love

Wilco
The Whole Love
dBpm Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: The Whole Love represents a true mix of all Wilco's talents!

Album Review:
The Whole Love is Wilco's eighth studio record and first for their own label dBpm. It is almost fitting that now on their own, Wilco releases an album that relies on both their Americana and experimental past to create one nice cohesive piece of work. That describes The Whole Love in a nutshell as the record challenges you on the opening seven minute track "Art Of Almost" with its bleeps and blips, quick tempo changes, and speeding guitar frenzy towards its conclusion. It represents one of the most daring songs from Wilco we have heard in awhile and it transitions nicely into the bouncy second track "I Might", that just sounds like classic Wilco. The band offers up plenty of diversity as there are rockers like "Born Alone" and songs that stroll along peacefully, such as the title track. It is a balance that is well designed and executed on The Whole Love with it all coming to a pinnacle conclusion on the twelve minute closer "One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)". This song, although long, is a timeless classic from Wilco, as it comes off naturally and flows effortlessly. It is a song that could have appeared on any one of their previous seven records and is the perfect exclamation point on why Wilco has achieved a highly regarded status among fans and critics. It is exactly the type of song, on exactly the type of album, that always makes us come back, as well as ensuring The Whole Love will live forever because it is another must hear in the Wilco catalog!

Key Tracks: "I Might", "Born Alone", "One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Beatles
Big Star
My Morning Jacket

Wilco: I Might [Single] [Fire Note Review 6/30/11]
Wilco: Wilco (The Album) [Fire Note Review 7/1/09]
Wilco & Fleet Foxes: I Shall Be Released [Single] [Fire Note Review 10/21/08]
Wilco: Sky Blue Sky [Fire Note Review 5/17/07]

Wilco Website
Wilco Facebook

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony