Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
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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
one month passes...
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
Josh is saying tweedy isn't a good songwriter. I mean, he isn't (to
me) but then that's just my opinion. You can't prove it and i can't
analyse his songwriting and then after that come up with a reason of
why he's shit (it's a pity).
― Julio Desouza, Friday, 5 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
you read my weblog, alex, I'm sure you're familiar with my likes. notably one of them is a band you despised when you sampled their last album, the dismemberment plan.
I don't think I'm being 'destructive', but you're probably a little sensitive about people hating on your music, which is understandable. I've been thinking about the lame lyrics on YHF for a while, so I'll try to write something about them soon. just for you.
― Josh, Friday, 5 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
I realize reading this that it's very difficult to say why one set of
pseudo-random strung-together phrases works while another doesn't.
YHF seems so boring lyrically, but my favorite lyricist is probably
David Berman and I could see him getting similar complaints.
― Mark, Friday, 5 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
I've been thinking about the lame lyrics on YHF for a while, so
I'll try to write something about them soon. just for you.
Thank you Josh. But you know Wilco is not only about the lyrics. When
I like music I usually like it for the music and not for the lyrics
in the beginning. I only start listening to the lyrics when I really
dig the music. With Wilco I have started trying to understand what
Tweedy sings about but I didn't go very far yet. My feeling is that
his lyrics are rather vague and allow many different interpretations.
But even if the lyrics were utter shite I would still love Wilco.
― alex in mainhattan, Saturday, 6 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Just a note, Julio:
I'm not sure that that is an anti-American lyric. He's paying homage
to all the felled patriots, those who have burned up for the Flag;
supposedly its a tetchy subject with Patriot Americans (the Burning
of the Flag). He's taking this tetchyness, and saying Fuck You! to
the burners. I'll salute the flag anyway. Even more so than that,
I'm gonna come out an explicitly say it here, right now - not just
think it.
It's also a kinda Wonder Years Nostalgia lyric, you can just imagine
a bag full of leaves, ashed flag, jolly ranchers wrapper, lying at
the bottom of Kevin's drive, Super 8 all over you *boink*.
The shopping bags ref. could also be a passing hint at American
Beauty shopping bag/American Dream, dissolution of theme. Just a
nod.
But I don't think it is Anti-American. It doesn't fit with what the
Josh is saying, with whom I agree to an extent (though I like the
album).
― david h(owie), Saturday, 6 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Thank you David, that makes a lot of sense to me. When reading your
post I immediately thought that saluting the fallen leaves in
shopping bags could also mean saluting the American soldiers who died
in a war (no specific one) whose corpses are then flown back to the
States in these huge plastic bags. How are they called again?
― alex in mainhattan, Saturday, 6 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Alex- body bags.
Having seen American Beauty, the shopping bag lyrics just
remind me of the boy's video in the movie. Regardless of
whether Jeff Tweedy was just tossing together words (which
personally I suspect he was), this lyric from I Am Trying to Break
Your Heart makes so little sense that I love it:
You're quite a
quiet domino bury me now Take off your band-aid cuz I don't
believe in touchdowns.
― lyra in seattle, Saturday, 6 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Tweedy had a solo version of sunken treasure with that arrangement from early 2000, but I hadn’t heard the full band accompaniment (or I probably have and age is doing its thing :/)
― KPH, Friday, 7 October 2022 22:17 (one year ago) link
seven months pass...
It's crazy how the skyline in NYC looks exactly like the cover art for YHF but without the need for filters or anything else. Stay indoors if you can.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 7 June 2023 19:38 (ten months ago) link
looks exactly like the western U.S. every August/September for the past 5-7 years, too.
― alpine static, Wednesday, 7 June 2023 22:33 (ten months ago) link
Pictures of Marina Towers here today would capture a near-cloudless sky blue sky.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 7 June 2023 22:39 (ten months ago) link
xp i know my last comment was annoying. forgive me. i kept it off social media all day and let it slip here.
hope it clears out soon, east coast.
― alpine static, Thursday, 8 June 2023 00:09 (ten months ago) link
five months pass...
!
thanks for the heads up
― tylerw, Thursday, 16 November 2023 22:17 (five months ago) link
Thanks!
― Indexed, Thursday, 16 November 2023 22:59 (five months ago) link