Yes, the new Wilco album has leaked onto your favorite file sharing services. And yes, I’ve downloaded it. One song is missing, and there’s no telling if this is the final version of the record or what. My initial reactions went from “This isnt Wilco” to “I hate it” to “I love it” to “I don’t know what to think!”
I had told myself I wasn’t going to listen to the mp3s until the album came out. But, when a mysterious someone sent me an IM saying “I have it, do you want it?” how could I say no? Like a kid who knows where their parents hide the gifts, I went ahead and spoiled Christmas.
It’ll take me some time to digest this record, so I’m not making any judgements just yet. Wilco is my favorite band, I still stand behind the statement that “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” is the best record released in the last few years. So I need some time with these mp3s. And like I said, this might not even be the finished product. But I’m a Wilco junkie, an addict, and I’ll take whatever I can get.
A few things I will say: there are definite changes from early versions of “Muzzle of Bees” and “Handshake Drugs” that I’d previously acquired. This record relies more on piano, and there’s two ten minute songs on it.
And that’s all I will say right now. If you’d like, discuss the mp3s in our message board. June can’t come fast enough.