Jeff Tweedy Open Your Mind

Although founded in 1994, Wilco's current incarnation was not fully formed until 2004 when Nels Cline & Pat Sansone joined alongside new drummer Glenn Kotche & keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen, who replaced former drummer Ken Coomer & a myriad of other multi-instrumentalists including Jay Bennett (who passed away in 2009, and who's split with the band is well documented in the fantastic 2002 documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart). Bassist John Stirratt has called the current lineup the definitive version of Wilco.

Touring behind 2004's A Ghost Is Born, it wasn't until 2007's Sky Blue Sky Cline & Sansone's contributrions were featured on a studio album. Whereas Sky Blue Sky was recorded with a looser, live approach at the bands Chicago loft, the follow up, 2009's Wilco (The Album) found the group taking a a more technical, polished approach, that like the title describes, really defines their sound.

I actually think Wilco (The Album) was grossly overlooked, in part because it was released the same week Michael Jackson died. (Remember? We were all listening to Billy Jean for like a month) Of course, the top 10 albums on the Billboard Top 100 belonged to the King of Pop - debuting at 11, Wilco (The Album) nearly snagged the group's first #1 album, which could have cemented them as America's best band (oddly enough, that title now belongs to a Canadian band - The Arcade Fire).

Because of this progression, I have incredibly high expections for Wilco's 8th studio album. On their third effort with this complete lineup, I fully anticipate a masterpiece that finds them experimenting further. Looking back through their past discography, its hard to expect less.

Today's Song of the Day is our first potential taste of their newest, yet untitled LP. Earlier this month Jeff Tweedy appeared on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, a Canadian talk show, and debuted a new track "Open Your Mind" - perhaps a Wilco WIP (Work In Progress, as he has been known to dub these pieces).

Whether or not this song will make the final cut, or remain as is, is yet to be seen. Look for the band present try out this song, and other "WIP"s, as they hit the road for their first set of summer shows this May.

As a bonus, what these songs sound like fully fleshed out, one of my favorite Wilco songs: "Hummingbird" from perhaps the best concert I've ever attended, recorded at Chicago's Vic Theater, off of 2005's live album Kicking Television.