Living

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, June 28, 2009 Like its title, Wilco's new album feels a little stale Wilco chose a literal title for its eighth album, out Tuesday: "Wilco (The Album)." TRIVIA: Wilco has had only one of its songs land on the Billboard singles charts -- in 1997, with "Outtasite (Outta Mind)" -- although its past two studio albums have cracked the top 10 of the Billboard 200 album chart. STANDOUT: "Bull Black Nova," a murder ballad that showcases some acidic guitar detours, finds Wilco at its experimental best. FANS DIG: Chicago -- the city, that is, not the band ANDY SAYS: Wilco has played the part of roots-rockers, Brian Wilson proteges, the American Radiohead and sunny 1960s folkies. The group's latest, however, doesn't brim with inventiveness. Instead, "Wilco (The Album)" sounds like a career roundup, letting all its personas mingle together. As a result, the album plays like a best-of: A bit disjointed but mostly enjoyable. GRADE: B-plus "Back and Fourth," Pete Yorn WHY CARE: Pete Yorn worked with big-name producers including Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers) to make "Back and Fourth," out now. TRIVIA: Yorn's been busy. This September, he plans to release a duets album with actress Scarlett Johansson, and he also recorded 14 tracks with Frank Black of the Pixies for another album. STANDOUT: Yorn pulls out all the stops -- a string section, some horns, a guitar solo -- for the vague love song, "Shotgun." FANS DIG: Shaggy hair ANDY SAYS: Yorn can be great. "Relator," the lead single from his upcoming duet's album is terrific fun. But on this solo effort, he misses the mark, with generic singer-songwriter sounds, canned sentimentality and awkward lyrics, including a track that finds him using Google to figure out how an ex-lover died. "Got no results," he sings. Ouch. GRADE: C Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Teen dies after Granite Falls crash 2. Bikini coffee stands to be regulated as adult entertainment 3. Sultan brothers plead guilty in death of rival gang member 4. Body found after house catches fire north of Bothell 5. Gregoire unveils budget with deep cuts, will press for tax hikes 6. Grief and gratitude expressed for four slain officers 7. Two teenagers hurt in crash near Granite Falls 8. Friends and family honor Clearview couple who loved always 9. Roe appointed interim county prosecutor 10. Arlington's budget is ‘bare bones' 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Zambian woman thanks students for their help • Food banks see rise in use • ‘Making Spirits Bright’ in Edmonds • Wolfpack takes aim at state • Seahawks help students smile • 95 and still volunteering • Sno-King joined by local TV king • Veterans back for Wildcats • Lynnwood seeks to plug $2 million budget gap • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million