Wilco’s Ode to Joy: Review Round-Up Part 1

One thing has been certain since Wilco’s latest album, their 11th studio release, Ode to Joy, was released on October 4: it may already be considered the band’s most divisive record ever.

On a Facebook fan page I regularly frequent, A Shot in the Arm: the Wilco Fan Group, there have been folks saying they are through with Jeff Tweedy and co. because of the album, citing its sparseness, plodding progressions, and, worse, calling it boring.

I admit that it took me several listens before I appreciated Ode to Joy’s sound and sentiments. I enjoyed seeing fellow fans go through similar feelings as they listened and re-listened to it, then posted about how the album was finally reaching them.

But that’s the fans – what about the critics? Well, the response to Wilco’s newest has so far been positive across the board. Below, I am linking to some of the first wave of critiques of Ode to Joy, and you’ll see that rock writers still love Wilco in a major way. Click on the headline to see each review:

Wilco: Ode to Joy review – yet another winning set (4 out of 5 stars) - Phil Mongredien (The Guardian, Oct. 6, 2019)

Wilco, Forever In Competition With Its Own Best Work, Tries Shifting The Stakes – Matthew Perpetua (NPR, Oct. 3, 2019)

Wilco’s 11th album is direct and spacious, centering on the beauty of quiet revelation. – Jason P. Woodbury (Pitchfork, Oct. 7, 2019)

Album Of The Week: Wilco Ode to Joy - Chris DeVille  (Stereogum, Oct. 1, 2019)

Wilco’s (Provisionally) Anti-Depressant ‘Ode To Joy’ (4 out of 5 stars) -Will Hermes (Rolling Stone, Oct. 2, 2019)

Wilco’s Ode to Joy Is a Thrilling New Beginning for the Band By Craig Jenkins (Vulture, Oct. 4, 2019)

I’ll be keeping up with the reviews as they are still coming in, and I’m anxious to see if there will be a bad one - one that mirrors the disappointment of many folks’ posts. With all this discontentment over this spare, perfectly plodding, and not-at-all boring little record, there’s got to be a critic who sides with these wounded people, right? We shall see.

Daniel Cook Johnson's Wilcopedia: A Comprehensive Guide to the Music of America’s Best Band is available for order here.

More later...