Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

by Wilco

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: April 23, 2002
  • Label: Nonesuch, Sundazed
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 2:06:11
  • Community rating: 4.28/5 from 33 ratings

Artists on this release: Jeff Tweedy, Jay Bennett, Glenn Kotche, John Stirratt, Jim O'Rourke

Album Notes & Community Reviews

'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' marks a pivotal moment for Wilco, deconstructing traditional rock and Americana song structures with layers of electronic noise, static, and experimental studio production largely shaped by Jim O'Rourke. The album’s themes of alienation and fractured communication are conveyed through Jeff Tweedy’s cryptic, introspective lyrics and a sound that mirrors the turbulent band dynamics during its creation. Its historical significance was secured by its initial rejection from Reprise Records and the band's subsequent pioneering decision to stream it for free online, which preceded its widespread critical acclaim and status as a landmark indie-rock album.

Genres

Descriptors: experimental, fractured, stream-of-consciousness, confessional, atmospheric

Tracklist

  1. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (6:58)
  2. Kamera (3:30)
  3. Radio Cure (5:09)
  4. War on War (3:49)
  5. Jesus, Etc. (3:52)
  6. Ashes of American Flags (4:45)
  7. Heavy Metal Drummer (3:09)
  8. I'm the Man Who Loves You (3:56)
  9. Pot Kettle Black (4:00)
  10. Poor Places (5:19)
  11. Reservations (7:21)
  12. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (7:03)
  13. Kamera - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (3:21)
  14. Radio Cure - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (5:39)
  15. War on War - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (3:59)
  16. Jesus, Etc. - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (3:52)
  17. Ashes of American Flags - Stravinsky Mix (5:26)
  18. Heavy Metal Drummer - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (3:31)
  19. I'm The Man Who Loves You - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (3:40)
  20. Pot Kettle Black - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (4:20)
  21. Poor Places - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (3:46)
  22. Reservations - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (3:44)
  23. Shakin' Sugar - American Aquarium Version (3:31)
  24. Venus Stopped the Train - Here Comes Everybody Version (4:30)
  25. Remember to Remember (Hummingbird) - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (4:48)
  26. A Magazine Called Sunset - The Unified Theory of Everything Version (2:52)
  27. The Good Part - Here Comes Everybody Version (3:10)
  28. Not for the Season (Laminated Cat) - Here Comes Everybody Version (3:13)
  29. Cars Can't Escape - Here Comes Everybody Version (3:57)

Credits

  • Jeff Tweedy - vocals, horn and string arrangements, Lead Vocals Vocal
  • Jim O'Rourke - producer, musician, mixer, recording
  • Glenn Kotche - drummer
  • Ken Coomer - drummer
  • Jay Bennett - multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer
  • John Stirratt - bass, horn and string arrangements
  • Leroy Bach - multi-instrumentalist
  • Wilco - producer, Producer
  • Chris Brickley - audio engineer
  • Sam Jones - photographer, film producer
  • Lawrence Azerrad - art direction, design
  • Mikael Jorgensen - keyboards, engineer
  • Jim O’Rourke - Mix

More from Wilco: full discography