WILCO
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Record executives are insane. Totally, unequivocally, looney. Why else would the bigwigs at Reprise reject the record of the year? This ain't no head scratching Metal Machine Music, but a brilliant, moody epic the evolving Wilco was destined to spit out. Yes there are keyboard, sampled and electronic touches (courtesy of Jim O'Rourke no doubt), but sweet earthy country music is still at the core. Never mind all those tasteless tributes, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is the definitive soundtrack to the 9-11 aftermath, as Jeff Tweedy finds the pulse of real America - confusion, passion, heartbreak and dissolution - without stumbling into sentimental la la land. A bit eerie too, as several poignant tracks ("War on war," "Jesus, etc.") were written before the conflagration. And musically, the album is a stunning adventure. Mixing it up ain't a crime, it's a gift.

© 2002 - John Sekerka