Wassaic Way

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Patrick Sansone are continuing their alliance with the Guthrie family. Here, they produce Sarah Lee Guthrie (Woody's granddaughter and Arlo’s daughter) and her husband, Johnny Irion, for a far more pop outing than the days of Mermaid Avenue, where the Wilco guys tried their best to re-create the earthy folk melodies that Woody stuck to in his life. Young Guthrie and her hubby are songwriters living in the 21st century. When they feel like being playful, they serenade their cat, “Chairman Meow,” for the album’s first single and leadoff track. “Not Feeling It” bounces with agitated notes demanding you pay attention. But best are the slower, more reflective tunes, such as “Sleep on It” (where the duo’s harmonies simmer on the surface), “Wherever She Is It's Spring” (which uses Wilco’s alt-county pedigree to set the scene up against their ‘70s pop chords), and “Still Dreaming” (where everyone agrees to enjoy the mellow reprieve before resuming the action).