Walkabout

Rock & roll lifers that they are, Wilco knows the implications of a self-titled album, how any record bearing an eponymous name is bound to be seen as a reintroduction. That's why they puncture Wilco (The Album) with a parenthetical aside, a slyly ironic joke that deflates the notion that Wilco is returning to its roots while signaling that the band is finally lightening up again, a notion reinforced by the camel birthday party on the cover. And, to be fair, "reintroduction" is indeed too strong a term for a band that never went away, they merely spent a decade-and-a-half on a walkabout, consuming anything that came their way, changing their tone and tenor from record to record.

Johnny Marr is one of music’s most celebrated guitarists. The former Smiths’ band member presents his debut solo outing, "The Messenger". Produced and written by Marr, the album features him front and center on vocals and guitar. Returning to his roots, "The Messenger" is truly his finest outing, portraying the album he always wished to make. Features the standouts “The Right Thing Right”, “European Me”, “Upstarts” and the title track.