Right off the hop, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot starts off with one of Wilco's strongest songs, the intriguingly poetic, bizarre "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart." In addition, there's no fear of trying new things. The unconventional percussion just adds to the aural melting pot that is Wilco's music.
I'm apparently unadventurous in my note-taking, because for "Radio Cure," the only two adjectives I used were "unconventional" and "intriguing." But, in my defense, these are perfectly good words to use. My favourite part of the song comes near the end, with about 40 seconds left to go, when the singer's voice cracks on the word "understandable." While for most bands, that would have been a reason to do another take, Wilco instead decided to keep it, allowing the vocals to sound really cool in their fragility and tension.
Damnit, I did it again. In referring to "Ashes Of An American Flag," I took notes about the "intriguing" title. Although, I also mentioned the more prosaic lyrics, sounding more like an open letter than a poetic song.
"Heavy Metal Drummer" is ironic in that is sounds like an 80s pop hit.
"Reservations" is a sweet song from a guy who is unsure about everything in his life except for his feelings of love. Unfortunately, it's presented in a pretty noisy way. I don't think I've ever used the word "overproduced" before, but I'm tempted to use it now. With its heavy use of effects, there's certainly a distraction from the core message of the song.
The last song I quite liked from the album is "I'm The Man Who Loves You." It's an upbeat, pop song that shows that Wilco isn't afraid to make songs that just sound good.
Of the three Wilco albums I have now listened to (the others being Summerteeth and Sky Blue Sky), Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is definitely the favourite. It's got variety and quality throughout and isn't afraid to try something a little unconventional, and yes, intriguing.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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