Wilco Scores a Direct Hit with YHF

You don't have to be skilled in the military phonetic alphabet to read the writing on the wall: Wilco's fourth album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is the most pleasant surprise to hit the record store shelves in a long, long time. A unique and progressive effort from a revitalized band, it's quickly garnering the praises of every critic around. But YHF's accolades weren't always so abundant, and it wasn't long ago that frontman Jeff Tweedy and Co.'s careers seemed to be approaching the big "over-and-out."

About a year ago, Reprise Records answered Wilco's latest musical offering with a resounding "negative ghost rider," claiming YHF was too non-commercial to release. The band members, convinced their work was destined for greater things, toured with the new material, made it available on their website and eventually signed with Nonesuch (a label owned, ironically, by the same company as Reprise). Surprise, surprise--it's a runaway hit.

But is it really that good? Roger, that's a 10-4.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot's appeal lies in the same hidden-gem quality that almost got it canned. It's daring and personal and refreshingly unconventional. The usual alt-country flair of Wilco (and its hugely important father band, Uncle Tupelo) is supplemented by an experimental edginess. Cacophonic whirs, chimes and chirps bounce off of the vintage rock-n-country twang, while the occasional horn and string arrangements thicken the new sound. Tweedy's vocals transform from dry and throaty rasps on a track like "I am Trying to Break Your Heart" to the rich, velvety melodies of "Kamera." And those are just the album's first two songs. On "Ashes of American Flags," he croons, "I would like to salute/ the ashes of American flags/ and all of the falling leaves/ filling up shopping bags." I don't know what it means, but damn, it sure sounds deep.

In the end, it's this unidentifiable element that makes Yankee Hotel Foxtrot essential. It isn't your average rock On roll album, and the unconventional aspects that nearly ended it make it even more enjoyable. Wilco earns an "Alpha." That's an "A" for all you civvies.