Born Again in the U.S.A.
The second album by this Wilco side project has a nicely resilient band quality to it. Originally seen as Jeff Tweedy's noisier outlet, it's arguably as tuneful as his main band's most recent releases. A trio with Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche and producer/utility player/solo artist Jim O'Rourke, most of the songs are clearly the result of group interplay. However, it's the finishing touches, from arrangement flourishes to lyrics, that make them rise about hipster jamming. And just when you thought every cool guitar riff has already been discovered, the set starts off with a bang as "Hey Chicken" lets loose with a dazzler. There follows everything from an easy country groove ("The Ruling Class") to power pop ("Stupid As the Sun") and beautifully fragile balladry ("Answers to Your Questions"), to plenty more smart and mammoth guitar sounds.--David Greenberger