If Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was the peak of Wilco’s turn-of-the-millenium lo-fi-goes-to-the-movies pre-post-hipster-chic (idk what all that means), then Wilco (The Album) represents the band’s return to their alt-country twangy roots (see A.M.).  Jeff Tweedy’s vocals are honest, comforting, and consistent, giving the listener a remarkably clear picture of what kind of band Wilco really is:  a good one.

The first track, aptly titled “Wilco (The Song),” is as much a preface as it is an opening number, urging you to grab a drink, sit down, and enjoy the album.  No matter what’s happening in your life, Wilco will help you out.  When I first looked at the track list, I was undoubtedly skeptical of an eponymous song, but hell, it works.  “Deeper Down” does just that, go a little darker and deeper emotionally, with a strong role for the guitar and backup given over to the reassuring harmony of the violin.  Tweedy’s vocals take back the lead in “One Wing,” a relatively conventional (by Wilco standards) love ballad.  “Bull Black Nova” has a Spoon-like sound, but a little slower, more down-to-earth.

Feist joins in for the duet “You and I,” which has an incredibly pure, heart-warming sound.  It’s cheerful and reassuring.  “You Never Know” is the album’s first single, and it blends folk and country influences with choral backup vocals.  It’s playfully carefree and lighthearted.

“Country Disappeared” and “Solitare” take the album back to a darker tone, and it emerges sligthly with “I’ll Fight,” with a snappy-sounding organ/guitar combo backed up by a resurging violin.  “Sonny Feeling” is back in the cheerful realm, and the album ends with the powerful “Everlasting Everything,” which slowly climbs to a resounding  cresendo.

The album is a good one, and to me it brings back memories of listening to Jets to Brazil back in 1999, but with more depth and spirit.  With this album, Wilco is actually starting to make sense to me, which is a good thing indeed.

8/10.