Wilco have been running for so long, have been so good, that there’s little that they haven’t done. Yet the masters of Americana have never really done much in the way of EPs, those releases that are shorter than a full-length, but more than a mere single. There have been some bonus EPs, but nothing truly stand-alone, until now – and of course Hot Sun Cool Shroud is great.
While more than a single, Hot Sun does start off with its semi-title track, “Hot Sun”, and it is the best on the six-song collection, great low-key Wilco press that also has frontman Jeff Tweedy’s wry smile. That wry smile comes to the fore with “Annihilation”, while the album ends with the sweet uplift of “Say You Love Me”.
Who knows what, if any, songs from Hot Sun Cool Shroud EP will make it into Wilco live shows (though you could say that about their regular full-lengths, this deep into their discography – though it’s not like their shows are short…). But this is a really nice snack from what of your favorite American musical restaurants.
