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Wilco

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2002
Nonesuch

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Cover Artwork)

Review by: GREG6711
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Published on February 13th 2004

Wilco is a band that has been around for a while, and this new cd is their 4th release. Warner Bros dropped the band when they heard the demo tapes. lt was too "uncommerical". Wilco decided to post it on their website and let the listeners decide.

Here is a breakdown of my 5 favorite tracks from the cd.

So the cd begins with
1. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart - for at least 30 seconds there is just scattered noises, electronic jagged piano. The Jeff Tweedy's voice is very jagged itself. He starts singing his metaphorical lyrics about his love for his girl. He can't disern whether or not he is in love, and he is full of contradictions. In one sense he loves her, but he wants to break her heart, (obviously). This cd starts the beginning of the confusing mind of Jeff Tweedy. Of course when the two lovers seperate, the pain enters.

2. Kamera - More of a classical guitar rocking song. Why it's spelled with a K, I have no idea. So much of what's wrong is unseen, so even when he looks to his family or friends, things are not okay. I love the way he uses the kamera as an idea that our eyes are storing pictures of pain, rather than latent images.

5. War on War - at a first glance it might be seen as a protestor anthem, based upon Wilco's far left politics. However, the simple lyrics, and general thoughts on the song just make you realize that it's much more important than that. It's as if he's saying we are always at war trying to be be happy, fighting off out demons, or trying to make ourselves happy, instead of embracing of the messed up emotions we have. "You're gonna, you have to lost, you have to learn how to die, if you wanna wanna be alive." I don't know if there is more of a mature look at seeing the crisises in our life like that.

8. I'm the man who loves you - great song about his love for a woman and so many of the emotions felt, that are expressed. "All I can see is black & white & white & pink And play it to blue Then lay between the words I think That picture that i was meaning to send her." It says a lot about trying to let someone know how you feel, and being unable to get your busy mind across.

It's great when simple ideas like this are great works of art, simply because I can think of all those horrible bands who try to do this with catchy hooks, catchy beats and catchy lyrics, and in a laughable way, they miss the whole emotion....it becomes about pride, not about love.

Anyway, if you still think the new Simple Plan CD deserves more awards than this CD, hear me out for one more song...

Jesus etc. - In a cynical society, where we scrutinize each other over every sentence, as many of you will do while reading this review, sometimes it's just obvious that the music has no passion. The best example is the world portrayed by Radiohead. While Radiohead certainly does not want the cold, sterile world that it fears from the corporate, greed-for-the-sake-of-greed human right violaters. It is sadly a false image too many view as true.

Wilco, while certainly singing with his heart on his sleeve, and mind on his uncertainly seems to imply that he still sees beauty in this world. His lyrics suggest his dedication to Christ even though the world around him is secular. Jesus, don't cry You can rely on me honey You combine anything you want I'll be around You were right about the stars Each one is a setting sun Tall buildings shake Voices are scared Singing sad sad songs Two two chords Strung down your cheeks Bitter melodies Turning your orbit around To sum the CD in total, it is very slow. In fact, I would go as hard as to say the majority of songs are a mangle of unclear messages, ugly noises for the beginning of most songs, still all the songs come together to a point of crystalization. I don't like all the songs, but none of them feel rushed, none feel pretencious, none feel superficial. Jeff Tweedy isn't afraid of staying things that cause controversy like the love of his country, and the love of God. This CD is a concept CD, not lyrically, but musically. The first several songs are about the confusion Tweedy roams in his life. There is just so much to deal with. The next 4-6 are about accepting the suffering and living in humility, because it's the only way to be alive. From there it becomes more complicated, but it suggests unsung love, where love is not recipicated.

The album ends with Reservations. A great song about how despite all the turmoil and uncertainly love is clear, and it is real. It has religious implications, or could it be a love a song, or even an acknowledgement of the power of the human spirit?

This CD ends on a good note, and just for the record, many consider this the best cd of the 2000's so far, and I am not sure I agree but it's certainly in my top 3. I just hope come 2010, Radiohead doesn't get another 1st place for the best of the 2000s with Kid A.

You probably won't listen to this with friends, it isn't going to get you wild for a show, but it will bring you spiritually to a new world of creativity and bold realism. Listen to this CD, you'll love it.

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Posted by jimmyarndt on 2004-02-19 18:32:34
My Score:

when are people going to learn that you don't write reviews featuring lists of songs? have you ever seen that in a real music magazine? no, because it sucks, and makes for a shitty read. so to sum it all up, stop doing it, everyone.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 8:47 PM (EST)
My Score:

I just saw the guy who posted below me giving head on my street corner for coffee money.

Posted by mikeinflames on 2004-02-17 14:57:05
My Score:

I've seen Wilco live like 3 times
Not out of choice ... they were opening for bands I went to see
And they blow ass
They play shitty folk country crap
Why is this on this site?

Posted by greg6711 on 2004-02-15 16:59:30
My Score:

I just wonder if they would let me review Rufus Wainwright,

Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2004-02-15 11:51:04
My Score:

For the record, I wasn't complaining like a bitch about this being punknews.org and that this shouldn't be here. I was, in fact, making an ironic statement alluding the my perceived onslaught of such comments and, in essence, I was calling those people total fucking dorks for complaining about which reviews show up on which website. Retards.

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-02-15 03:07:06
My Score:

"This is the best CD I've ever bought. Fuck you, pop punk emo pussies."

Haha, this is the kind of comment I'd expect under a Hatebreed review. This score is for toughguy hardcore fans broadening their horizons.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 10:25 PM (EST)
My Score:

My spider senses are tingling...

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 12:54 PM (EST)
My Score:

"but there is a reason why people like pitchforkmedia.com, who actually do know quality music, rate a cd like this so high"

Hey don't you know that Pitchfork reviewers don't like music...

Posted by hungryjoe on 2004-02-14 12:02:28
My Score:

I didn't really like Summerteeth. Being There is good, but miles behind YHF.

Posted by squirrelbait on 2004-02-14 04:46:20
My Score:

"Also, I was just wondering, mostly because I am surprised by the open-mindedness to this band, how do the other cds compare to this?"

I only have the two albums before YHF, which are Being There and Summerteeth.

Being There is a double album, which is less experimental, but also really good. Summerteeth is also great and a little bit more experimental as far as weird sounds go. If you love YHF, you'll at leasts like the other two.

My favorite is YHF, then Being There and then Summerteeth.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 2:21 AM (EST)
My Score:

It only took your asses two fucking years to discover this masterpiece. This is the best CD I've ever bought. Fuck you, pop punk emo pussies.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 14, 2004 at 1:10 AM (EST)
My Score:

Wilco are a good band, however you would be better off buying the new Weakerthans CD.. Samson is a better writer then Tweedy

Posted by greg6711 on 2004-02-13 23:53:25
My Score:

I am a tolerate person,
and I love to hear everyone's opinion, but there is a reason why people like pitchforkmedia.com, who actually do know quality music, rate a cd like this so high.

You can disagree whether you like it or not, but you can like any piece of art, determine if it stands as a piece of beauty or a piece of shit.

it's nice that people want this to be a punk music place, whatever that is, but look.
you get your same bands that sound the same all the time
It's nice to have a band like Wilco here sometimes.

Posted by Wooderson on 2004-02-13 23:09:58
My Score:

This album is really fucking good and I'm glad to see that lots of people that check out this site agree. But I had to do a double take when i seen this under the reviews. Never though I would see wilco reviewed on punknews.org

Non the less...very awesome all around

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 8:41 PM (EST)
My Score:

"I mean, I am glad people here listen to other things other than punk, but is this the place for it?"

Without other influences there will not be so many great bands. Punks will find out about a band and give them a shot. This will hopefully result in a unique and interesting sound, thus giving the masses better music. Take psychobilly for example. It a merge of rockabilly and punk and it sounds great. Plus, alot of punks like them, thus have bands like the Horrorpops be reviewed.

Posted by dignin on 2004-02-13 20:38:03
My Score:

"I mean, I am glad people here listen to other things other than punk, but is this the place for it? I wrote a similar response under the Superdrag review."

yes

I think its good to keep everyone's mind open to other kinds of independant music, and even some major label stuff.

Posted by dignin on 2004-02-13 20:36:29
My Score:

My favorite songs on this disc are pot kettle luck and jesus ETC.

I don't really have a #1 from 2003 but these are my top albums from 2003.

Blood Brothers-Burn Piano Island, Burn
The Shins-Chutes Too Narrow
Cursive-The Ugly Organ
Cat Power-You Are Free
Radiohead-Hail to the Thief
The Unicorns-Who Will Cut Our Hair When We?re Gone.
The Postal Service-Give Up
The Weakerthans-Reconstruction Site
Black Eyes-10 Songs

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 7:40 PM (EST)
My Score:

Never thought I'd actually agree with RealPunx4Life, but yeah. Great band, great disc, but come on fellas... The address I typed into my address bar was punknews.org, not nodepression.net. I mean, I am glad people here listen to other things other than punk, but is this the place for it? I wrote a similar response under the Superdrag review.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 5:08 PM (EST)
My Score:

Was the best album of 2002. Best album (so far) of the young decade. This band just keeps getting better; progression on full throttle. And now, with the wackery of Jim O'Rourke behind the knobs and giving insight, as producer/mixer of the forthcoming 'W*lco Happens' (tentative title), I can only only imagine the results.

By the by, I never dish out five stars. ButI firmly declare this record deserves every lauditory, cream your shorts comment it receives.

Classic.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 4:35 PM (EST)
My Score:

worste.review.ever.

Posted by greg6711 on 2004-02-13 16:27:13
My Score:

What would you put as number one, in fact tell me your list, it's hard to find people here with good indie taste.

Also, to stay on task, what is your fav. song from this cd?

Posted by dignin on 2004-02-13 15:48:40
My Score:

I would put the shins in my top ten, but defiantly not #1.

Posted by greg6711 on 2004-02-13 15:44:57
My Score:

"This CD ends on a good note, and just for the record, many consider this the best cd of the 2000's so far, and I am not sure I agree but it's certainly in my top 3. I just hope come 2010, Radiohead doesn't get another 1st place for the best of the 2000s with Kid A."

I forgot to add that I am referring to pitchforkmedia.com, and how they rated OK Computer by RAdiohead as the number 1 cd of the 90s,
Also, I think its crap that they placed Wilco's cd as the 2nd best of 2002 and instead put Interpol's at number 1.

Also, I love the way pitchforkmedia.com reviews the Top 50 cds of 2003, and yet punknews.org only does 20. Oh well, at least you hear 3 main perspectives as well as many, many comments.

too bad no one here thought the Shins were the best of 2003.

Posted by greg6711 on 2004-02-13 15:28:17
My Score:

To the two comments below me, thank you for correctly that for me, there is bound to be a few inconstiences.

Also, I was just wondering, mostly because I am surprised by the open-mindedness to this band, how do the other cds compare to this?

Also, to the person who commented this isn't for punknews.org, that may be true..but what genre does cd falls under.....
experimental country?

I am honestly not sure, but i am glad that Scott posted it here.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 1:12 PM (EST)
My Score:

"Wilco, while certainly singing with his heart on his sleeve, and mind on his uncertainly seems to imply that he still sees beauty in this world. His lyrics suggest his dedication to Christ even though the world around him is secular."

I hate to be picky but Wilco is not a he - Jeff Tweedy is the singer and primary lyricist.

n

Posted by squirrelbait on 2004-02-13 13:09:31
My Score:

"Warner Bros dropped the band when they heard the demo tapes."

Not exactly. They actually heard the (nearly) finished album, which makes it even more stupid.

Also, buy (or download, whatever) that Wilco DVD (I am trying to break your heart). It's about the making of this album and the struggles within the band as well as with Reprise Records. Also a must-have, just like this album.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 12:33 PM (EST)
My Score:

I love this cd. Makes me feel so good

Sara( no h)

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 11:29 AM (EST)
My Score:

Wilco is a good band, but man some of their stuff just bores the shit outta me....

Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2004-02-13 10:56:37
My Score:

This is a great record, but... Here we go again.

WILLKO R NT 4 PUNX!!!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 10:38 AM (EST)
My Score:

I am the man who loves you is such a great song.

Posted by Mr_Pink on 2004-02-13 10:22:56
My Score:

Great album. Not everything hits the bullseye for me but the last two songs on there are just way beyond cool.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 at 10:20 AM (EST)
My Score:

great album. can't wait until the new one comes out.

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