Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Cool instrumentals but vocals are hit or miss. Many of the songs are craving some effects on his voice to make it less dry and he doesn’t really have the technical ability to cut through the mix. Jesus, Etc. and Ashes of American Flags were my favorites
4/10 - Not particularly my think, tries too hard to be Radiohead.
Heavy Metal and Jesus Etc all timers
No esta mal, pero se me hizo muy monotono y me aburrio en mayoria excepto por War on War y I'm The Man Who Loves You.
Calm album had some cool audio bits decent album
Loved the cover art. The album is interesting. Woudn't go back to but it was nice to listen.
Gostei muito desse álbum. Ele é baseado em violões e sons de rádio ao fundo (!!!). Brincadeira. Encontramos aqui boas melodias, bons arranjos vocais e instrumentais. É basicamente um folk rock de qualidade. Faixas de destaque: "Radio Cure" (tem uma bela levada dedilhada ao violão), "War on War" (bem animada e com o que parece ser um theremim ao fundo), "Jesus, etc" (essa tem uma intro muito boa, que curiosamente lembra a melodia de uma música do Pepeu Gomes). "Ashes" tem uma guitarra que muito me agradou e um piano lofi legal. "Poor Places" (aqui o cantor "fala" o nome do álbum haha), "Reservations" (a mais bela e nem por isso menos experimental). Esqueci de mencionar "Pot Kettle Black" que também é boa e que lembra um encontro entre REM e The Cure.
I never remember to love this album, but it’s superb.
Amazing album to think about your life!
Poor Places is slept-on
4.15/5 Stars Top Songs: Jesus, etc, Pot Kettle black, Kamera
At points it tries to be weird for weirdness' sake, and can even border on slightly whiny, but as a whole it's a pretty good album.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a perfect album. Not only is it probably Wilco's most accessible album, it's also a fan favorite of die-hard followers of the group. They take pop conventions and bend them to their will and that's no easy task.
A good album, but nothing that great
This bundle of experimental indie ambience has a bit of sentimental value to me, so I'm already familiar with it. A good album, for sure, just maybe not the be-all-end-all of indie rock that some make it out to be
I like the use of synths They build cool ambient space The guy has a nice voice The songwriting is nice too Very warm Great project but I don’t see how it’s one of the greatest albums ever but it is solid
Beautiful sounding record, deeply complex without being obnoxious.
Yes
Liked Jesus, Etc but no others stood out
one of the three Wilco albums i really like!
Thought I’m not really a Wilco fan, I didn’t hate this listen through and maybe I’ll check out more. Maybe.
Not my thing, but some cool stuff going on.
Haven’t really listen to Wilco and I really liked it… I will listen to more
rainy/cosy
i honestly did not like this album. the rhythm is way too slow and i even felt like the beat was not working just felt like the words were spilling. obviously some songs are better than others but this is definitely not an album i would listen to.
not bad but not really my thing.
Yeah, alright.
Started off boring and a little annoying, to the point I was wondering how I would make it through the entire album. Then, it really picked up in the middle and I was enjoying it. Then, the end reverted to boring and a little annoying. This is not a terrible album, but I can't imagine I'd listen to it again.
Amazing album. 5 out of 5. Timeless classic. Wilco's finest and a staple of indie rock.
Скучная скучнота. Типа Can
6/10
This album is ok. 2.5
It was fine. I don't think I was blown away by anything. It is hipster rock of the 2000's. To me they don't really do anything that blows you out of the water. I am not sure they are even subtle enough to blow me out of the water. I have heard good things about this album but it was just okay.
It's pretty good. I'm like 3.5 land with it and will go 4 because it has lots of cool recording/sound moments. Never got into this band back in the day but I know that cool people liked them. I actually know of the first song from a different Chicago band. Check out JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, I am Trying to Break Your Heart. Because it sounds waaay better as an upbeat soul song!
This is the most Indie-er than thou record of all time. It’s a music critic’s wet dream. I remember Chicago based Pitchfork definitely masturbating all over it. In reality, it’s a good album that was hyped up to ridiculous hipster heights. Jesus, Etc. is a one of the better songs of the oughts. Elsewhere we get DIY acoustic art rock with some cool feedback and experimentation. It’s produced extremely well. Overall it’s a worthy addition to someone’s catalog but personally, it’s not as mind blowing as some critics would make me believe.
Another band I've been wanting to explore more of, thanks album generator! I saw these guys live in 2021 and it was a really great show, but I never took the time to follow up on more of their offerings. I love when the music gets all crazy at the end of some of the songs. It's a colorful contrast to the general soft reflectiveness of the lyrics and overall vibes. I enjoyed the diversity in sound and creative instrumentation throughout the album too. This was pleasing to my ears and soul.
You're telling me this album came out one week after 9/11 and it has two towers depicted on it.. and that's the only interesting thing about it???
Better than I remembered.
This album reminds me that there's not enough sad boi music on this list. Boy, it's been a while since I listened to some good mellow indie. Now, it's not the most innovative or incredible album ever written - and sometimes I wonder if the Wilco chaps are ending all those songs so weirdly just to be unique - but this was a nice little break from the old English catalogue. Also shoutout Chi-town. Love the corncob buildings.
5 stars. Worth the hype. Still lasts. A beautiful album.
I've always found their to be a laziness sound to Wilco that just doesn't always mesh super well with me. And what's up with the song, Heavy Metal Drummer? Maybe one of the least metal things I've ever heard. 2.5 stars, rounded up
It's ok. I feel like I have heard a lot of Wilco and my life and have never been able to form an opinion about them. Maybe that means I can't find anything to keep me interested, I don't know. I put this on and forgot what I was listening to after the first 5 songs.
I read one review calling them America's Radiohead....no way. The sound effects don't work. I prefer their predecessor Uncle Tupelo.
I’m biased, have listened to this album many times. Jesus Etc and Reservations :)
This album was fine. A lot of songs tended to blend together and sound very plain. Although a couple of the tracks did stand out, whether the lyrical content or the musical content.
Never could get into this dull album. Seeing these songs live is a vast improvement making it hard to go back to the studio versions.
The longer you do this list more you start to feel like a broken record. Like I’m always anxious I sound like a moron saying the same sorta things over and over again. But honestly how many ways are there to actually describe and review an album, you are always gunna be talking about the same types of things. But that being said this is another example of an album where instrumentally I love this album, but the vocals does nothing for me. I don’t think their singer is bad, just underwhelming. But the album sonically is so sharp and consistently good. I’d be curious to see what their other stuff sounds like if it comes up.
an art rock album that many people say had unintentional references to a world after the devastating september 11th attacks; the album recorded a bit before it all happened. another rock album that's soft, quiet and depressing. it's an album about society and how people struggle to cope with circumstances... an album that almost subtly reminds listeners about the shitty past, and as much as you'd like to change it, you can't rewrite history. it drags a little bit, but it's a really good rock album.
Really nice album. I only knew the one about the serial drummer lover, lots to like here, especially as the band's sound expands into nice weird places along the way.
First of all, I really like the album cover. Apparently it's a minimalist version of the Marina City towers in Chicago where the band is from - the "corn cobs". I'm watching The Bear right now so I've got Chicago on my mind and this adds another layer for me. This album reminds me of my mom because she is a Wilco fan. She put me onto Jesus, Etc. so I have listened to that song a lot over the years. I like the album. The music is fairly simple in some ways but has a slightly unpolished/grungy quality that makes it interesting. There were certain moments while listening when I would pick up on something cool that they were doing. Other moments felt less engaging and the music seemed like pretty standard folk rock. I think I want to give this a 4 because I associate it with my mom, but the actual music is more of a 3-3.5 for me.
Not sure how to feel about this one
One of those albums where at first I wasnt paying close enough attention and I would only tune in when it would get dissonant and weird. But on a more focused relisten, this was actually really lovely, with some really cool creative flair with the samples and noise thrown in at certain parts to keep it quirky and weird at just the right amount. Apparently this was quite the recording process where they ran into people quitting, the record label refusing to release it at first, and then the band getting the rights back or something and finally putting it out there. Glad it got released, was definitely a great listen.
Some good songs but it doesn't hit for me as a whole
O album em trouxe uma vibe de radiohead, mas sem a profundidade emocional que o radiohead tem. Os vocais são muito enjoativos por serem repetitivos, mas tem uma vibezinha legal. 4/10
Oh God bringing back core memories!! Previous review: Lowkey may regret giving this a 100 but to be honest tho album is perfect. I listened to this after watching the first season of the bear and started making the pasta from the show. The show’s amazing, the pasta was amazing I don’t care what Carm says, and this album is amazing. I chose it because they’re both set in Chicago and to be honest this album matches the vibe of the show perfectly. They were meant for each other!
1. heart - 1 2. kamera - 1 3. cure - 1 4. uuar - 0 5. jezuz - 1 6. flagz - 0 7. metal - 0 8. man -0 9. pot - 1 10. poor - 0 11. rezervationz - 1
Soundtrack of modern Slavic winter
i love wilco they are so loved in the community but so underrated everywhere else.
A truly great album. It's nothing complicated or taking huge risks, but it's done perfectly. Wonderfully produced, the vocals sounds great and there's some powerful lyrics in there. The kind of album that can be played anytime during the year and fit the mood. So close to a 5* for me - unsure if I prefer this or Summerteeth. Favourites: I Am Trying to Break Your Heart Kamera Jesus, Etc. Heavy Metal Drummer
Sorrowful tone
Bought this when it came out. First listen was on my morning commute. I was non-plussed. It felt way more like an atmospheric piece as a whole and while I could appreciate the ambition and experimentation it really wasn't my jam. I put it on the shelf. Through the years a lot of these songs have become very familiar to me but I probably hadn't listened to the album all the way through since that first listen. I watched the documentary about its creation and that was an interesting look into the process and the band drama but the album still didn't resonate with me. I'm sure the tempos and sleepy-eyed vocal delivery are a big part of that. Listening today I have a bigger appreciation of how it fits together as a piece but still had a hard time sticking through the entire album. The songs are good and the interstitial 'noise' works but I still have a hard time with the tempos and delivery. Still worthy of four stars for everything around that album.
Album is okay. Kind of forgettable. A little boring. 3/5 Probably won’t listen again
One of their best!
Dreadful album. There I can appreciate when an album uses certain techniques, such as dissonance, in interesting ways that help you get into the music or create tension, but here it just feels like bad songwriting. I hated every second of this, which might have been the goal. Can we also mention how crazy this album cover is for an album that was released a week after 9/11?
This is insanely boring. There are really no redeeming qualities to it. It's not bad, just boring. Nothing is wrong about this album, but 51 minutes is far too many.
not really for me
27.01.2026 ~ Nachmittags ~ Im Literaturcafé an der Feuerbachstraße, auf dem Weg ins Kino - in der S-Bahn Richtung Wannsee.
Mittwoch, 28.01.2026 Abends nach dem Kino in der Ringbahn auf dem Weg nach Hause, beim spazieren auf der Uhlandstraße
🥇war on war 🥈i’m the man who loves you 🥉pot kettle black HM: heavy metal drummer
This has become somewhat of a staple album in my rotation over the last few years so I admit I have a pretty high bias towards it. I think what makes me come back so often to put this on is it feels like the perfect balance between being soft and low-key enough to unwind too, while also interesting and creative enough to listen to frequently. Each of these songs are simple and catchy, but actually have a ton going on musically. Lyrically as well, I find most of Wilco's music super intriguing because the lyrics feel just cryptic enough to keep you guessing at and trying to decipher. This album has kept my interest for the last decade and I expect I was keep enjoying It for a long time to come.
I had always been somewhat aware of Wilco, but I was fairly late actually discovering them. I only really started listening to them after seeing them live in 2018 (thanks Ben!), but Wilco, Jeff Tweedy's solo and side projects, and his earlier work with Uncle Tupelo all quickly became some of my all time favourites. This album in particular perfectly encapsulates what I love about their music. It's deep, complex, and surreal music masquerading as simple folk and rock songs. Each simple song has been fully deconstructed and rebuilt multiple times by Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett in the studio with Jim O'Rourke's mixing and were made more complex with Jeff's obscure lyricism, Glenn Kotche's complex drumming, and found sounds / music concrete samples added throughout. The Conet Project samples that led to the name of this album in particular are some of my favourites. If you have the time to listen to the deluxe version you can hear why the recording process nearly destroyed the band with Jay Bennett and Ken Coomer being fired in the end. There are multiple different directions that members of the band were trying to push leading to multiple album titles all with different mixes of the songs. Would this album have the same legacy if they had released it as The Unified Theory of Everything, American Aquarium, Here Comes Everybody, or Lonely In the Deep End?
GREAT album, thoroughly enjoyed this one. I’ve had this downloaded ever since I generated Being There so was glad to finally get round to it. It’s hard to find fault with it, every track hit the mark for me. I’ll be keeping this in my album rotation for a good while. Top Track - War On War
its really chill, pretty nice ig. cant emphasize the "chill" part enough.
Not noteworthy
Bit dreary, nothing really stood out. Not for me.
As I recall this album came out like a week after 9/11 and I was so desperate for answers and meaning that this album took on delusional importance to me. From the (different but still) twin towers on the cover to lyrics like "Tall buildings shake Voices escape, singing sad, sad songs Tuned to chords Strung down your cheeks Bitter melodies turning your orbit around Voices whine Skyscrapers are scraping together Your voice is smoking Last cigarettes are all you can get Turning your orbit around" ...this album took on a significance vastly outsized to any possible intention on the bands' part. I was like Charles Manson believing the White Album was relaying direct instruction to him. But singing along to Heavy Metal Drummer with a couple thousand of my closest friends at The Roseland Ballroom made it feel like I wasn't the only traumatized NYer whose soul was saved by these guys. A view based more on objective reality would observe this is secret weapon Jay Bennett's last album with the band and they never effectively replaced his genius. You can understand why they fired him if you watch the documentary making of this album "I am trying to break your heart," but my ears don't care. Or Pablo Picasso actually was a bit of an asshole but unless you were close to it, that knowledge probably doesn't affect your appreciation for his art, or for the Modern Lovers song for that matter. But anyway, I am so fucking sick of this band at this point I don't know if I can even listen to this album today or not. I think I will skip it, actually.
I'm glad to see that we not only get Wilco in this collection, but there are in fact two different albums by them (and I suspect very different from each other, given what "YHF" sounds like). I'm also happy because I have a Wilco album that's not in this collection ("Summerteeth"), so I get to sample more of a band that I often think to myself that I should listen to more of. This album doesn't really sound like what I think of Wilco sounding like, but I really enjoyed the album nonetheless. My favorites were probably "Kamera", "War on War", and the strangely upbeat "Heavy metal drummer", but there aren't really any duds among the rest, and I really appreciate the stretch Tweedy and company clearly took on this album. It's quite a bit less interesting to read about all the drama and conflicts that went into the making of the album, from ditching one Warner label for another, to booting the drummer and then the guitarist, getting sued for including a recording of the YHF Numbers Station broadcast in "Poor places", etc etc. I'm not sure I have the interest or patience to watch the documentary about the making of the album, but it sounds like that has even more of the gory details of how the sausage got made.
I liked this less than their "Being There" which I gave 3 stars, but I felt I must have missed something, so now I'm listening to it again, only louder, and this time, I swear to God, I'll pay attention. Yeah, no, sorry.
Another record I knew by reputation as an indie rock great, but have no memory of hearing (I apparently did once listen to it in 2018). I was a little unsure at the opening few, but around track 3/4 it clicked for me, and then I was loving it to the end.
Un peu trop posé pour moi mais bien
Revisiting this album after listening it "back in the day" I find it really interesting.
Im shaking my ass to wilco
loveeeeeee this album!! it’s always nice to sit down with a full wilco record instead of abusing the main songs i know by them. i really enjoyed listening to their lyrics this time around. their use of imagery stood out to me especially. alt-country is hit or miss for me (and im not even 100% sure thats their genre) BUT this one definitely hits. old faves: i am trying to break your heart jesus etc heavy metal drummer new faves: radio cure i’m the man who loves you
Some of my favorite songs in high school. Heavy metal drummer totally blew me away on this listen
Favorites: Heavy Metal Drummer, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
My heart says 4 but I can't find a justification
Never been a fan of this band, this album being an embodiment of everything I don't like about this band. Quite a few artists that I like that are similar but not this group.
Fantastic songs. Experimental but still solid. Love it all.
3/5
I liked it. I even listened to it twice in a row to debate the 4 versus the 5. Having heard Jesus, Etc. prior to the rest of the album, the rest of the songs were definitely a pleasant surprise. The sounds of Radiohead and Elliott Smith dominated my impression of the album—hence the 4 stars, because I do like them! In the end, it was difficult to determine the answer to “who is Wilco?” Although, whoever they do want to be, they can absolutely do it well.
Staple from the band. I was introduced through their self titled album but need to listen to this one more...
An album that was on in the background a lot while I was growing up but I never actually listened to it until now. There is some nostalgia aiding my listening experience, but overall I did enjoy listening to this album. Wasn't a huge fan of the first 3 tracks, but the run of tracks from "War on War" to "I'm the Man Who Loves You" is phenomenal. Indie is hit and miss with me and this is one of those rare instances where it does hit. Solid 4/5.
The album is a little boring and one note, but I actually quite enjoyed it. Very chill. Gets across a distinct melancholy vibe. I don’t think it is ground breaking, but a pleasant listen. Satisfying indie record.
3/5
Ein Sound, der nach einiger Zeit anstrengend wird.
Pretty good indie rock, 3.8/5
One of the best!
Indie folk lover’s wet dream
I am hipster yes I am and I enjoyed this hipster band
not a wilco guy i think…
Good album. A little slow, but in the right mood, I could see this being awesome.
Wasn't too consequential for me. It could be playing in a dentist office and probably not bother too many people.
Teetering back and forth between being too boring to care about and being just interesting/artsy enough. Either way, I was not very impressed.
I’d bet my last shoe this was my most listened to album when it made it to me my third year of college, and it still feels just as great.
5/5 - love this
meh, but I found one song by Wilco that I did like as a Spotify recommendation after the album was over, so I'll give it a 3
As an indie rock lover, I am shocked I haven't listened to this album. It was genuinely interesting to listen to because of the subtle instrumentation elements and the genres (like the classic folk) encapsulated.
Please Stop Smiling 1001 Albums Generator 204 (1/13/2025) From the first couple minutes of I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, it's clear that Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is not going to be your run-of-the-mill indie rock. There are some really strange layers on this song, and its structure is so unique, alternative between these ever-shifting verses and these sometimes dissonant instrumental sections. And run-of-the-mill indie rock this is not. One of my favorite things about Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is the eclecticism on display. From post-rock, to folky indie, to alt-country/Americana, there is no shortage of different styles here, and Wilco does all of them well. Kamera and Radio Cure are much softer songs, which are still quite catchy, while War On War and Heavy Metal Drummer show a more energetic, jangly side of Wilco. Right near the middle of the album lies Jesus, Etc., which is one of my favorite songs ever, much less one of my favorites on YHF. I really loved this album so much more listening to it this time than I did when I first heard it a few years ago, but I do think that the last two songs are two of the weakest, and I especially disagree with the decision to end the album on a 7 minute ambient piece. However, the album is basically perfect besides that. 4.5/5, rounded down to 4. Favs: I Am Trying To Break Your Heart Jesus, Etc. Heavy Metal Drummer Least Fav: Reservations
Vibes: 2 Instruments: 3 Production: 4 Emotional Value: 4 Storytelling: 5 Album Cover: 1 Stand Outs: Radio Cure, Ashes of American Flags Overall: 3.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kinda reminds me of a mellower Radiohead, I feel like I really understand the messages behind the album and enjoyed it.
Solid but didn’t really stand out to me
not my favorite but had some good songs.
pas terminé très très boring
Not my vibe really. Too folky
Måste lyssna noggrannare
geen fijne stem klinkt soms vals beetje saaie liedjes soms
ehh a little all over the place personally.
10-1-2026
I loved this album! I found the lyrics to be sensitive and introspective, and the production is interesting and a joy to listen to. Though a lot of indie from this era can sound kinda same-y (some of it even a little whiny?), I think this still holds up to this day as a classic indie album.
This hurts but I can’t love it.
ehh
Great album
chill
Ok, so this has been recommended to me by various algorithms and beat if lists for a decade and i'd occasionally tried a track and not bought in. So when it came up i took it ans an opportunity too give it a real shot. January the 9th in Dublin was cold and clear and perfect for a lunchtime walk. So i put this on headphones and head out to see what ive been missing. I can see this is step beyond the standard indie songwriting fare, with some interesting structures and a wealth of instrumentation and ideas. But its really not anything more than an ok album. His voice is weak and monotonous, there wasnt one track that really held up the album with a motif or hook that dragged everything up. I really tried hard with this one and just came up a bit bored.
Oh, man. Terrific album. Got a burnt copy of this guy back in 2004, and I was hooked. Been a big Wilco fan ever since. Not a bad song on here. My second favorite album of theirs right behind Summerteeth.
This one and Summerteeth are my top two Wilco albums....such an incredible mix of alt country, indie rock, country rock, psychedelia experimental stuff, you name it. Could listen to this one over and over again.
Pretty good. 3.5/5
Never care for Wilco
Incredibly boring album. The entire thing is like a bad attempt at a radiohead song
4 utan tvek
Just sort of bland, a few songs in the middle were more interesting but nothing major. Fav: heavy metal drummer
Setting aside the backstory (covered well in the documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart), this is still an album that takes a huge leap forward for a band that had been around for five years and longer taking into account the Uncle Tupelo years. The album captures the angst and tension running through Jeff Tweedy and reflected in the culture of the early 2000s. No weak tracks, but highlights include Kamera, I'm the Man Who Loves You, Jesus etc, and Pot Kettle Black. Anyone who enjoys this should consider the recently released Super Deluxe edition, which is potentially overwhelming, but includes real insights into the creation of the album and a raft of other tracks recorded at the same time that demonstrate just what a productive period it was for the band.
Ahead of its time, that's for sure. I can see where a lot of indie bands drew inspiration from this album. Great use of keyes and organ. My favorite song was "Jesus etc." Not my cup of tea, personally, but overall solid. I didn't like the ending.
it’s ass to me at least
Vou voltar a este álbum, de certeza, quando precisar de algo que me ajude a acalmar e a refletir. Mesmo não sendo o tipo de música que mais gosto é difícil não gostar do álbum. Indie rock com um toque de country e uma voz bonita e suave. Produção top e instrumentos incríveis. War on War foi a minha favorita. Outra que me ficou no ouvido foi a Pot Kettle Black.
Easy listen, no standout songs
An undeniable indie classic. Actually think this album is pretty under rated today because it got so.much hype.a d became the "come up to my dorm room to listen to the new wilco" meme
Messy. I liked bits of this, particularly the more electronic / experimental aspects, but it wasn't consistent enough to draw me in and I drifted off with the more guitar-based stuff.
This has got an experimental feel to it. The ideas sound half-formed, almost with improvisation taking place around some loose, central message. The album is all the better for this.
2/5 нытьееее
Perfection. I didn't get this album at first, but I remember one quiet evening, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart came on a TV I was watching and it blew me away. I immediately went and listened to the album. It remains one of my favourites of all time, and arguably one of the greats.
No. 338/1001 I Am Trying To Break Your Heart 3/5 Kamera 4/5 Radio Cure 3/5 War on War 3/5 Jesus, Etc. 4/5 Ashes of American Flags 3/5 Heavy Metal Drummer 3/5 I’m The Man Who Loves You 3/5 Pot Kettle Black 4/5 Poor Places 3/5 Reservations 3/5 Average: 3,27 Nice album. At times not melodic enough for me.
Don't understand the critical praise. Maybe I'm missing something. 2/5.
Solid but not my taste. I bit too slow and grungy for me
Senti Beatles, Radiohead, Weezer e Interpol, mas acima de tudo, me senti acolhido Faixas favoritas: Kamera, Jesus, Etc., Heavy Metal Drummer, Reservations
Didn’t enjoy
Indie that is trying too hard. I enjoyed the previous Travis album more.
Beautiful album liked every song
This is a truly great album but I can only give it 4 stars in case the far superior A Ghost is Born or Sky Blue Sky are on the list. Most Chicago album cover of all time, though.
This was one of those little gems you find on this list that make you want more ...
I enjoyed the artistry of it. It had some interesting lyrics and it paired well for the sound. Pot Kettle Back was probably my favorite.
so fkn boring
Despite everything, one of the albums that got me into being a music snob.
didnt care for this
I did like Reservations. but unsure why it was seven something minutes.
This is my first time listening to Wilco, and before this I always wondered if I was missing out on something. It turns out I was not. This album gives big "my parents just dont get me" vibes. The only reason it's not a 1 is bc of "Jesus, etc" and the album cover.
Wilco is one of those bands I've always wanted to give a fair chance, and I'm glad I finally did. Very atmospheric, ambient, folky, almost like fleet foxes cooler cousins. Im eager to hear more.
An indie rock classic...mumble-y, opaque lyrics, some really cool songs like "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, I love the humorous lyrics of songs like "Jesus Etc." and "Heavy Metal Drummer". I could see people and this group particularly not liking this album, but because I grew up with it I appreciate it. Its a 4 for me that I wont begrudge anyone giving a lower rating.
a really good album, not ground breaking imo but its still really good
Faded into the background a bit
What a boring album again! The songs become very repetitive and uninteresting by the first minute and, honestly, there is nothing that can be a little interesting in here. The songs feel like copies of other artists with that indie touch (which seems to be the synonym of music for boring people who like a little of acoustic and repetitiveness to call good music, nothing very challenging or "loud", for sure). But I can't get what can be considered good here. It's just a pastiche of different sounds and instruments with no real sense but to sound "more interesting". Well, some songs aren't that bad, some instrumentals are beautiful, but Jeff Tweedy... well, his voice is many times annoying, actually. The rest, very monotonous, which means, again, boring. And it doesn't get better.
I just can't with Wilco
Merp, my review got wiped by an unexpected system reset. Oh well. Was just saying that we are on a bit of a heater since Kala (looking forward to going back to that one). This is "the" Wilco album and the first that I was exposed to prompted by Umphrey's opening their Valentine's day set with a cover of I Am Trying to Break Your Heart in 2010. I've spent a lot of time with this album, and just as I sang Zebra with Desmond when he was an infant, I sang I Am Trying to Break Your Heart to Miles during the same period of his life. Such a beautifully melancholy song of regret and love lost. This melancholic beauty persists throughout the record on tracks like Ashes of American Flags, Radio Cure, Reservations, and Poor Places. In other spots it shines in contrasting brightness with War on War, Heavy Metal Drummer, I'm the Man Who Loves You. Love this album through and through. The writing is fantastic. 5.
Good voice, good variety in sound. Heavy Metal Drummer was fun. Right on that 3/4 line for me again for Wilco. Maybe another listen or two could get it there, but for today I am settling on high 3 again.
Was told back in our other Wilco review that this album would be on here so happy to finally listen. This was definitely better than the last one, had a lot more experimental stuff going on. Was good but can say after 2 albums that they are not going to be a top band for me. This is still on the high 3/low 4 line so i'll go up because it was bettert than the last. Reservations was really cool though at the end, felt like I was going to space.
This album is awesome. Knew it had to pop up after having the other Wilco albums as this is pretty much known as their magnum opus. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart is an incredible album opener. Unsettling at times, beautiful at times, and a whole lot of melancholy. Kamera is just lovely, and probably my most listened to song on here. Jesus, Etc. is another beautiful one and one that I listen to pretty often. Strings are incredible on it. Listening to Ashes of American Flags must've been so sad to listen to after 9/11 the year prior. Heavy Metal Drummer is also one that I listen to often. Just a fun, upbeat song. Love the janky guitar on I'm the Man Who Loves You. The back and forth of uplifting and melancholy with mixed in dissonance on this album really sets a mood and vibe for the album that's hard to achieve. This was pretty much an instant classic from the first time I heard it way back when. Easy 5.
Great playing. Good songs. A little overproduced with the weird sound effects in the songs. It seems like they are trying to hard to be more than just being a great band. A lot dad songs but I’m okay with that. I also think this album is a victim of the time it came out. Radiohead was in full experimental mode so that really pushes people to do more.
New Artist. Fun.
This is an easy one. But five stars isn't enough. A work of art, a true masterpiece, blah blah. It just is. I listened to it again. It's twenty five years old and still as remarkable as ever. Real poetry, unbound by any required context of contemporaneousness. Song segues that make the tiny hairs straighten and tingle.
It’s alright
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Considering that it hasn't been two weeks since we had to ensure the last Wilco album, this seems aggressively harsh even for this algorithm of auditory hatred. Look. This categorically sucks. It's the very definition of monotonous. The lyrics are shallow, repetitive, and poorly delivered. Often, the "music" devolves into garden variety noise. I'd be shocked by all the acclaim it's been given, but as I've pointed out before, the 00s were a trash decade where bad music was all you pretty much had to pick from, so perhaps this really was the best thing going at the time. *shudder* What a disturbing thought that was!
The creators of this list must love jerking it while listening to Wilco. I can’t see any other conceivable reason for them to be on here twice.
This album was so lauded upon release that I fell for the hype and bought it without hearing a single note of it. Almost immediate regret as I listened to opener "I am Trying to Break Your Heart" Was this meta-commentary about breaking my heart by spending money on such a lethargic boring record? And I tried with this record I really did. Second song is okay right? "Heavy Metal Drummer" is slightly amusing right? I shouldn't regret this purchase right? Even listening to this today decades later I remember these songs. So I know I didn't just spin it once and move on. I tried again with the secret hope that with age and wisdom I could appreciate it. Or find something anything to cling to. But I can't. I just can't. This album bores me. And because it's hype I feel extra mad at it for being so boring.
Fractured echoes of country music drowning in a sea of keyboards and synths. The catchy songwriting from Wilco's previous album is still present here on tracks like "Jesus Etc" and "Kamera," not to mention the almost-out-of-place "Heavy Metal Drummer." But the songs are sparser, with blips and bloops adding lots of little details over the barest traces of guitar twang. This happens all over the final two tracks, which play as one big comedown, but it's most obvious on the masterpiece "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." Every pained verse of that song gives way to a different interlude before the song collapses on itself. The lyrics beautifully reflect the downcast nature of the music; the chorus of "Reservations" is a highlight, as is "I shake like a toothache when I hear myself sing." Indie rock rarely, if ever, got more layered than this while still being so poignant and immediate.
This is one of my favorite albums bof all time! Reminds me of the summer after highschool, hanging out with my bros just enjoying the next step! Every single song on this album deserves to be here and I can listen to this all day!
I’ve listened a few times and while I like some of it well enough, I just don’t get the hype.
Generic white dude chill rock music. Reminds me of the shins
Idk man it hit
Meh. Not my thing. Kinda boring Edit: back half is growing on me, still not totally sold
Oh good lord more pretentious art rock, the pride at the wildly out of tune guitar noise, please stop.
Raar en cool, ga ik wel van op aan
So good.
The instrumental parts are good Not great, not outstanding, but good. The singer? Who told this guy he could sing? His voice is weak, lazy, off key, and unlistenable. 3 for the instruments. 0 for the singing. 1.5 rounded to a generous Boxing day 2
Yeah nice!
So nonchalant it became a quadriplegic. 3/5
Bit boring at times Fave track: Pot Kettle Black
Feeling a strong 7 to a light 8 on this one. 4/5
What a great listen. I’ve loved these guys since their Uncle Tupelo days, but hadn’t listened to this album in its entirety. I remember the reviews when ‘Summer Teeyh’ came out acting that it was the next ‘Per Sounds’ and would revolutionize folk/Americana going forward. It didn’t…but this album just may have! Solid from start to finish with fabulous production, solid instrumentation and great he addition of beeps-boops made it the future. And it still listens well today.
This album never grabbed me… but this time, on speakers on a lazy winter afternoon, it clicked a little for me. Once i found a way in (Jesus) I actually enjoyed this and understood the appeal. Will definitely be putting this on again.
Wilco has grown on me a lot over the years. I think this album is ok and doesn’t highlight their strengths as much
Masterpiece, innovative for time I'm trying to break your heart Kamera War on war Jesus, etc.
all really good. i think i'll have to go back and re-rank comparatively. poor places is my favorite song.
Always made fun of my mom for listening to Wilco. Now I listen to Wilco. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Not what I was hoping for. I’d heard of this album many times and was excited to finally have a reason to listen. Unfortunately I found it boring.
Born alone is kinda ok
Great album good songs
added one fav song from this artist but from another album “summerteeth”
Insanely good and interesting album
Pretty solid, but it's getting drowned under all the other rock albums in this list
Nice chill music but wouldn’t put any of it on if given the choice
A bit bland for me. But not unlistenable
Just a bit bland for me, not awful but would not choose to listen to
Not my style, new the Jesus song. Skipped most of them. Wasn't feeling it!
A really good album, of which Radio Cure is probably my favourite. I probably prefer A Ghost is Born as a whole (though this is probably considered sacrilege by hardcore fans) so I will reserve my Wilco 5-star review for when that inevitably isn’t on the list.
A really coherent record, that benefits from repeated listens. I like that some songs swell to a clattering crescendo (‘I am trying to break your heart’, ‘I’m the man who loves you’) whereas others give space for the song to sit in (‘Jesus etc.’). Solid all round though I find it surprising that many prefer this to a ghost is born, which I think just edges it.
This was pretty enjoyable
a little too squishy for me, Morgan probably loves them!
I've never understood the fascination critics have with the boring music of Wilco. Saw them open for REM not long after this release and was less than impressed, right along with the rest of the crowd. His voice is so average and forgettable. 7 minute opening song (with Charlie Brown piano work) that keeps the same pace from start to finish and descends into a static-y mess is not the way to set the table and make a listener want to continue. It's like 11 scoops of vanilla that you need to eat in one sitting, can't you give me a little chocolate or maybe some mint, anything to change things up?! Decent listener counts with every song having at least 4M listens or more. "Jesus, Etc" has 134M listens, respectable, especially for such a dull song. Funny they have a song called "Heavy Metal Drummer" (35M) as they are anything but. "Ashes Of American Flags" (7M) made me want to jump overboard. I don't get them, they continue the melody no matter what and never deviate. "I'm The Man Who Loves You" (10M) was the only song I thought had any draw. I was underwhelmed, and I see no reason to have listened to this before I die. Dreary. Weak boring vocal delivery. Repetitive songs. 2 stars.
I thought Being There was a decent album, but Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is mostly a snooze. Very well produced, and some of the musical choices are interesting, but the vibe is very contemplative and introspective, and I don't need that in my music! I have a child-brain and it wants to be stimulated with excitement!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love everything about this album, the vocals are perfect and the instrumentation is beautiful. Love the blend between mediocre and upbeat songs. The album flows very well and I often revisit it
Gets better towards the later half in my opinion. Interesting moments throughout the instrumentation with modular synthesis and neat percussive elements. The lead singers voice has a nice unpolished feel and the instances where he cracks are my favorite. As I said before I like some of the instrumental choices but overall the theory is kind of lackluster when comparing it to artists like Radiohead which to me seems like they take inspiration from. Song writing is decent sticks out on a couple of songs but delivery could be better
bro loves to whine but I admit that some of the whining is pretty good
I own vinyl
3,5 sterren
Loved the noises & background sounds they used but not my vibe!
god this is horrendous
Melancholic yearning as a form of music will forever be my jam.
Good album
It's okay. A lot of the later tracks sound too same-y. I didn't really like the sombre tracks, which there weren't that many of, thankfully. Favourite Track(s): Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, Marrakesh Express, Wooden Ships Least Favourite Track(s): You Don't Have To Cry, Lady of the Island
Not bad but too 2010s hipster indie folk for me despite being from 2001
Peak…
Saw that it was indie rock and got excited, forgot that most male indie rock musicians are terrible singers. Cool instrumentation and lots of good guitar moments but I can’t rate higher than a 3 cuz dude was obnoxious
Pretty decent just kinda slow I guess
Wilco’s great but in small quantities
Picked up in the second half, not bad
Listened Before: No Interesting. There were some good songs, but for the most part it felt like it was on the verge of being really good, but never got there. The singer was whiny. 3/5 Fav Song: Jesus, Etc. Least Fav Song: I Am Trying to Break Your Heart Listened to it twice. Jesus, Etc and Kamera are both good and everything else is skippable.
Indie sadboi twaddle. Didn’t make it through the whole album
So that was a surprise, given I was expecting a Wilko Johnson solo offering. Obviously, I now know... Anyway, not bad, although the dreaded Americana was hinted at in places. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
One of my favorite albums
experiments with sounds, unusual and varied instruments, and you can hear all the niche parts. produced really well, despite arguably relatively simple melodies - songs often are unstructured - layering - good singing backs up moods - good song construction - e.g. buildups, use of dissonance/haze of sheer noise (and voice singing properly over it exemplifies it even more - I am trying to break your heart) only problem is hops into different moods too much. but perhaps that is the point?
This was interesting. Completely new band, and I wasn’t familiar with any of these songs but found myself stopping what I was doing to listen to some of them.
Klasična dosada od albuma, baš ništa zanimljivo. Možda kao pozadina za rezati povrće za francusku jer su ti ruke uprljane pa ne možeš stisnuti next. 2/5, 3/10
Absolutely forgettable.
Whatever happened to the record execs at Reprise that rejected this album? Had anyone done an oral history from their point of view? What's going through your mind when handed such an epochal album, one that's stood the test of time and sounds as fresh now as it did 24 years ago, and say "nah we're not interested in releasing this"
Having seen Wilco in concert, and enjoying so much of their work, I feel like if I had rated them 20 years ago I would've given them 5 stars. I still really enjoy this album but it does not hold my attention in the same way, although it is still powerful and resonant and has my feet tapping.
The hate for this album shocked me. This is easily in my Top 10 albums and is the album that opened me up to indie. So many memories and landmarks in my life are associated with Wilco and this album.
First half of the album was a real chore to listen to, very average songs with nothing to distinguish themselves. Fortunately it picked up about halfway through and it was a lot better after that. Still, its all relative - I wouldn't care to listen to this album again. Not that it's bad, just that it sank into the sea of mediocrity.
I don't think Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is particularly groundbreaking or shocking or genre-defining in any musical standpoint. I had a hard time getting exactly what the people of the music internet loved so much about this record. There wasn't anything that popped out to me on my first, second or third listen. Somehow though I kept listening to it, and one day: I got it. Once I understood it, I listened to it even more. Then, I grew to love it the way I do now. I think this is the one of the best albums of all time simply because it's performed and executed very well. Maybe it was the right album for a world coming off the events of 9/11. But in these current days, I see Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as an album that feels like a coping mechanism. The words sung on this feels very emotionally resonant to me: "Tell them I'm lost by the sidewalk, and no, it's not ok" "Cheer up, honey, I hope you can" "I wonder why we listen to poets when nobody gives a fuck" "I shake like a toothache when I hear myself sing" "If I could you know I would just hold your hand and you'd understand" Jeff Tweedy delivers these bits and others in such a quietly striking manner that it melts my heart. When the record comes to Poor Places and its cacophonous name-drop ending, it feels like a monumental statement is being made. Something as tall as the two buildings on the cover. The noise comes to a boiling point before being scrubbed off and followed by the dragged out emotion of Reservations. It may have taken me a long time to understand what's so great about this record, but now I see it like a friend. Someone I met, took the time to learn and now love them like a brother. This record rules (10/10, 5/5 on this scale)
Wilco’s best album!
Not as compelling as I thought this would be... I think they made a bigger impact with later albums.
I listened to this a few years ago, and didn’t remember enjoying it this much.
Meio morto esse álbum... nem a mais famosa me animou. Sem paciência, não entendi o álbum. Vai 2 por que tem coisa muito ruim que pode vir, como já conhecemos.
Highly regarded by many, and perhaps it suffers as a result. For me Summerteeth is the better record, and YHF feels a bit self conscious and cold.
Starts boring as paint, but ends up in a surprising experimental place.
No
Radio Cure
reminds me of bright eyes/conor oberst - there was something special about the singer-songwriters who came out of the early 2000s. it’s also insane to me that this album was supposed to come out on 9/11/2001 when so much of it has themes of war + america favorite tracks: radio cure jesus, etc. pot kettle black
It's OK. Not much more to say.
Lidt bedre end den sidste, vi havde med dem, som allerede var super god. Kunne næsten lige så godt have været en 5'er
En all time fav
Banger parade
Amazinggg loveddd ittt
Nei takk
Strange alternative. Not really connecting with me
Meh.
It’s good. I listened. It’s a mid2000s rock record. Probably a good show. Maybe you leave early. I didn’t skip all the tracks. But I also didn’t listen closely to all of them. “ I know Wilco” Is what I’ll say at parties. But I couldn’t name a track. Ever.
I guess it'd put me to sleep
I really enjoyed this album. The instrumentals really carry it, I would honestly listen to these songs happily without lyrics. I like the unified theory songs better than the 2022 remaster.
After listening to Radiohead, this album was more enjoyable…barely. Jesus, etc. was my favorite, followed by Pot Kettle Black. Obviously I prefer their more “upbeat” songs. Even added those two to my library.
Incredible skill, not my jam.
Quite interesting, I enjoyed it, probably worth another listen.
Really like about 1/2
нудятина
3 , 5, 6 .10 are my favorites I've heard this record before, but it's a good opportunity to hear it again. It starts slow Three is beautiful Four is nice aswell Five is a classic, no doubt. Six lovely as well Seven as awkward as I remembered. 8 not remarkable in my opinion 9 is a nice song. 10 is a highlight. Such beautiful instrumentation. Loved it. 11 is beautiful aswell. Maybe a bit too long. I don't know if the ending adds much to the album. What can I say, this is not so different than what I remembered. This album was and still is a bit of a let down to me. The energy can't capture me. There are a few truly beautiful tracks here, but most are justOK. It's unfortunate, because I wanted to like it more this time. it's a flat 3...
Pretty album. And a new group for me.
Made it through 2.5 songs before stopping, fine but not for me.
Missed this completely when it came out, even though I was all over music at the time. Rather forgettable. Fine
Felt warm but easily forgettable. There's a few songs I think I'll revisit at some point
Barely 3. Not my favourite Wico
nice listen.
Generally pleasant but somewhat monotonous. No tracks seemed especially memorable.
I mean don't get me wrong it was certainly interesting, but really not my style of music. Not a huge fan but also could listen and not absolutely hate it.
Decent twee album.
Felt like I was in the soundtrack for a Wes Anderson movie
Interesante. Hay tracks muy buenos. Tiene cambios creativos.
At one time this was one of my favourite albums. The sound of a band reaching their peak as they partially implode. Jim O'rourke is the flippin man. Always liked a Ghost is Born just that little bit more (sucker for a Hallo Gallo jam). New Tweedy might be the best thing he's done since Ghost is Born.
Eh whiny men isn't my vibe idk
S'ok I suppose. A little too downbeat for me but at least it's not fake
So great, listening back I hear old Wilco with lots of layered sounds added. I wonder if the new albums are more sound oriented from their inception
Entirely new to me. Love the varied textures and tempos of this, so many different instruments and sounds bubbling underneath the guitars, and the way the mood swings effortlessly from misery to delight. It's a whole album listen: individual tracks just don't work as well. Not sure about the vocals.
It’s taken me multiple listens to finally unreservedly love this. More than anything, despite the melancholy throughout, I think this has a healthy sense of fun, the sounds of a band throwing all their ideas out there and seeing what sticks. Endlessly creative and really quite catchy when it wants to be.
I wasn't able to hear this under the best conditions, I had a bose bluetooth speaker playing while trying to wrangle my young kids. It may have been 5 stars but I wont be able to go back and change it later. Regardless from what I could hear I really enjoyed and think this is worth being on the list. It plays to my predilections for kind of melancholy rock with noisy interludes
The other Wilco album I had I gave a 4 because it grew on me. I've not had time to listen to this more than once.
like a sensible sounding (and more broring) Ween,
4/10
Why is it that bands like these always have some of the worst vocalists in music history? I'm not saying the album wouldn't be shit with a capable singer, but it'd be somewhat digestible with one. It's like an even worse Radiohead, which I didn't think was possible. Jesus, etc. was the diamond in dog shit, caught me off guard a little bit amidst everything else.
Not my vibe.
Boring slow background noise
'Let's forget about the tongue tied lightning / Let's undress like cross-eyed strangers'; 'You have to learn how to die / If you want to be alive'; 'Strung down you cheeks / Bitter melodies turning your orbit around.' It makes very little sense to call Wilco the American Radiohead since, tho they both make pop songs that aren't always intelligible, the Chicagoans have every intention to vitalize their obscurity whereas the Brits are amnesiac thumb-twiddlers. Tweedy is a far better lyricist than Yorke, possessing the rare knack to turn a phrase that's felt before it's understood, or to reorder cliché just enuf for it to hit more profoundly. If only for 'Jesus etc.,' a country-rock classic that rivals the Dead's 'Ripple' for sheer beauty, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is glorious.
I have no clue what genre they were even aiming for here. It felt like indie, folk, noise, and whatever else all thrown in a blender with no real direction. I listened to it while driving for Thanksgiving, and I was honestly thankful when it was finally over. Nothing grabbed me, nothing stuck, and it just dragged the whole way through.
Sevi
Too mellow for my taste.
I know people love this band but I’ve just never been able to figure them out. The whole album is so glum (except for heavy metal drummer)
Never heard of this guy before, might revisit but it didn't really grip me.
I remember when Wilco toured with Houmous & Chutney. Len Houmous was on one of his famous acid trips and was late to the gig. He’d spent 6 hours looking for Wilco in Wilcos! He spent a fortune on toilet duck! 3.3 9/11 Pot Kettle Black
Classic indie rock album that has a distinct early aughts sound. The standouts are more good than great ("Jesus, Etc." and "Heavy Metal Drummer") but as a whole album it works really well and there are no weak tracks.
Whiny, boring, and monotonous. I'm sick of albums like this already
5/10
Enjoyable, derivative, pacy
This album just didn't grab me
I listened to it on a plane. Not sure if the engine noise made it better or worse