Ode to Joy (Wilco album)

Released
 Recorded
 Studio
 Genre
 Length
 Label

2. "Love Is Everywhere (Beware)"Released: August 20, 2019
3. "Everyone Hides"Released: September 17, 2019

***Ode to Joy*** is the eleventh studio album from American indie rock band Wilco, released on October 4, 2019, on dBpm Records. The release has received positive reviews.

## Recording and release

Wilco recorded the album in their Chicago studios in early 2019; on July 16, they announced the album, released the lead single "Way Out", and announced tour dates. Prior to this, the song "Way Out" was selected by Cartoon Network for the official soundtrack for the film *Steven Universe: The Movie*. The live performances break a two and a half year hiatus for the band from touring and a year off in general. "Love Is Everywhere (Beware)" and "Everyone Hides" were released as the album's second and third singles on August 20, 2019 and on September 17, 2019. The album was recorded by taking simple song sketches from singer Jeff Tweedy, recording them in the studio with drummer Glenn Kotche, and then introducing the rest of the band to flesh out the musical ideas.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings
 Metacritic
 Source
 AllMusic

*Ode to Joy* received positive reviews from critics noted at review aggregator Metacritic. It has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100, based on 25 reviews. Erin Osmon of *Uncut* praised the album, writing, "It's a protest record only this sextet could make, one that rings loudest in its simplicity. It favours subtle textures and hushed vocals, and further reveals its wisdom with each listen." Prior to its release, *Paste* named this one of the albums the writers were most excited about for October, citing the band's diversity and calling this release, "larger-than-life soft rock full of both grand ideas about the state of our world and small musings about matters of the heart". Reviewing the album for AllMusic Mark Deming claimed the band were, "more than willing to explore the boundaries of their music, and they do so with the confidence and sense of daring that has marked their best work from *Being There* onward." Michael Hann of *The Guardian* gave the release four out of five stars, praising the lyrics expressiveness and the different—if not quite experimental—use of varied instrumentation. Nile Amos of *Vinyl Chapters* stated, "the album urges us, in the present world, to hunker down and appreciate loved ones and each other, more now than ever."

## Track listing

All tracks written by Jeff Tweedy.

1. "Bright Leaves" – 4:10
2. "Way Out" – 2:50
3. "Before Us" – 3:22
4. "One and a Half Stars" – 3:44
5. "Quiet Amplifier" – 5:50
6. "Everyone Hides" – 3:00
7. "White Wooden Cross" – 3:12
8. "Citizens" – 3:03
9. "We Were Lucky" – 4:56
10. "Love Is Everywhere (Beware)" – 3:34
11. "Hold Me Anyway" – 4:00
12. "An Empty Corner" – 3:46

## Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

**Wilco**

* Nels Cline – guitar
* Mikael Jorgensen – keyboards
* Glenn Kotche – drums, percussion
* Pat Sansone – guitar, backing vocals
* John Stirratt – bass guitar
* Jeff Tweedy – vocals, guitar, production, package design

**Additional personnel**

* Lawrence Azerrad – packaging design
* Mark Greenberg – engineering assistance
* Bob Ludwig – mastering
* Zoran Orlic – photography
* Tom Schick – engineering, mixing, production
* Paul Von Mertens – saxophone

## Charts

Weekly sales chart performance for *Ode to Joy*
 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
 Canadian Albums (*Billboard*)
 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
 French Albums (SNEP)
 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
 Irish Albums (IRMA)
 Scottish Albums (OCC)
 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
 UK Albums (OCC)
 US *Billboard* 200
 US Folk Albums (*Billboard*)
 US Independent Albums (*Billboard*)
 US Top Rock Albums (*Billboard*)

Annual sales chart performance for *Ode to Joy*