Cruel Country (studio album) by Wilco

TBC…

Album Rating:

1.I Am My Mother
2.Cruel Country
3.Hints
4.Ambulance
5.The Empty Condor
6.Tonight's The Day
7.All Across The World
8.Darkness Is Cheap
9.Bird Without A Tail / Base Of My Skull
10.Tired Of Taking It Out On You
11.The Universe
12.Many Worlds
13.Hearts Hard To Find
14.Falling Apart (Right Now)
15.Please Be Wrong
16.Story To Tell
17.A Lifetime To Find
18.Country Song Upside Down
19.Mystery Binds
20.Sad Kind Of Way
21.The Plains

From Brad1770 10/24/2022 05:50

So the general consensus seems to be this one needed a trim but is this really the case? Granted the closing trio of “Mystery Binds”, “Sad Kind of Way” and “The Plains” are fillers but the remaining 18 tracks are extremely solid in context and amongst these a few slam dunks in “I Am My Mother”, “Cruel Country” and of course “The Universe”

Definitely this ones amongst my 2022 faves

An enjoyable enough listen from start to finish but alas, like most double LPs, I couldn't help but think it would've packed a helluva lot more of a punch if it had just been halved down in length to the prime cuts.

My comments may of resembled some of the takes here as I ended my first listen of the double album. But, I've learned to not weigh in right away and let the album(s) soak in a little before I rip on artists that are close to me. And glad i waited a bit on this one. I have to say, this one is Wilco's best since Sky Blue Sky, which is my go to, and, yes, resembles it and Being There the most. I was fortunate to also see Wilco perform this live at Solid Sound this year... which was a treat in itself. Seeing it live (probably for my third full listen at the time) helped with the excitement of the release, and confirm the future standouts we'd be seeing live. Right away, Bird Without a Tail..., All Across the World, Story To Tell, Many Worlds, Falling Apart and Cruel Country are great and I can see being expanded on or played with in future sets. Other tunes such as, Ambulance, Tired of Taking It Out On You, The Universe can be blended into a set and sound great next to other favs of past albums.
All other albums in between Sky Blue Sky to present seemed to try for something that wasn't quite 'Wilco' and yes, The Whole Love, Star Wars, ODE To Joy had qualities that were solid on release, but continual listens faded over 6 months or so. I see Cruel Country as an album you can go back to and enjoy like any early Wilco album that the Wilco fans enjoy. Hope you put in a few more listens in before giving this one a toss in the 'meh' bin. Sing in the choir..... with me, with me....

Cruel Country, the twelfth album by Wilco, is more of the same with some minor returns to the country-folk sound of their Being There album. Tweedy and company are oft prepared in crafting interesting indie songs, with enough licks and studio quirks to keep things fresh. But similar to the former Ode to Joy LP, memorable and hooky songs are few and far between. Not to mention that this double album has twice as many "meh" tracks as a single length follow up to Ode to Joy would have contained.

The band remains enjoyable but all too comfortable with their style. I welcome efforts to continue switching it up, especially with new styles, more varies vocals/vocalists, and more straightforward songs about love and loss

Average

Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Falling Apart
B-Side: Tired of Taking It Out on You

I have wanted to love every Wilco album since YHF. I have not loved a Wilco album since YHF. I liked Sky Blue Skies, mostly for the guitars. I like this one too. But I don't love it. Oh Wilco.

From spigelwii 05/27/2022 11:35

The idea of Wilco's return to alt country stylings is welcome, but...A few too many plodding numbers and an unfortunate dearth of classic Wilco weirdness and experimentation leave this sprawling release wading in the shallow waters of their career.

That's not to say there's nothing worth listening to. The opening duo of "I Am My Mother" and "Cruel Country" drip with Americana-style angst, "Tired of Taking It Out on You" and "Falling Apart (Right Now)" serve as poignant reminders of how we (still) only hurt the ones we love, and "Many Worlds" would feel right at home on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (seriously). The album has plenty of quality moments, but I can't help but feel that all this pent-up country aggression would have been better served as a single album of the best stuff and not a 21-track attempt at a magnum opus double LP.

This is literally the first day the album is available for listening, and I'm writing this as the closing notes of The Plains fade away into ambient white noise on my second listen. It could grow on me. It's Wilco, so it probably will. But right now...I'm just a little underwhelmed.