Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

[teaser5]

I'm wondering what those who have heard it think of the new Wilco album...
I am a big fan of these guys and have been waiting for this thing for a while and think that if they want to change their sound, fire two bandmembers and leave their label then more power to 'em but I just can't get into this new record.

Any thoughts?

Peace,
Norm
"Being There" still rules!

[PsychFan]

I like it, a lot.

I doesn't top Summerteeth for me (or Being There, probably), but then again I don't find it disappointing. They're just veering off in another, more "cracked" direction, it seems.

My first exposure to many of the songs came at a solo/acoustic Jeff Tweedy show in Somerville, MA last summer, and I must say I was surprised to hear what they ended up sounding like on record. But I think the record is really interesting, even intermittently beguiling, and I've played it a lot since the day it came out.

I think it might be more of a "grower" than their other albums ... My wife loved Summerteeth, hated the new one at first, but has grown to like it a lot.

[teaser5]

I will have to listen to it some more. Maybve I just "Misunderstood" the thing (shameless reference to first track on "Being There")
I was listening to YHF in the car and I heard a sound and swore that the voice mail on my cell phone kicked in and it was in the song. I hear that Jay Bennet's solo album is really good. He is one of the two fired bandmembers I mentioned. Good article on the whole thing in the most recent issue of "No Depression"

Peace,
Norm

[Matt]

I don't think Bennet was fired, I think he quit. There was some growing tension over creative control. After they finished recording Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, he didn't like the way the album was mixed, and that was about all he could take.

As for the album, I was afraid of all the hype that was heaped on it. The album would have to be "Revolver" or "What's Going On" to stand up to the advanced critical acclaim, and some misconceptions about it didn't help, either.

For one thing, it does chart new territory, and the production is bolder and much more creative, but it's still got a strong pop flavor on some (not all) of the tracks The fact that it was rejected by the Reprise A&R is more due to the person's narrow-minded view of what should be on the radio, not because the album is too experimental. Listen to "Heavy Metal Drummer"; sounds like a single to me.

I first heard parts of it when it was streamed on their website, and the sound quality wasn't that great, so it was tough to get into (compression artifacts made it tough to listen to the atmospheric sounds layered on it). I really got into it when I heard some songs in concert, and that made me buy the album.

The album doesn't hit you right away like "Summerteeth" does. That album has a strong, "poppy" sound on most of the tracks, and those won me over faster than, say, "She's A Jar." With the exception of the faster tracks, you have some tracks where you have to let yourself get sucked in and go with the flow. That stuff is pretty moody and almost meditative, so don't expect to rock out like "Monday."

[teaser5]

I dunno. I realize that "No Depression" isn't the bible but they seem to be the authority on this stuff and it sounded to me like Jay was fired. Certainly Ken Coomer was fired; there seems to be no question about that. Unceremoniously, at that.
Again: it's Tweedy's band and more power to him. I have enjoyed them in concert many times. Saw them blow Natalie Merchant off stage a couple of years ago. I was fortunate enough to see Tweedy and Bennet back up Roger McGuinn on a few Byrds songs once and that was awesome. During the "Mermaid Avenue" sessions I remember reading about Billy Bragg saying what a great player Bennet is.

I try not to be one of those cats who think that every bands first album was their best and I like it when band's sound evolves. The Jayhawks are a great example.

I will give it another listen or two and hope to see them again when they come back
(I believe they are in Europe now).

Anyway: I'm a Son Volt man! LOL

Peace,
Norm:D

[Dan C]

The new Wilco is still growing on me, as is the new Costello album. I'm in one of those weird funks right now where I'm not as open to new music, but I can tell that both of these albums will be with me for a long time.

And speaking of Son Volt, has anyone heard Jay Farrar's new album "Sebastopol"? That's one that I loved after the first spin. I'm giving it a rest right now after listening non-stop for about a month.
Dan C

[Ken_McAlinden]

The second half of YHF (everything after and including "Heavy Metal Drummer") goes down a lot easier on first listen than the first half, IMHO -- sort of the opposite reaction from what I had to "Summerteeth". After a while, though, the whole thing grows on you. For the record, I like Sebastopol even better. :)

Regards,

[teaser5]

Hey guys: I love Farrar's new record too! I saw him solo a few months ago and he played most of it and it was awesome. I got to meet him after the show and he was really friendly and signed a set list for me. This was at The Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis MD which is a great place to see a show if you are ever in the area.
Goin' to see Graham Parker there tonight in fact.
Got my soul shoes on! :cool:

Peace,
Norm

[jason r. baur]

Originally posted by Ken_McAlinden
The second half of YHF (everything after and including "Heavy Metal Drummer") goes down a lot easier on first listen than the first half, IMHO -- sort of the opposite reaction from what I had to "Summerteeth". After a while, though, the whole thing grows on you. For the record, I like Sebastopol even better. :)

Regards,
Ken is absolutely correct. I like this album (YHF) a whole lot.