Cruel Country
Wilco · 2022
77 min · 21 tracks · alternative country
A sprawling exploration of Americana, blending reflective storytelling with gentle melodies and rich instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Cruel Country — The title track encapsulates the album's thematic focus on the contradictions of American identity through vivid imagery and poignant melodies.
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I Am My Mother Start here — This opening track sets an introspective tone, delving into personal history and familial connections that permeate the rest of the album.
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Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull — This track features intricate musical arrangements and thoughtful lyrics that encapsulate the album's exploration of vulnerability and existential reflection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends reflective storytelling with rich instrumentation, showcasing Wilco's evolving sound while maintaining thematic depth.
What we noticed
- Many tracks incorporate layered instrumentation, creating a rich soundscape that evolves throughout the song.
- The lyrics often reflect personal and societal narratives, with storytelling elements that unfold gradually over the course of the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic exploration of themes
- introspective lyrics for reflection
- gentle wave-like pacing
- for late-night listening
- long-form storytelling experience
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification
- seek high-energy tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued artistic evolution and relevance in the current socio-political climate.
- Themes
- American contradictions· familial connections
- Career context
- Released on May 27, 2022, 'Cruel Country' marks Wilco's eleventh studio album and comes after their 2019 release 'Ode to Joy'. At this point in their career, the band continues to evolve artistically while maintaining their signature blend of alternative country and rock influences, displaying a willingness to experiment with sound and narrative.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Jayhawks· Son Volt· My Morning Jacket
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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I Am My Mother
The narrative shifts from a personal reflection to broader societal commentary reveals complex layers of identity.
By intertwining personal history with collective experiences, this shift deepens the song's emotional impact and connects individual struggles to larger themes.
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 I Am My Mother Start here 2:36
- 2 Cruel Country 3:26
- 3 Hints 3:38
- 4 Ambulance 3:11
- 5 The Empty Condor 3:53
- 6 Tonight’s the Day 3:26
- 7 All Across the World 3:42
- 8 Darkness Is Cheap 3:19
- 9 Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull 5:04
- 10 Tired of Taking It Out on You 3:36
- 11 The Universe 3:36
Disc 2
- 1 Many Worlds 7:53
- 2 Hearts Hard to Find 3:27
- 3 Falling Apart (Right Now) 3:18
- 4 Please Be Wrong 3:01
- 5 Story to Tell 4:08
- 6 A Lifetime to Find 4:07
- 7 Country Song Upside-Down 2:46
- 8 Mystery Binds 3:08
- 9 Sad Kind of Way 2:48
- 10 The Plains 3:11
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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