The Whole Love (Deluxe Version)

iTunes Review

Over Wilco’s rocky and wondrous career, leader Jeff Tweedy has switched out band members, been dumped by his record label, survived depression, and turned Wilco from an alt-country outfit stuck in the shadow of his earlier band (the now-legendary Uncle Tupelo) into a group that can do anything. And anything goes on Wilco’s first album for its own record label. Each track represents its own universe, with the musicians in the latest lineup settling into their roles so perfectly that all the songs sound like the same band despite stylistic shifts. “Art of Almost” sports a rockabilly-to-space groove. “I Might” turns up an early Rolling Stones–like fuzz guitar and groove. “Sunloathe” turns ethereal. “Dawned on Me” grinds out garage rock. “Black Moon” is a spectral and creepy ballad that slowly crawls through the wreckage. “Capitol City” adds a walking bass for a stroll through the metropolis, with a touch of The Replacements for good measure. “Standing O” flashes classic rock brilliance, while “Rising Red Lung” whispers into the darkness. Wilco doesn’t shrink in the spotlight.