It's been a long time since I even cared what Wilco were doing, and had you told me that I would fall in love with their new record this time last year, I would have laughed in your face and told you to piss off. Deep down I wanted that to be true, because at one time Wilco were the one of the best bands in the world, but that was a long time ago and I no longer believed it was possible to turn their all filler no killer approach to song craft around at this late date. Thankfully "The Whole Love" is a prima facie example of why F. Scott Fitzgerald was full of shit when he said "there are no second acts in American lives." This album is the sound of Wilco no longer going through the motions. Instead, for the first time in years, this is music worthy of their hallowed name. For the most part, the record channels in catchy pop songs with experimental fringe. Their trademark krautrock meets americana comprises much of the record, yet there is more diversity here than any of their records since their classic one-two punch of "Summerteeth" and "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," and each song is played with a confidence that few bands could muster. This is Wilco on top again, and it sounds great. I hope they stay there because at their best they are like the best friend that you have known forever and don't see often enough, but when you do you are reminded of why they are one of your favorite people in the world.
"Born Alone"
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