The Autumn Defense

The Autumn Defense (Broadmoor)

By Jonathan Shipley
Published: January 15th, 2007 | 5:53pm

Even the album cover, like the music, is a throwback of sorts to the great pop melodies of the ‘60s and ‘70s. John Stirratt and Pat Sansone stare seriously at the camera lolling within what looks like the cloister of a monastery. It’s a photo one might see on a Simon & Garfunkel album, which makes sense, since their influence is apparent all over the album. With some Bread, Beach Boys, and Beatles thrown into the mix, The Autumn Defense is a quietly assuring album that’ll take a couple of listens for a full appreciation.

Fronted by Stirratt, longtime member of Wilco and formerly Uncle Tupelo, who collaborates with multi-instrumentalist Sansone, who has worked with Joseph Arthur among others, the two worked on the record through the torturous Wilco touring schedule. It’s been four years since their last album, Circles, and seven since their first release, The Green Hour, and this maturation shows in the elegant simple tunes, complete now with string and woodwind arrangements.

The quietude and laid-back feel of the whole album makes the songs run together like a slow melodic stream. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’ll take a few listens for songs to emerge (“Estate Remains,” “Simple Explanation”) and shape themselves like sonic stones that listeners can stand on and enjoy the music cascading around them.