YHF Named #2 Album of Decade

[myboyblue]

This list is indisputably correct.

[Ghost of Electricity]

sadly i'll have to disagree

every review of this record begins with one or two paragraphs of backstory

followed by a brief description of the wonderful music on this record

the paste article is a prime example

sure we might all like to think the music is what stands as the towering achievement of this record

but frequent lineup discussions (which undoubtedly are the result of the major shakeup before and after this record) here often prove this is not the case either

And many if not most articles to this day have some reference to "the ashes of Uncle Tupelo" as well. Reviews are for reading, good stories make for good reading, controversey and messy breakups make for good stories. The folks who write articles will naturally gravitate towards such intrigue.

 

 

 

But I think most people here, who know these little inside stories are capable of listening to the music without dwelling on them, or even bringing them to mind. I, for one, am absolutely engaged by the YHF within about six and a half seconds, and by then i'm already looking forward to that drum beat that comes in at :59. I am not in the least at that point worried about did you hear who did what to whom gossip all of the time.

 

The music is undoubtedly the towering accomplishment. The rest is just fodder for us gossip mongers.

 

edit to add: and what's with the lack of love for "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning?"

[LouieB]

If those really are the best albums of the decade, then YHF should be number 1.....

 

LouieB

[Ghost of Electricity]

If those really are the best albums of the decade, then YHF should be number 1.....

 

LouieB

it should be anyway, regardless of the othe other 9

[Dude]

Backstory or no, YHF was the first album I ever downloaded off the interwebs, September 2001. I had been avidly following the Wilco drama -- the one two punch of Bennett officially leaving the band and Reprise dropping them were both stories in the Chicago Tribune that hit me in the gut. I felt what had become my favorite band was imploding before my eyes. Then of course, 9/11 rolled around and further added to my general sadness and uncertainty with the way things were headed. I had tickets to see them September 24th at the Roxy in Atlanta - would they even bother showing up? Would there still be a band then? Would they cancel the tour after 9/11, or simply hang it all up since they had no label and their new album was already freely available to anyone with an internet connection?

 

My first listen to the YHF mp3s that I downloaded (I believe off Napster which I installed just for the sole purpose of downloading the new Wilco leak) wasn't a huge revelation for me, I had come to expect great music from this band. It basically confirmed that Wilco were important in the grand scheme of things, and that this record deserved to see a proper release.

 

When I did go to see them at the Roxy, Jeff was pleasantly surprised enough fans actually seemed to know some of the new songs and mentioned this a bit during the show. It was a very uncertain time, post 9/11, and it seemed like the one thing that made sense was going to a Wilco show. The audience wasn't the massive crowds we see today - I'd say between 500 and 1,000 people were there. Jeff played all the guitar solos and handled all the bits of noise on a gadget at his feet, and of course sang. He did a hell of a job with so much of the band's sound resting on his shoulders.

 

I also remember the crowd being very enthusiastic and appreciative, and we weren't going to let the band leave the venue without knowing how grateful we were to have this "sonic shoulder to cry on" in such an uncertain world. We got 3 encores that night.

 

When I listen to the album now, I don't think about any of this backstory. I think about how great the album sounds close to 10 years in, and how great it will sound 30 years from now. That's all that matters really.

[Guest Runaway Jim]

I'd like to have seen The Postal Service record and Beck's Sea Change on the list.

 

I'd probably go

1. YHF

2. Kid A

3. Sea Change

4. Postal Service

 

and then I really don't give a shit.

[W(TF)]

it should be anyway, regardless of the of the other 9

 

Yes it should. No record ever hit me as hard as YHF. I became a Wilco addict at 0:24 of that album.

[W(TF)]

I'd like to have seen The Postal Service record and Beck's Sea Change on the list.

 

I'd probably go

1. YHF

2. Kid A

3. Sea Change

4. Postal Service

 

and then I really don't give a shit.

 

We agree on two & even their positions...I think I'd go

1. YHF

2. Ten New Songs

3. Sea Change

4. Around The Well

5. Modern Times

 

with honourable mentions for Heartbreaker, Essence, Michigan, Another Fine Day, Icky Thump and In Rainbows.

[calvino]

We agree on two & even their positions...I think I'd go

 

5. Modern Times

 

 

Do you mean's Dylan's Modern Times? I hate putting things in lists, but if forced I would put Love and Theft before Modern Times. It's great to see Modern Times in your top five, though.

[bobbob1313]

10. M.I.A.: Arular [interscope] (2005)

9. The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You [Columbia/American] (2009)

8. OutKast: Stankonia [Arista/LaFace] (2000)

7. Gillian Welch: Time (the Revelator) [Acony] (2001)

6. The White Stripes: Elephant [V2] (2003)

5. Bright Eyes: I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning [saddle Creek] (2005)

4. Radiohead: Kid A [Capitol] (2000)

3. Arcade Fire: Funeral [Merge] (2004)

2. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot [Nonesuch] (2002)

1. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois [Asthmatic Kitty] (2005)

 

The bold would make my top 10.

[dongrungio69]

Hmmm...I take this list with a grain of salt...half the entries are snobby "Pastey" entries that are snobbish and don't really qualify as a top 10 of the decade in my opinion.

 

...and any list of the top 10 of the decade should include My Morning Jacket's At Dawn. Period.

[Beltmann]

...I also remember the crowd being very enthusiastic and appreciative, and we weren't going to let the band leave the venue without knowing how grateful we were to have this "sonic shoulder to cry on" in such an uncertain world. We got 3 encores that night.

 

When I listen to the album now, I don't think about any of this backstory. I think about how great the album sounds close to 10 years in, and how great it will sound 30 years from now. That's all that matters really.

Thanks, Dude, for sharing those memories. I enjoyed reading that.

[bleedorange]

"snobby entries that are snobbish"

 

[Dude]

Thanks, Dude, for sharing those memories. I enjoyed reading that.

 

Thanks Mr. B.

[W(TF)]

Hmmm...I take this list with a grain of salt...half the entries are snobby "Pastey" entries that are snobbish and don't really qualify as a top 10 of the decade in my opinion.

 

...and any list of the top 10 of the decade should include My Morning Jacket's At Dawn. Period.

 

I would've included At Dawn, but I think it came out in '98 or '99....

[choo-choo-charlie]

I would've included At Dawn, but I think it came out in '98 or '99....

 

At Dawn came out in 2001. The Tennessee Fire came out in 1999.

[Sir Stewart]

Thanks Mr. B.

 

Yeah, I liked that a lot too, man. Seeing Wilco in Sept of '01 must've been a trip. Hey - I was in Atlanta in Sept of '01, too.

I recall Christmas shopping in a mall in La Jolla, CA, and reading in Spin(?) magazine that YHF was streaming on a site...radioparadise.com I'm thinking for some reason?

[15step]

im not trying to diminish the tremendous accomplishments of this record

all im saying is that when you look back at this record what UNFORTUNATELY stands out is the particular stories that are associated with it

that is all

 

anyway the first time i listened to this record i knew it was going to be magic when i heard john come in right before glenn on the first track

that split second of sonic space between the bass and the drum intro is pure excellence

i think it might have been the sort of thing jeff was referring to on the dvd (sorry to bring it up) when he says there are a lot of holes on this record then someone cracks a courtney love joke

 

and i got mad love for im wide awake its morning

[HungryHippo]

AGIB should have made that list, no doubt about it. I mean, everyone knows that Wilco is the best band in the world right now, so I'm sure no one would complain about them popping up twice on a top ten list.

[Sir Stewart]

im not trying to diminish the tremendous accomplishments of this record

all im saying is that when you look back at this record what UNFORTUNATELY stands out is the particular stories that are associated with it

that is all

 

You mean when you look back at it.

[Dude]

Yeah, I liked that a lot too, man. Seeing Wilco in Sept of '01 must've been a trip. Hey - I was in Atlanta in Sept of '01, too.

I recall Christmas shopping in a mall in La Jolla, CA, and reading in Spin(?) magazine that YHF was streaming on a site...radioparadise.com I'm thinking for some reason?

Cool! As I recall, Ken @ Wilcoworld sent out an e-mail urging fans not to spread the mp3s around, and within a few days / weeks, realizing there was no point putting the toothpaste back in the tube, the band had their own stream up.

[Dude]

im not trying to diminish the tremendous accomplishments of this record

all im saying is that when you look back at this record what UNFORTUNATELY stands out is the particular stories that are associated with it

that is all

 

There's a lot of great albums in that category, though. No one discusses Sgt. Peppers without mentioning the Summer of Love, the White Album mentioning the Beatles' pulling apart in four different directions, Bon Iver's For Emma mentioning the fact it was recorded in a cabin in the woods, Exile on Main St. mentioning the tax exile in France, Richard and Linda Thompson's split impacting Shoot Out the Lights. And don't get me started on Fleetwood Mac's Rumours...

 

If YHF is another album with a well-known, oft-repeated backstory but with great music that's stood the test of time, it's in pretty good company.

[Bhickman]

F'ing Sufjan Stevens at #1??? Insufferable. I'd have an easier time accepting Arcade Fire at the top. I think, culturally and considering Paste's readership it would have made the most sense. That album, love it or not, defines the new decade musically.

 

That said, it wouldn't make my Top 10 of the decade. I'm putting a list together on the new site (signature).

[laurie]

If those really are the best albums of the decade, then YHF should be number 1.....

 

LouieB

 

 

Oh yeah

[Guest Alan]

Am I the only one that thinks Elephant is the worst White Stripes album of this decade? (And by worst, I mean least favorite.)

I think it's probably the best album they've made.