A Ghost Is Born (CD - 2004)

Wilco: Jeff Tweedy (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, baritone guitar, synthesizer, acoustic bass guitar, loops); Leroy Bach (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer, vibraphone, loops); John Stirratt (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, synthesizer, bass guitar, loops, background vocals); Glenn Kotche (hammer dulcimer, synthesizer, drums, percussion, loops); Mike Jorgensen (piano, Farfisa, keyboards, synthesizer).

Additional personnel: Jim O'Rourke (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer, ARP synthesizer, bass guitar, loops); Frankie Montuoro (hammer dulcimer); Karen Waltuch (viola); Tim Barnes (percussion).

With A GHOST IS BORN, Wilco continues in the melancholy and experimental direction of the preceding YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT. Those intrigued, if not downright fascinated, by Wilco's transformation from a no-frills alt-country group to an unpredictably inventive avant pop ensemble will find plenty to marvel at on this fifth outing.

"At Least That's What You Said" begins the album quietly with Jeff Tweedy's ragged voice singing softly over a gentle piano line, but the song soon gives way to gloriously tattered guitar soloing and full-band backing. "Hell Is Chrome" follows with Tweedy taking on a surprisingly plaintive vocal tone that hearkens back to 1970s soul ballads, while the nearly 11-minute "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" glides along on Krautrock-like keyboards and features more fierce guitar work. This isn't to say that Wilco has abandoned its sense of melody and pop songcraft, it's just that the group has found new ways to express these aspects of its sound. A GHOST IS BORN continues Wilco's remarkable streak of innovative albums and upholds their reputation as one of America's most adventurous rock bands. minimize