The latest release from Chicago’s Mike Kinsella (American Football, Cap’n Jazz) as the acoustic guitar-driven outfit Owen is a limited-edition 7” single recorded by his cousin (and Joan of Arc bandmate) Nate Kinsella called “Abandoned Bridges.” On the flip side is a stripped-down version of Wilco’s Summerteeth rocker “I’m Always In Love” — one of my personal live faves from Owen’s fellow Chicagoans.

The song’s unforgettable melodic interludes, which are echoed in an otherworldly register on a keyboard in Wilco’s version, are a perfect match for Kinsella’s love for almost-overly repeated catchy riffs, as he brings the line back to earth with an elegant folk twist that creates a pause between the verses, adding greater pensive weight to Jeff Tweedy’s lyrics. One lyric gets a particularly long pregnant pause after Kinsella switches “I forget my mother” to “I forgive my father.” Pre-order the “Abandoned Bridges” vinyl (or buy the digital version) here, listen to the A-side over on MySpace, and hear Owen’s take on “I’m Always In Love” below:

For her afternoon set at Lollapalooza yesterday, Chicago’s own Mavis Staples was joined onstage by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, the producer of her new record, You Are Not Alone, and writer of two new songs on the album. We’ve already heard the Tweedy-penned title track, and now — thanks to YouTube’s okeastron2008 — a live preview of Staples singing the Wilco frontman’s “Only The Lord Knows” is available, as well.

Though Tweedy waited in the wings during that tune, Staples’ fellow Windy City area based singer sat in with the band for “You Are Not Alone” and a cover of John Fogerty’s Creedence Clearwater Revival song “Wrote A Song for Everyone,” offering a few backup vocals while strumming along on his 1950s Gibson acoustic. Check out 3 videos from the show below (photo by Spencer Tweedy):

Earlier this month, the title track off Mavis Staples’ forthcoming album, You Are Not Alone, (one of two new songs penned for the iconic singer by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy), premiered on Pitchfork. And though the inspirational tune seamlessly took its place among Staples’ timeless oeuvre, I couldn’t help but imagine the LP’s producer, Tweedy himself, joining the backup singers for one particularly clever turn of phrase: “Open up, this is a raid.” (An almost Sky Blue Sky-esque line, no?)

Thanks to fan site Wilco Club, we get to hear the tune from the always-fascinating Jeff Tweedy solo acoustic angle, and thanks to Anti- Records, Staples’ brilliant track is available to stream, as well. Hear both versions below:

Ever since news that Jeff Tweedy and the great Mavis Staples have teamed up for a new album hit in January, I’ve been (im)patiently awaiting further details on what this amazing pair cooked up in Wilco’s Chicago studio, The Loft. While we’re still dying to hear the first single, an excellent interview with Pitchfork today and subsequent album details announcement have certainly whet my appetite even further.

Staple’s Jeff Tweedy-produced LP, You Are Not Alone, features 2 brand new songs written by the Wilco frontman himself, as well as reinterpretations of 11 other tunes by the likes of Randy Newman, John Fogerty, Allen Toussaint, and others.

You Are Not Alone is set to drop on September 14 via Anti- Records, one month after her recently-booked performance at Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival in Massachusetts. Check out the full tracklist below (via Jambands):

Wilco stopped by the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson for the second time of the year tonight and played another pitch-perfect rendition of a cut off their latest album, Wilco (The Album). Whereas their last late-night performance featured what’s becoming a trademark Nels Cline guitar freakout coda for the song “One Wing,” Jeff Tweedy and the boys went mellow this time around, limiting Nels to his lap steel and mini Jerry Jones “Shorty” 12-string axe for a calm take on “Deeper Down,” which is faithful to the record. (Still can’t wait for their potentially “more jarring” follow-up, though.)

Watch Chicago’s own below (via TAP):

In addition to his legacy as a member of Wilco, particularly his formidable contribution to their breakthrough masterpiece, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and five solo LPs, Jay Bennett left behind one last solo album when he tragically died due to an accidental overdose of pain medication at the age of 45 last year. Though said record, Kicking at the Perfumed Air, was known to be in its final stages of completion at the time of his passing, its potential for an official release was uncertain. Until now…

Wilco’s plans to start recording their next album in January may have been delayed a bit due to Jeff Tweedy’s sessions for a forthcoming Mavis Staples album, but have no fear: a new record is still in the works for the Chicago alt-country rockers. In an interview with FasterLouder in Australia, where the band is currently on tour, bassist John Stirratt gave an update on Wilco’s tentative plans for their follow-up to last year’s Wilco (The Album).

“I thought the last record might have been more abrasive but I’d imagine our next one is going to be a lot more jarring I would say,” said Stirratt of LP8. Later he adds: