• Record Label: Anti
  • Release Date: Sep 27, 2011
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 76
  2. Negative: 2 out of 76
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  1. Oct 31, 2011
    10
    Excrptional! I must confess that I thought the band's best days were behind them. While "Sky Blue Sky" and "Wilco (The Album)" were reasonably strong, I felt they were not up to the standards set by the previous albums that had me rating them the best and most important band in rock'n roll. Well now they are back and better then ever. The album opens with an instant classic in "Art ofExcrptional! I must confess that I thought the band's best days were behind them. While "Sky Blue Sky" and "Wilco (The Album)" were reasonably strong, I felt they were not up to the standards set by the previous albums that had me rating them the best and most important band in rock'n roll. Well now they are back and better then ever. The album opens with an instant classic in "Art of Almost" and just keeps going. Equally impressive are some of the rockers like "I Might", "Born Alone" and "Standing O". The album clses with another gem with the sprawling "One Sunday Morning" which punctuates Wilco's finest ever and the best album of 2011! Expand
  2. Sep 27, 2011
    10
    I love Wilco's last two albums, especially Sky Blue Sky, but I recognize that one of the greatest things about Wilco is their variety. And this album is really stunning. It's like a mix of all their greatest styles and melodies.
  3. j30
    Oct 28, 2011
    10
    The first great album of the new decade. An album, so diverse, you can't get it out of your head. Each time I listen to the album the more I respect it's musicianship and lyrics. From the muscle flexing "Art of Almost" to the epic beauty of "One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)", it's their most captivating album since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
  4. Sep 27, 2011
    10
    Honestly, I did not even know that Wilco was releasing a new album. I was on some website and read they were going to stream The Whole Love for 24 hours. Wellll ... ok! Not being very impressed with the releases after A Ghost is Born - I figured I'd stop after the 1st track. Nope! The "Art of Almost" grabbed a hold of me and did not let go until the last moment of the 12 minute closer "OneHonestly, I did not even know that Wilco was releasing a new album. I was on some website and read they were going to stream The Whole Love for 24 hours. Wellll ... ok! Not being very impressed with the releases after A Ghost is Born - I figured I'd stop after the 1st track. Nope! The "Art of Almost" grabbed a hold of me and did not let go until the last moment of the 12 minute closer "One Sunday Morning." I love this album and it continues to grow on me. Plus, I love that fact that it was recorded in their loft and it's the first release on their own record label. If you are an apprehension Wilco fan and haven't listened to The Whole Love I think you should give this one a shot! Expand
  5. Sep 30, 2011
    8
    The first song on the album will make the buy worth it. As a whole, it has some great moments, some average ones, and everything in between.
  6. Sep 27, 2011
    10
    Another brilliant album full of diverse exploratory rhythms and beats from Tweedy and the boys. I think HS really shines on the bass on this album and Nels on the art of almost is just mind numbingly sic.
  7. Sep 29, 2011
    9
    It really doesn't get much better; their best since A Ghost is Born. Tonnes to capture my ear, both production-wise and hooks-wise. Plus Tweedy's lyrics keep getting better. The last song is pretty long, but leave it out and you have a crisp, varied, catchy pop record with songs that immediately grab and others that take time to sink in. A very pleasant surprise.
  8. Oct 17, 2011
    10
    The Whole Love is Jeff does John, George and Paul, with some classic Wilco-sounding tracks thrown in to boot. This record has the consistency of YHF and the genre variety of Being There.
  9. Oct 4, 2011
    10
    The Whole Love is the finest release Wilco has ever produced. Tweedy is as assured a songwriter he has been since Jay Bennett left the band and finally followed his own muse without any pretentions or awkwardness. This record has more "pantheon" Wilco songs than any other album--as well as the finest deep tracks since YHF.
  10. Dec 30, 2011
    8
    It's hard not to like Wilco, and The Whole Love (one of the most anticipated, yet under-appreciated publicly albums of 2011) continues a tradition of releasing an album that refuses to disappoint, in what might be their boldest albums in years.
  11. Nov 6, 2011
    10
    hands down the best album of the year.. strikes from the first second and refuses to let go!
    the last song didn't really have to be 12 minutes, and while being great kind of sucks the life out of you with repetitiveness..
    but definitely a keeper
  12. Oct 17, 2011
    10
    La banda de rock alternativo de Chicago Wilco, ha triunfado indudablemente, en este álbum que evoca algo del "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", de entrada tenemos el tema "Art Of Almost" que de forma muy experimental parecen sonar como dos canciones diferentes pero que clavan una con la otra a la perfección, dando un tono mas intimo al album, como lo hiso "At Least That'sLa banda de rock alternativo de Chicago Wilco, ha triunfado indudablemente, en este álbum que evoca algo del "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", de entrada tenemos el tema "Art Of Almost" que de forma muy experimental parecen sonar como dos canciones diferentes pero que clavan una con la otra a la perfección, dando un tono mas intimo al album, como lo hiso "At Least That's What You Said" en A Ghost Is Born.
    Mi conclusión con respecto al álbum es que esta lleno de sonidos sorprendentes y demasiado innovadores y cuenta con elementos líricos y sonoros de sus anteriores albumes y si tu eres de esas personas a las que solo le agrado un álbum de Wilco, sin importar cual sea, este definitivamente te satisfará.
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  13. Sep 28, 2011
    10
    My favorite album from them since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Wasn't so sure at first, but it grew on me tremoundously. Will definately be playing consecutively in my ears for the next few days. I must say that after their past couple releases that I'm very impressed!
  14. Dec 14, 2011
    9
    I appreciate musicians that innovate and try new things, but itâ
  15. Sep 29, 2011
    8
    I will say this album is a good blend of previous albums of theirs fans enjoyed like Being There and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I thought Sky Blue Sky was consistent throughout with its sound but was not overwhelmed by it. I thought Wilco(The Album) was really bad and their worst ever. This album was a very important return for them in many ways. I really like Dawned on Me, Born Alone andI will say this album is a good blend of previous albums of theirs fans enjoyed like Being There and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I thought Sky Blue Sky was consistent throughout with its sound but was not overwhelmed by it. I thought Wilco(The Album) was really bad and their worst ever. This album was a very important return for them in many ways. I really like Dawned on Me, Born Alone and Open Mind. I also feel One Sunday Morning is one of Tweedy's best lyrical moments over the years. Too bad a fool like dat shrimp does not follow this band. Expand
  16. Oct 10, 2011
    10
    A very fine album indeed! Despite considering Wilco one of the best bands of these times, I was not particularly excited about this album. (likely due to their respectable, but not standout I.M.O. Wilco the Album) Nevertheless, The Whole Love is one of those albums that keeps getting better and better with each listen, and I don't plan on stop listening any time soon. Thanks Wilco.
  17. Oct 12, 2011
    10
    Great album. It's Wilco's "White Album" of sorts. It's filled with some of the best song writing Tweedy can deliver and the band lets loose on a few numbers ... wish maybe the band opened up a bit more, but no matter, this is a great album.
  18. Oct 25, 2011
    9
    Get the Deluxe version, for sure, it has extra songs well worth the couple bucks extra. Overall, an excellent album with at least 5 songs that are constantly on heavy rotation for me: Art of Almost, Born Alone, The Whole Love, One Sunday Morning, I might, Rising Red Lung ... and more. "I love my label" is tongue-in-cheek fun on the deluxe album.
  19. Sep 27, 2012
    8
    The most daring album Wilco has made since 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and arguably the best album with the current band lineup. However, I'd say Sky Blue Sky had the most unified album sound, but it cheated a bit, just like A Ghost is Born, by not having much composition build. Plus each song (with the exception of Impossible Germany) is not too memorable by itself. With Tweedy enteringThe most daring album Wilco has made since 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and arguably the best album with the current band lineup. However, I'd say Sky Blue Sky had the most unified album sound, but it cheated a bit, just like A Ghost is Born, by not having much composition build. Plus each song (with the exception of Impossible Germany) is not too memorable by itself. With Tweedy entering a later stage in his life, and being comfortable with it, we probably won't see the experimental Wilco of old ever again, but we shouldn't want to or need to. Tweedy is still writing lyrics as bold has his previous work and is showing to us a happier side of his life in this album and it's a joy to listen to. Expand
  20. Oct 13, 2012
    10
    Starting with one of the best songs ever heard, this albums overall is also one of the best albums I bought up to now. Sky blue Sky was a little disappointing after Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born but after Wilco and this one their back on track!
  21. Jul 25, 2015
    10
    Brilliant! I love Wilco, and it is wonderful to receive wonderful music year after year. The whole Love along with Sky Blue Sky are now my favorite albums. So so good!
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 40
  2. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. The Wire
    Dec 6, 2011
    80
    By unplugging the effects and simply playing, they sound re-energized. [Oct 2011, p.61]
  2. Magnet
    Nov 11, 2011
    50
    The Whole Love works best as aural comfort food.[#81, p. 60]
  3. Q Magazine
    Nov 8, 2011
    80
    A warm, spirited pop record that holds its own against everything else in their canon. [Nov. 2011, p. 134]