Preview the new Wilco CD today -- see details below:

Another Wilco album leaked online

By Jonathan Cohen
Fri Mar 9, 9:29 PM ET

NEW YORK (Billboard) - In what is becoming an unfortunate tradition, Wilco's new album, "Sky Blue Sky," has leaked online, more than two months prior to its May 15 release date.

The group's 2002 album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" was online for nine months before it was eventually released in stores, and 2004's "A Ghost Is Born" also hit the Internet well before street date. In the latter instance, Wilco fan site http://www.Justafan.org asked fans who had downloaded the album early to donate money to Doctors Without Borders, a fund which eventually grew to $15,000.

"There's probably some good argument to be made that (the latest online leak) will prevent a few people from buying the record," Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy told Billboard. "But there's also the idea that I believe is true for us, which is, it's people listening to our music."

"We feel very proud of our record and we want people to hear it. Ultimately, that's the goal," he continued. "I think most people will do the right thing and support us and buy the record, even if they have downloaded it."

Added bassist John Stirratt: "Frankly, I would like to have people get a head start on knowing the material before we come to whatever town they live in."

To stem the tide, the group will stream "Sky Blue Sky" from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. ET Sunday on its official Web site: http://www.wilcoworld.net

"We've always viewed the whole thing as similar to radio," Wilco manager Tony Margherita said. "We were prepared for it to leak as soon as the first advance CD went out. That's just part and parcel of the deal. As with previous records, our plan was and is to give people another way to hear the record besides the download, since these often sound like crap and are a pain in the ass for people who don't have a lot of time or are not super tech-savvy."

Wilco will get busy on the road beginning April 16 in Brisbane, Australia.

Reuters/Billboard

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[bigred]Standard Edition (1 CD)[/bigred]
[lilred]May 15, 2007[/lilred]



Amazon.com
After their wild experimental streak of the past decade, Wilco's sixth studio album might feel like a bit of a comedown. Sky Blue Sky is mellow, moody, and uncharacteristically monotone, opening with a pleasant jangle and Jeff Tweedy singing a simple song: "Maybe the sun will shine today, the clouds will blow away." He doesn't even follow it up with a barbed punchline. Could it be that the restless Chicago band has settled back into its gentle Americana roots--or does this sudden mid-career reappraisal represent Wilco's gutsiest move yet? Mostly written in the studio by the full band, it's certainly the group's most cohesive album in ages, presenting a dense song cycle padded with intricate guitar work, brushed rhythms, and '70s soft-rock accents. In places it sounds like Wings ("Hate It Here"), in others Harry Nilsson ("Walken"), and in the middle it goes a bit Grateful Dead ("Shake It Off"). At the same time, there's a distinct sense of hearing a band finally at ease in its own skin. Sky Blue Sky represents the sound of Wilco finally pulling through its petulant adolescence.

Product Description
"Sky Blue Sky" has hints of early-seventies Southern California folk-rock sweetness in the harmonies. The album is filled with brash guitar solos that take songs like "You Are My Face" and "Shake It Off" in unexpected directions.

1. Either Way 3:06
2. You Are My Face 4:37
3. Impossible Germany 5:57
4. Sky Blue Sky 3:22
5. Side with the Seeds 4:15
6. Shake It Off 5:40
7. Please Be Patient with Me 3:17
8. Hate It Here 4:30
9. Leave Me (Like You Found Me) 4:09
10. Walken 4:26
11. What Light 3:35
12. On and On and On 4:01

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVIGC0/?tag=imwan-20

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[bigred]Deluxe Edition (1 CD/1 DVD)[/bigred]
[lilred]May 15, 2007[/lilred]



The Deluxe Edition includes a bonus DVD, which contains more than 45 minutes of footage of the band performing songs from Sky Blue Sky. The DVD also contains interview segments with all six band members. The film was directed by Christoph Green and Fugazi's Brendan Canty, the creators of the Jeff Tweedy solo concert film, Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the acclaimed documentary series, Burn to Shine.

Bonus DVD contains:

1. Intro
2. Sky Blue Sky
3. Impossible Germany
4. Please Be Patient With Me
5. Shake It Off
6. Walken
7. What Light
8. Side With The Seeds
9. Hate It Here
10. Credits

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P6R6X8/?tag=imwan-20

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[bigred]Tour Edition (2 CDs - UK Import)[/bigred]
[lilred]December 12, 2007[/lilred]



(Edited to add details provided by calijawn)

The "tour edition" of the album features studio takes on "The Thanks I Get", "Let's Not Get Carried Away", and "One True Vine", plus live renditions of "Impossible Germany" and "Hate It Here" recorded in September at the Fillmore in Denver. It'll be available commercially in stores all throughout the UK and Europe from Nonesuch December 12.

"Sky Bonus Sky" bonus CD contains:

01 The Thanks I Get
02 Let's Not Get Carried Away
03 One True Vine
04 Impossible Germany (live)
05 Hate It Here (live)

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WTNCBI/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000WTNCBI/?tag=imwan-21

This is interesting, because Wilcoworld already streamed it a week or two ago. Today is the 2nd time they are doing this.
It wasn't "leaked".
In any case, I heard it then and it sounds like a great album. Very laid back, but much fuller than A Ghost Is Born (but nothing rocks like Spiders). Nice to have Nels on a studio album.

I'll wait until May 15 to give the album a listen. Since I know I'll pick it up anyway, there's no need to listen early. Too many other albums to enjoy now.

Guess it shouldn't really be a surprise... this has also occurred with the past couple of Wilco albums. Details courtesy of Pitchfork:

Whatever your take on it (and there are many) Wilco's Sky Blue Sky certainly leaves any listener wanting a bit more. And more is just what European Wilco fans will get next month, when Sky Blue Sky is amended with five new bonus tracks.

The "tour edition" of the album features studio takes on "The Thanks I Get", "Let's Not Get Carried Away", and "One True Vine", plus live renditions of "Impossible Germany" and "Hate It Here" recorded in September at the Fillmore in Denver. It'll be available commercially in stores all throughout the UK and Europe from Nonesuch December 12.

But worry not, Sky-gazers-- if you live outside the UK and have already forked over the cash for your piece of the Sky, the band will issue download instructions for the bonus tracks to you shortly. (The UK is an exception due to their laws requiring an encoding of the necessary technology along with the disc to enable free downloads. Yeah, we're a little confused, too.)

Sky Bonus Sky:

01 The Thanks I Get
02 Let's Not Get Carried Away
03 One True Vine
04 Impossible Germany (live)
05 Hate It Here (live)

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Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WTNCBI/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000WTNCBI/?tag=imwan-21