Wilco
has been one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed
American bands of the past five years. Since 1995 the quartet
has released three albums of their own and two collaborations
on Woody Guthrie's unused lyrics with English singer-songwriter
Billy Bragg (Mermaid Avenue and Mermaid Avenue
Volume II). Top all of that with at least a few months
of touring each year, and one wonders if these guys are
ever home. But somehow singer-guitarist Jeff Tweedy, guitarist-keyboardist
Jay Bennett, bassist John Stirratt and drummer Ken Coomer
each found to time to work on outside projects. (As a matter
of fact, Coomer has a great deal more time for other projects,
as he's left or was booted from the band in January.) Jeff
Tweedy is currently on a solo acoustic tour and composed
the score for the upcoming film "Chelsea Walls,"
while the other three members are on new albums that don't
stray too far for Wilco's mix of country and power pop.
[ buy music from Wilco
or Billy
Bragg ]
Tim
Easton's The Truth About Us (New
West Records) is basically a Wilco album without Jeff
Tweedy - Bennett, Stirratt and Coomer are the backing musicians
on this collection of dark love songs. Tracks like "Half
a Day" and "Downtown Lights" show that Easton has the potential
to become an insightful songwriter, probing the depths of
relationships. But much of the lyrics can't live up to the
quality musicianship served by the Wilco guys. [ buy The
Truth About Us or more
from Tim Easton ]
John Stirratt started work on a solo project five years ago,
before Wilco released their second album, Being There.
After various delays (and scrapping more than 30 songs) Stirratt's
solo project mutated into The Autumn Defense. Their debut,
The Green Hour, (Broadmoor Records) proves that Jeff
Tweedy and Jay Bennett haven't been the only ones driving
Wilco into a more power-pop direction. On the opener, "Long
Forgotten Love," Stirratt's low-key vocal delivery meshes
perfectly with combination of horns and pedal steel. The horns
throughout the album (played by Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner
and Squirrel Nut Zippers Jimbo Mathis) add an almost Belle
and Sebastian-like feel to many of the tracks. "Revolutionary
Mind" feature lyrics by Woody Guthrie, but unlike the Mermaid
Avenue albums, Stirratt creates a setting that sounds
transported from a hip New York, Guthrie-era lounge. The
Green Hour is a must listen for any Wilco fan. [ buy The
Green Hour or get
more info on The Autumn Defense ]
Now
that Ken Coomer is out of Wilco, his main focus could be Swag,
a Nashville-based supergroup that also features Robert Reynolds
of The Mavericks and Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick, along with
singer-guitarist Doug Powell and keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden.
The influence of Cheap Trick rings through loud and clear
on every track of their debut album Catchall (Yeproc).
One could picture "I'll Get By" or "When She Awoke" fitting
snugly next to tracks on Heaven Tonight or All Shook
Up. Reynolds shows off his vocal chops on songs like "Lone"
and "Near Perfect Smile," while showing yet again that The
Mavericks were much more than just a typical country band.
Catchall is a fine slice of power-pop where the term
supergroup actually applies. [ buy Catchall
]
Wilco
has been one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed
American bands of the past five years. Since 1995 the quartet
has released three albums of their own and two collaborations
on Woody Guthrie's unused lyrics with English singer-songwriter
Billy Bragg (Mermaid Avenue and Mermaid Avenue
Volume II). Top all of that with at least a few months
of touring each year, and one wonders if these guys are
ever home. But somehow singer-guitarist Jeff Tweedy, guitarist-keyboardist
Jay Bennett, bassist John Stirratt and drummer Ken Coomer
each found to time to work on outside projects. (As a matter
of fact, Coomer has a great deal more time for other projects,
as he's left or was booted from the band in January.) Jeff
Tweedy is currently on a solo acoustic tour and composed
the score for the upcoming film "Chelsea Walls,"
while the other three members are on new albums that don't
stray too far for Wilco's mix of country and power pop.
[ buy music from 
Tim
Easton's The Truth About Us (
John Stirratt started work on a solo project five years ago,
before Wilco released their second album, Being There.
After various delays (and scrapping more than 30 songs) Stirratt's
solo project mutated into The Autumn Defense. Their debut,
The Green Hour, (Broadmoor Records) proves that Jeff
Tweedy and Jay Bennett haven't been the only ones driving
Wilco into a more power-pop direction. On the opener, "Long
Forgotten Love," Stirratt's low-key vocal delivery meshes
perfectly with combination of horns and pedal steel. The horns
throughout the album (played by Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner
and Squirrel Nut Zippers Jimbo Mathis) add an almost Belle
and Sebastian-like feel to many of the tracks. "Revolutionary
Mind" feature lyrics by Woody Guthrie, but unlike the Mermaid
Avenue albums, Stirratt creates a setting that sounds
transported from a hip New York, Guthrie-era lounge. The
Green Hour is a must listen for any Wilco fan. [ buy 
Now
that Ken Coomer is out of Wilco, his main focus could be Swag,
a Nashville-based supergroup that also features Robert Reynolds
of The Mavericks and Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick, along with
singer-guitarist Doug Powell and keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden.
The influence of Cheap Trick rings through loud and clear
on every track of their debut album Catchall (
©
Figgle 2001-2003