REISSUE: Wilco – Summerteeth (25th Anniversary)

This review originally appeared on Icon Fetch here: https://iconfetch.com/reviews/wilco-summerteeth-25th-anniversary-review

Once again, Rhino Records is offering up new limited edition vinyl reissues with their yearly “Rocktober” promotion.  One of the highlights of this year’s list - which includes offerings from Bush, INXS, Stone Temple Pilots, The Ramones and more – is Wilco’s fan-favorite third album, Summerteeth.  In celebration of its 25^th anniversary, Summerteeth is out now as a 2-LP set pressed onto opaque electric-blue vinyl.    

Originally released in 1999, Summerteeth was the perfect bridge from the early experimentation of its predecessor, Being There, to their landmark album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.  Together, principal songwriter Jeff Tweedy and multi-instrumentalist, the late Jay Bennett, created a new sound that leaned more toward dreamy power-pop than the rustic roots rock that was the bands trademark.  This was most likely a snub to those who tried to pigeonhole the band as “alt-country”.      

Much like the standout single, “I’m Always In Love”, with its New Wave-inspired synths and rhythm and sing-along chorus and the equally bouncy “Nothing’severgonnastandinmyway (again)”; the album blends Tweedy’s dark, confessional lyrics with bright, catchy melodies and Pet Sounds-informed instrumentation with Mellotron organ, synths, timpani and horns.  Likewise, later in the album, the anthemic “ELT” and the lo-fi “Candyfloss” prove to be a pure power-pop prescription, offering a nice lift after the more solemn and serious “How To Fight Loneliness” and “Via Chicago”.

This new 25^th anniversary pressing of Wilco’s third album, Summerteeth is the perfect chance for fans to fall in love with these messy love songs all over again! 

Stream “I’m Always In Love” here: