The Autumn Defense
The Green Hour
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The Autumn Defense
The Green Hour
Broadmoor, 2001
RiYL: Wilco, Son Volt, Brian Wilson |
Look no further than The Green Hour, the debut album by the Autumn Defense, Wilco bassist John Stirratt's side-project. No country on this album either, folks. In fact, Stirratt should have called it Summerteeth-lite because the record is laced with so many Brian Wilson-esque hooks and Lennon-ish introspective lyrics that most of its tracks sound like outtakes from Wilco's 1999 slickly-polished opus.
Starting from the catchy but repetitive "Long Forgotten Love" right to the soothing closer "Put on the Ground," The Green Hour borrows so much from Wilco's new sound that it's a wonder why Stirratt would even consider calling it a side-project.
Of course, that's not mean that The Green Houris a bad record, because it's not. If anything, Stirratt proves here he is a capable and consistent songwriter in his own right, and maybe he is the one who's been listening to Pet Sounds over and over again, forcing Wilco to take more of a pop sound.
Some of the songs are such obvious tributes to Brian Wilson that its almost ridiculous. "Make It Through the Summer" is the most deliberate, and the simple stop-start of "Five Full Paces" also derives its hook from the crazed Beach Boy genius as well.
But the album does contain a few gems, too. The pensive, almost Ben Folds Five-y "Recuperating From The War" finds Stirratt in a reflective mood, while the aforementioned "Five Full Paces" maybe the catchiest song this side of Wilco's "Can't Stand It."
The album's two standouts, though, are the stirring acoustic numbers "Wellspring" and "Nothin' At All." Both are simple tunes: strumming, cascading guitars, playing the same two chords over and over again. Repetitive, yes, but who cares, it works. I could play these songs, which is a good thing. Like nothing Jeff Tweedy writes isn't repetitive.
But, let's be fair. John Stirratt ain't no Jeff Tweedy. The Green Hour does demonstrate that Stirratt is a creative force on his own, but it's a good thing he's got that Wilco thing going on also.
RODEO ROB | An expert on all things "alt," Rob spends his days covering the energy industry and his nights covering the DC-area bars. Raise yer glass especially high to this man, for he has contributed to this site constantly since its creation four years ago.