Cruel Country | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 27, 2022 | |||
Studio | The Loft, Chicago, Illinois, US | |||
Genre | Alt-country [1] | |||
Length | 77:04 | |||
Label | dBpm | |||
Producer |
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Wilco chronology | ||||
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Singles from Cruel Country | ||||
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Cruel Country is the twelfth studio album by American indie rock band Wilco. It was released on May 27, 2022, by dBpm Records. A double album, Cruel Country sees the band fully embracing their country music leanings. It was supported with the release of two singles: "Falling Apart (Right Now)" and "Tired of Taking It Out on You". On release, the album received critical acclaim and debuted at number 190 on the US Billboard 200.
Cruel Country features twenty-one songs written by frontman Jeff Tweedy. The double album consists primarily of live takes recorded at The Loft, the band's recording studio in Chicago. [2] The sessions included all six Wilco members together in The Loft for the first time since The Whole Love (2011). [3] With minimal overdubbing, Tweedy compared their recording approach on Cruel Country to that which they last employed on Sky Blue Sky (2007). [2]
The album sees the band fully embracing their country music leanings. In a letter published upon the album's announcement, Jeff Tweedy wrote, "I think there's been an assumption over the years that Wilco is some sort of country band. There's a lot of evidence to support that way of thinking about our band because there have been elements of country music in everything we've ever done. But to be honest, we've never been particularly comfortable with accepting that definition of the music we make. With this album though, I'll tell you what, Wilco is digging in and calling it country." [4] Tweedy explained that the genre provided an ideal space to explore United States history: "Because it is the country I love, and because it's country music that I love, I feel a responsibility to investigate their mirrored problematic natures. I believe it's important to challenge our affections for things that are flawed." [2]
Tweedy first announced he was at work on a new Wilco album through his Substack newsletter in February 2022. [5] The album was officially announced on April 28, 2022, with the single "Falling Apart (Right Now)" released the same day. [6] The second single, "Tired of Taking It Out on You", was released on May 10, 2022. [7] The album was released digitally on May 27, 2022, by dBpm Records, with physical releases on CD and LP planned for a later date due to the supply chain crisis. [8] The release of Cruel Country coincided with Wilco's Solid Sound Festival at MASS MoCA, where the band performed the album in its entirety. [6] A double LP and a two-disc CD were finally released by dBpm Records on January 20, 2023. [9]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10 [10] |
Metacritic | 83/100 [11] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [12] |
Clash | 9/10 [13] |
Exclaim! | 8/10 [14] |
Mojo | [15] |
NME | [16] |
The Observer | [17] |
Paste | 7.9/10 [18] |
Pitchfork | 7.2/10 [19] |
Rolling Stone | [20] |
Uncut | 9/10 [21] |
Cruel Country was met with critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 83, based on 17 reviews. [11] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.9 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [10]
Jon Pareles of The New York Times deemed it an "understated magnum opus", writing, "A song can only do so much, and on Cruel Country Wilco offers no grand lesson or master plan, only observations, feelings and enigmas. Many of the album's best moments are wordless ones." [22]
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Mojo | The 75 Best Albums of 2022 | 15 | |
Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Albums of 2022 | 48 | |
Uncut | The Top 75 Albums of the Year | 6 |
All tracks are written by Jeff Tweedy
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I Am My Mother" | 2:35 |
2. | "Cruel Country" | 3:26 |
3. | "Hints" | 3:38 |
4. | "Ambulance" | 3:11 |
5. | "The Empty Condor" | 3:53 |
6. | "Tonight's the Day" | 3:26 |
7. | "All Across the World" | 3:42 |
8. | "Darkness Is Cheap" | 3:19 |
9. | "Bird Without a Tail/Base of My Skull" | 5:04 |
10. | "Tired of Taking It Out on You" | 3:36 |
11. | "The Universe" | 3:33 |
Total length: | 39:23 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Many Worlds" | 7:52 |
2. | "Hearts Hard to Find" | 3:27 |
3. | "Falling Apart (Right Now)" | 3:16 |
4. | "Please Be Wrong" | 3:01 |
5. | "Story to Tell" | 4:08 |
6. | "A Lifetime to Find" | 4:07 |
7. | "Country Song Upside-Down" | 2:46 |
8. | "Mystery Binds" | 3:08 |
9. | "Sad Kind of Way" | 2:48 |
10. | "The Plains" | 3:08 |
Total length: | 37:41 |
Wilco
Additional personnel
Chart (2022–2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [26] | 36 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [27] | 42 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [28] | 82 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [29] | 12 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [30] | 70 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [31] | 25 |
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [32] | 23 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [33] | 7 |
US Billboard 200 [34] | 190 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [35] | 29 |
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo after singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently during its first decade, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt remaining from the original incarnation. Since early 2004 the lineup has been unchanged, consisting of Tweedy, Stirratt, guitarist Nels Cline, multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone, keyboard player Mikael Jorgensen, and drummer Glenn Kotche. Wilco has released thirteen studio albums, a live double album, and four collaborations: three with Billy Bragg and one with the Minus 5.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is the fourth studio album by American rock band Wilco, first released commercially on April 23, 2002, though released on their band’s website on September 18, 2001. Recording sessions for the album began in late 2000. These sessions, which were documented for the film I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, were marred by conflicts including a switch in drummers and disagreements among the band members and engineers about songs. Despite this, the album would be completed in early 2001. The album showcased a more atmospheric and experimental sound than the band's previous work, and has been described as art rock and indie rock by music critics. It was the band's first album with drummer Glenn Kotche, and last with multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jay Bennett.
A Ghost Is Born is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Wilco. Released on June 22, 2004, it features singer Jeff Tweedy on lead guitar more than any previous Wilco album. The band streamed the album online free, and offered a five-song EP to purchasers.
Jeffrey Scot Tweedy is an American musician, songwriter, author, and record producer best known as the singer and guitarist of the band Wilco. Tweedy, originally from Belleville, Illinois, began his music career in high school with his band The Plebes along with Jay Farrar, also in the band. It became the alternative country band Uncle Tupelo.
Summerteeth is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band Wilco, released on March 9, 1999, by Reprise Records. The album was heavily influenced lyrically by 20th century literature, as well as singer Jeff Tweedy's marital problems. Unlike previous albums, Summerteeth was heavily overdubbed in the studio with Pro Tools. Tweedy and Jay Bennett wrote most of the album in the studio, a contrast to the band's previous albums, which were often recorded live by the entire band with minimal overdubs.
Being There is the second studio album by the American alternative rock band Wilco, released on October 29, 1996, by Reprise Records. Despite its release as a double album, Being There was sold at a single album price as a result of a deal between lead singer Jeff Tweedy and the band's label Reprise Records. The album was an improvement for the band in both sales and critical reception, in contrast to their debut album A.M. (1995). Taking its name from the 1979 film of the same name, the self-produced album featured more surrealistic and introspective writing than on A.M. This was due in part to several significant changes in Tweedy's life, including the birth of his first child. Musically, it juxtaposed the alternative country styles songs reminiscent of Uncle Tupelo with psychedelic, surreal songs. It was the only Wilco album with steel guitarist Bob Egan, their first with multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett and their last with multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston.
A.M. is the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band Wilco, released on March 28, 1995, by Sire Records and Reprise Records. The album was released only months after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo, an alternative country band that was the predecessor of Wilco. Prior to its release, there was debate about whether the album would be better than the debut album of Son Volt, the new band of former Uncle Tupelo lead singer Jay Farrar.
Kicking Television: Live in Chicago is a live album by Chicago alternative rock band Wilco, released on November 15, 2005, by Nonesuch Records. The album consists of material from four live shows at Chicago's Vic Theater recorded May 4, 2005 to May 7, 2005. Although the band filmed the concerts, they decided not to release the footage as a DVD. It was the band's first album with an expanded lineup featuring Nels Cline and Pat Sansone.
Anodyne is the fourth and final studio album by alternative country band Uncle Tupelo, released on October 5, 1993. The recording of the album was preceded by the departure of the original drummer Mike Heidorn and the addition of three new band members: bassist John Stirratt, drummer Ken Coomer, and multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston. The band signed with Sire Records shortly before recording the album; Anodyne was Uncle Tupelo's only major label release until 89/93: An Anthology in 2002.
Sky Blue Sky is the sixth studio album by American rock band Wilco, released on May 15, 2007 by Nonesuch Records. Originally announced on January 17, 2007 at a show in Nashville, Tennessee, it was the band's first studio album with guitarist Nels Cline and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone. Before its release, the band streamed the entire album on its official website and offered a free download of "What Light".
Wilco (The Album) is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock group Wilco which was released June 30, 2009. Prior to release, Wilco streamed the album on their website. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album.
The Whole Love is the eighth studio album by American alternative rock group Wilco, released on September 27, 2011. It is the first Wilco album that was released on their own label dBpm. Attendees at Wilco's 2011 Solid Sound Festival at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art from June 24 to 26 could purchase the first single from the album, "I Might". The entire album was streamed live on Wilco's official website for 24 hours between September 3 and 4, 2011, and later streamed on National Public Radio. The album packaging and cover art are pieces by Joanne Greenbaum. On November 30, 2011, the album received a nomination in the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album.
dBpm Records is an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois, and founded in 2011 by Grammy Award winning, alternative rock band Wilco. The label has released all of Wilco's albums since The Whole Love in 2011. It was aided by ADA for distribution, until the label had a new distribution agreement with Sony Music Entertainment in 2023; Cousin will be the first release under the new distribution agreement. The label has also released Don't Lose This by Pop Staples; Sukierae, an album created by Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer Tweedy; a set of solo albums by Jeff Tweedy called WARM + WARMER; and most recently, the final live album by the late Daniel Johnston, Chicago 2017.
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If All I Was Was Black is the thirteenth studio album by American R&B, soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples. It was released on November 17, 2017, by ANTI- Records. The album was written and produced by Jeff Tweedy.
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