Photo by Peter Crosby
Wilco, the iconic indie rock band, have released their newest song, “Cousin,” the title track from their forthcoming album, set to release on Sept. 29 via dBpm Records.
The song, which follows the lead single “Evicted,” details a fight with a family member but with a twist—a refusal to engage in hostility. Instead, the narrator embraces their familial opponent in an embrace while stating, “My cousin/ I’m you.” Over euphonous strings and a marching beat frontman Jeff Tweedy channels his emotions into the song, airing grievances with lines like, “When your red lines/ Get crossed with mine/ I object to you/ Our deal’s un-struck.” However, as the song continues to build he doesn’t shy away from the realization that one often despises in others what they despise in themselves, adding “It never hurts to cry.”
Produced by the talented Welsh artist Cate Le Bon, Cousin represents a significant change for Wilco as it marks the first time in over a decade that they’ve handed over the reins to a producer outside their immediate circle of collaborators. Tweedy, reflecting on the album’s themes, revealed, “I’m cousin to the world. I don’t feel like I’m a blood relation, but maybe I’m a cousin by marriage. It’s this feeling of being in it and out of it at the same time.”
Later this month, Wilco are set to embark on a North American tour, which includes a newly announced second show at the Bellwether in Los Angeles, along with three nights at the historic Ace Hotel, two nights in Seattle, and stops in cities like Dallas, Denver, and St. Louis. In December, Wilco will make their return to Mexico for the Wilco-curated Sky Blue Sky festival. Additionally, the band has just announced their return to Australia and Japan.
Along with the highly anticipated new album, Tweedy is set to release a book titled WORLD WITHIN A SONG: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music, published by Penguin Random House’s Dutton on Nov. 7. The book, available for pre-order, provides unique insights into Tweedy’s musical journey and is accompanied by a book tour from Nov. 5 to 13.
Listen to Wilco’s “Cousin” below.
[embedded content]