By Annie Filer

Wilco
Chicago-based Alternative rock band
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot – Length 57:57
4^th Album by Wilco
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, Art Rock, Experimental Rock
Self-released: September 18, 2001 on their website
Label Release: April 23, 2002 on Nonesuch
Producer: Wilco
Awards: Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album (2005)
Nominations: Grammy Award for Best Rock Album (2012, 2018) Grammy Award for Beast Americana Album (2010) Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album (2000)
Website: wilcoworld.net
www.facebook.com/wilcohq/

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
So, this album was pretty difficult to release back in 2001. The production company did not like it – it sounded “too different” than anything else Wilco had previously recorded, “too unified” to be even broken up for airplay (too big of a risk – or that is my take on the situation). Okay, Reprise Records – another Warner Music Group label – go ahead and make a silly mistake. They sold the rights to the album to Wilco when they left the label. And the rest is really beautiful history!

On September 18, 2001, in order to discourage the illegal streaming of their music (or MP3s), the band released the album on their official website for free, as they searched for a new label. Which in 2001 was considered a pretty radical idea. They were certainly ahead of the curve – pioneers so to speak.

Spring of 2002, the band finally signed with Nonesuch Record – another subsidiary of Warner – and they released the album April 23, 2002 and that turned out to be a mighty good move on Wilco’s part! Stats on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot after their “mainstream” release:

• Reached number 13 on the Billboard 200, Wilco’s highest chart position on record;
• Sold over 590,000 copies; and to date, remains Wilco’s best-selling album;
• Reaching critical acclaim – Best Album of 2002 (as in #1)
• Top 10 Albums of the 2000’s at #6
• May 2012, Rolling Stone rated it the Top 500 Albums of all time at #493;
• Top Ranked Album of All Time at #46

Listening to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was an absolute delicacy. When I mentioned that this was reviewing this Wilco album I got a lot of “wow, that’s heavy” and “That is the best music Wico has ever made available….it’s the only album of theirs I listen to anymore.” Or, “that is the one album that I never really understood.” Okay, I hear you friends. But I really loved it. Yes, the music has a lot of dissonance and disconnected chords throughout – but the music comes together beautifully with a lot of determination and great chords that really do work, especially the second listen. I love the strings and the percussion. Listen to the words of expectation and possibility. Just listen to this album in one sitting, you can tell this was a work of experimental love, devotion – even hope. And it works. You too will add it to your favorites list. I know I have!

Here we are today, in 2017, living in a very emotionally disconnected world – by our phones, our earbuds, how we travel, how we communicate – texting, emailing, skyping…..the impossibility of how these music and lyrics written at the new millennium fits into today so well. 2000 to 2017. Timeless lyrics, timeless music. Could Wilco be the soothsayers of our time (at least through Yankee Hotel Foxtrot?) You tell me.

Interesting Factoid:  Had Reprise Records released Yankee Hotel Foxtrot on time, it was slated to be released on September 11, 2001. Sit and listen very closely to the words to songs “Jesus, Etc” and “Ashes of American Flags,” as they are incorrectly assumed to be about the 9/11 attacks. Kinda spooky, but you can see why.

The Band:
Jeff Tweedy – vocals, guitar, programming, harmonica
Jay Bennett – programming, guitar, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, organ, bass, drums, percussion, lap steel, glockenspiel, vibraphone, bells, vocals
John Stirratt – bass, vocals
Leroy Bach – piano, guitar, organ, glockenspiel, vibraphone, bass, percussion, horns
Glenn Kotche – drums, percussion, hammered dulcimer, siren, and chimes
Horns and strings arranged by Jeff Tweedy and John Stirratt

Additional Personnel on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot:
Ken Coomer – additional drums and percussion
Fred Lonberg – Hilm – cello
Craig Christiansen – keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, autoharp, harmonium, programming
Jessy Green – violin, viola
Jim O’Rourke – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, keyboards, toy piano, stylophone, engineering, mixing
Chris Brinkley – engineering
Steve Rooke – mastering
Sam Jones – photography

All lyrics written by Jeff Tweedy; all music composed by Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett except for three songs. Those songs were composed by Jeff Tweedy and are: “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart,” “Heavy Metal Drummer” and “Reservations.”

Track Listing

“I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” – 6:57
“Kamera” – 3:29
“Radio Cure” – 5:08
“War on War” – 3:47
“Jesus, Etc” – 3:50
“Ashes of American Flags” – 4:43
“Heavy Metal Drummer” – 3:08
“I’m the Man Who Loves You” – 3:55
“Pot Kettle Black” – 4:00
“Poor Places” – 5:15
“Reservations” – 7:22