Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wake me up when Tweedy duets with Robert Owens on a Mr. Fingers track & adds a guest rap from Busta Rhymes. My plate is full.

― Mark, Tuesday, 14 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Nuts, another scott p.

― scott pl., Tuesday, 14 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Slate has a little review of YHF up, which doesn't say much of anything, but does have (windows media player) sound clips of some of the fuzzy electronica bits of the album:
http://slate.msn.com/? id=2065706
The highlight of the review for me is actually this little comment about tuna cans: Despite its oddball percussion track (were they hitting tuna cans?), "Kamera" is just a catchy traditional tune.
So far Kamera is my favorite song, especially the "you know it's not ok" and "time on my mind" chorus, while Jesus, etc. would have to be a close second.
I really can't stand Radio Cure though, so I'm interested to know why Yancey called it Jeff Tweedy's finest work so far. Whatever is in there, I'm just not hearing it.

― lyra in seattle, Tuesday, 14 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

To Scott Pl.

Well I kind of just leaped onto this board without invitation, if you are the Scott P. who came before me, I will happily fall back to the diminutive of my name!

Tom - thanks for the thoughts. I guess it is interesting, and I have to admit the Village Voice review touched on some thoughts that were in my subconscious. I still don't like the review, but I will admit the seeming "snowball effect" of rave reviews made me a little uneasy. I am, however, glad to see Wilco getting praise they deserve and if the critics are shouting too hard, it's kind of an "end justifies the means" type of deal for me.

Alex, glad you got the album. It's cool to see the reactions of people who just bought it. I really, really wish my first listen had been off the CD in my car, not streaming from the web in my office at work. I feel like I missed that one chance "first impression" in time forever! But the CD keeps getting better for me, that's the good news.

Cheers, scotty

― scotty, Tuesday, 14 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

I just got Yankee Hotel Foxtrot yesterday and heard it for the first time. I had read a lot about how it took multiple listens for this album to sink in, but I loved it instantly. I also loved Jim O'Rourke's Insignificance, so I was kind of prepared for this album and had high expectations, which were all exceeded.
I only have A.M. so I can't compare YHF to Summerteeth or Being There, but it definitely seems like a huge departure and improvement for Wilco (I'd say the difference between A.M. and YHF is comparable to that between Pablo Honey and Kid A).
Even with all its subtle experimentation, YHF sounds like it came from the late 60's or the 70's. Songs like Jesus, etc. and I'm the Man Who Loves You (the guitar on this reminds me of the Beatles) provide this feeling for me. Also, Tweedy's voice occassionaly reminds me of a cross between David Bowie and the lead singer from T. Rex, especially on Kamera (am I alone on this?).
I'm really loving the lyrics all over the album ("All my lies are always wishes", "I know I would die if I could come back new," "You're gonna lose, you have to lose, you have to learn how to die," "I've got reservations about so many things but not about you," etc.). Very poetic overall.
Jim O'Rourke's signature sound seems to be all over the album, judging by his solo work and Gastr Del Sol releases, which is a very positive thing in my book.
This will likely be my favorite album of the year. The minute the drums kicked in on I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, a huge grin emerged on my face and didn't leave until the album was over. It gave me the same tingly, invigorating feeling that only my favorite albums are capable of producing.

― lou, Tuesday, 14 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

the lead singer from T. Rex

Mark, you are referring to the sainted Marc Bolan. To me, Jeff Tweedy sounds like Jerry Garcia. A lot. Which is ok. I just got YHF a couple days ago myself, and find it to be pleasant, but I can't think of anything interesting to say about it. Yet.

― Sean, Tuesday, 14 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Actually my comment was directed at Lou.

― Sean, Tuesday, 14 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

He does sound a lot like Jerry Garcia sometimes. Especially on Jesus, etc.

― lou, Wednesday, 15 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Scott P.:

No, no, no. Sorry! Didn't mean to grumble -- I rarely have time to post as it is. No worries.

― scott pl., Wednesday, 15 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Check this out! From Dotmusic - this guy is ruthless:

"The fact that Wilco had to buy back their new album from an unimpressed record label - Reprise - only to then sell it back to, effectively, the same company, says it all.

The laughable lack of vision or interest in invention coruscating through towering leper colonies the world over cocoons these industry idiots, whose only concession to complexity is an expenses bill or a tax return.

'War On War' is the first single from that very spurned album, the rather brilliant and universally lauded 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot', which, remarkably, runs predecessor 'Summerteeth' pretty close on the wonderful barometer.

Naturally more accessible than sections of the album, 'War On War' is still full of atmospheric static, far-off melodic passages and juddering radio-wave distortion, yet retains a precise pop element that was clearly just too damn 'out-there' for a bunch of executives who should be shot."

- Ben Gilbert

But an interesting postscript is that Gilbert later (just today) reviewed Wilco's show at the Astoria - and was largely disappointed. It's too bad.. I think they are having trouble with the new material in a live format, and without Jay Bennett. And Tweedy supposedly gets gripped with intense stagefright before various shows.

― scotty, Wednesday, 15 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

me = stupid. My comment above should have read "I could've played that" not "I couldn't played that." Sheesh.

― Sean Carruthers, Sunday, 19 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

I did wind up getting this and it's a good album. BUT -- this is the first I've heard of Wilco and I'm kind of surprised how bland and dull the lyrics are. I really can't recall a memorable line, and I really don't get a sense of what the songs are "about" (even emotionally, really) except for "Heavy Metal Drummer". Still, I like the sound & there are some good melodies.

― Mark, Wednesday, 3 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

mark, I think these are his worst lyrics yet. if that helps any.

I love the song with the violin, I wish more of the record sounded that vital.

― Josh, Wednesday, 3 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Mark, the lyrics on YHF are truly awful. The snotty Wire kiss-off has a bit of relevancy in light of that, it's easy to imagine Tweedy having no greater lyrical ambition than setting weird phrases against each other (and no doubt trying to seem willfully obscurantist about Great Ideas). On the other hand, the Wire's overly effortful Coil concert review in the same issue is pretty laughable.

― Dare, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

ha the random phrases thing might come off better but it doesn't sound like that most of the time, it sounds like he wants to be MEANINGFUL and articulate DEEP AND REAL FEELINGS

― Josh, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'm liking this record more and more, but my original opinion of it not being overwhelming still stands

― Sean, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

I can't say anything about the lyrics, they seem to be deep, but I don't get them. A couple of days ago I bought "Summerteeth" which is at least as impressive as YHF, which I still love. Tweedy's voice sounds like Lennon's there in several songs. Wilco truly seem to be the American Beatles for me. Like the Beatles would have sounded after they broke up and if they would have been American. Amazing pop music. The tunes are very subtle and it always takes several listens to grasp them. And they seem so light. I guess Tweedy must have real problems to perform those intricate harmonies live.

― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

''I can't say anything about the lyrics, they seem to be deep, but I don't get them.''

HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! I am very 'deep' too. With my feelings of hetred towards Wico. What do you think is deep, then?

''Tweedy's voice sounds like Lennon's there in several songs. Wilco truly seem to be the American Beatles for me. Like the Beatles would have sounded after they broke up and if they would have been American. Amazing pop music. The tunes are very subtle and it always takes several listens to grasp them. And they seem so light.''

this is not good is it? They will beremembered by you as the 'American Beatles' but not as 'Wilco'. Nice!

― Julio Dsouza, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Take this:

I would like to salute
The ashes of American flags
And all the fallen leaves
Filling up shopping bags

I like it. But I don't understand what it means. Is it anti-American? Is it just trying to be clever? Or is it ironic, or a joke? Or is it pro-American in a subtle different way?

― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

'The ashes of american flags.' well, that is anti-american. 'Shooping bags' reference= commercialism.

It's anti-american but that's so easy really to attack america. What's the big deal?

― JUlio Desouza, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

the american beatles? hahaha. cf. simon reynolds on the giant corpse of rock n roll. rather than just fucking that corpse, wilco are trying to look tough and real and pretty and cool and meaningful all at once so that the corpse will come over and fuck THEM

only the corpse isn't going for it

― Josh, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Josh, when did you join my cult?

― Melissa W, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

What are you on about, Josh? Compared to your last post Tweedy's lyrics are lucid as the light of the morning sun. If Wilco were not the Beatles reborn on American ground who would be the American Beatles then, according to you? Don't say Big Star. Their music has aged so badly. The quality of the tunes of Wilco makes the Beatles comparison inevitable. Especially on Summerteeth.

― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

it's quite lucid, you just didn't get it.

'if they aren't the american beatles, then who would be?' is a v. v. poor reason to think that there is an american beatles anyway. if you think about it you'll see that my comment had something to do with wilco's relationship with tradition, a tortured and overly self-conscious one that I just don't hear in the beatles (until the white album ha but it's a different matter there). this relationship comes through in the way tweedy's songs are written, too - I don't think I would think he had such a troubled relationship with tradition if he was a better songwriter, but he's not. (which sort of blows a lennon/mccartney - tweedy songwriting comparison, so, like, american beatles, what the fuck?)

― Josh, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

mel, I just got sick of wincing at every lyric I heard.

also if he keeps kicking out people who can write better melodies than him...

― Josh, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

so, like, american beatles, what the fuck?

Quite. The question as a larger one is a bit strange anyway. Who the hell cares if there is an American Beatles or not? Why bother? Leave that for the fetishists.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

''Leave that for the fetishists.''

Or music journalists.

― Julio Desouza, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Woohoo!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

wilco's relationship with tradition, a tortured and overly self- conscious one that I just don't hear in the beatles
The early Beatles were just quite an average rock n roll band rooted deeply in tradition with some nice tunes. If you look at the early Wilco which was very country there is another parallel actually. Both the Beatles and Wilco then developed their own style. The Beatles style was probably more original but the "corpse of rock" was much smaller at their time so they had more freedom and could shape the things to come. The main difference between the two I can see is that the Wilco tunes are more difficult to remember, they are not as universal, but I wouldn't hold that against them. Almost on the contrary as their music takes more time to sink into the ear of the listener which I find a good thing. And you are absolutely right that they are eclectic but in their eclecticism they create something refreshingly new. Like Ryan Adams and probably even more so. Tell me one band of today with a similarly strong songwriting (I mean the musical part here). Of course there doesn't need to be an American Beatles but I'd guess the question which band would come closest is legitimate.

― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

'similarly strong songwriting': most of the bands I like much that write 'songs' are better songwriters than jeff tweedy haha

― Josh, Thursday, 4 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

most of the bands I like much that write 'songs' are better songwriters than jeff tweedy
who are those bands then, josh? you don't like tweedy, big deal, but why are you so bloody destructive here? and please don't ha-ha again, as that does not help in this discussion. arguments please!
― alex in mainhattan, Friday, 5 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link