Twenty-two years into its existence, the Chicago-based alt-rock band Wilco is as productive as it’s ever been. Maybe more so. Almost exactly one year after releasing the critically-acclaimed Star Wars, we’re getting something brand-new in both content and form. In juxtaposition to the “roughhewn, fuzzed-out blast” that was its last release, Schmilco—the third from the band’s own dBpm Records—seems to be intentionally more sedate, relying on mostly acoustic instrumentation instead of the tricked-out arrangements and pedal-fueled soundscapes fans have grown accustomed to over their last several offerings.
To get an idea of what we can expect from this new album, take a listen to “Locator,” which was dropped a few days ago, and the newly released “If I Ever Was A Child”: