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<< 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

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