SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: WILCO – COUSIN

WILCO
COUSIN
DBPM RECORDS

Since the early 2000s, Wilco has been one of the best and most creative alternative bands in the world, constantly experimenting with different genres and elaborate sounds. Their latest release, Cousin, sees the band using an outside producer for the first time since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. 

The lack of exciting experimentation, interesting stylistic choices, weird, catchy, and beautiful harmonies, and fun solo sections that are punky, harsh, and occasionally out-of-control is greatly felt on this record. Cousin is by no means a bad album, but it is nowhere near as good or memorable as Summerteeth, A Ghost Is Born, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or Star Wars. For the most part, Cousin is too laid-back and plays it too safe. For example, “Evicted”, “Soldier Child”, and “Levee” are decent tracks, but if they had less restraint on them, they would have been better. Lyrically, they are very immersive, poignant, and powerful, though they feel a bit dry in terms of instrumentation.

However, there are a few outstanding tracks. “Infinite Surprise” is truly fascinating. They started the album out incredibly strong, as it is the most complex track from the record. It has the best instrumentation, particularly the distorted and clunky guitar riff combined with the constant ticking of the percussion (almost like a clock). Near the middle, it also has a wicked breakdown where the sound goes super wild and dark. After “Infinite Surprise”, the record periodically gets weird and experimental, but it never reaches quite the height one might want from Wilco.

“Sunlight Ends” is another highlight. It feels almost like a track Radiohead would have composed for their album A Moon Shaped Pool. The ambient keys, along with the soft drumming, work very well together. Vocalist Jeff Tweedy’s sad and melancholic vocals are majestic, too.

Lastly, “Meant To Be” is a magnificent track. Like some older Wilco tracks, especially from the album Summerteeth, it has this outstanding balance of being “artsy” and peculiar but also incredibly infectious and pop-sounding.

Overall, Cousin has a couple of amazing songs, but compared to the rest of Wilco’s discography, it is rather disappointing.

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