I started Mental Jukebox nearly three years ago at the beginning of the pandemic. During this time, I’ve discovered new music, rediscovered old favorites and I’ve met passionate music fans around the world. And when things opened up, I kept on blogging. This month, the jukebox goes deeper. The term “deep cut” has multiple meanings. It can refer to lesser known album tracks from well-known artists. It can also refer to tracks from lesser known artists. This month, I’ll be featuring both types. #DeepCutsFeb
The paradox of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’s timing is both chilling and redemptive. Released one week after September 11, 2001, this album flew under the radar for several months. While the world was turned upside down, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot seemed to turn things right side up, but in the experimental Wilco way. It’s regarded as one of the finest albums of the decade. And, like many music fans, it’s my favorite Wilco record hands down. The songwriting, introspective and immersive. The experimentation and the risks, uncompromised. And the melodies, they feel almost effortless. That’s the case with heralded tracks like “Jesus, Etc.”, “Heavy Metal Drummer” and “War On War” as well as with deep cuts like “Pot Kettle Black”.
There’s an immediately familiarity to it thanks to the borrowed riff from The Cure’s “In Between Days”. As a music fan, this never made me angry. Quite the opposite, actually. I’m always happy to hear it. It’s an unexpected surprise that gives the song an endearing quality. Was it intentional? Perhaps Tweedy’s lyrics are an admission: “Every song's a comeback. Every moment's a little bit later.” At the two-minute mark, “Pot Kettle Black” seems to transform into a two-bit video game, grounding the moment in deep nostalgia. Like “Heavy Metal Drummer”, it’s a song that brings you back in its own unique way.
“Every song's a comeback. Every moment's a little bit later.”