I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

Well, I'm only a few years late on this one, but better late than never, right?

Last night I finally had a chance to sit down and watch the Sam Jones film, "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," which is a fantastic documentary on Wilco and the making of their highly-acclaimed album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch Records, 2002).

This film was an incredibly powerful yet simplistic behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album, without any trite commentary or cheesy flashbacks. Jones was simply a witness to the process, which makes the grainy black and white film even more honest and intimate. As a non-serious fan myself, it was especially compelling to watch the story unfold and to learn of all the drama that was behind the album release. It chronicled turmoil within the band, as well as the classic label vs. artist debate -- Reprise records droppped Wilco from their label after they heard the album, only to have them resign and release with another Time Warner-owned label to critical acclaim -- all without being sensationalist or cliché.

Ultimately, however you feel about Wilco, you can't help but gain a much larger appreciation for the musical process as a whole-- especially when watching such good and serious musicians and how their creative processes unfold. It was also interesting to watch the movie knowing how the Wilco story would continue after the film stopped rolling: The way Yankee Hotel Foxtrot would be viewed and judged by the masses, and their subsequent album release coinciding with Jeff Tweedy's drug addiction (briefly foreshadowed by the mention of the terrible migraines he battled).

For fans and non fans alike, this is hands-down an excellent music documentary. I only wish I could watch something like this for all my favorite artists and albums. Sure beats VH1's Behind the Music!

Finally, below is a sample track from the album. By coincidence, the album's original release date was supposed to 9/11/01, and many people think this song -- along with a couple others, including "War on War," and "Ashes of American Flags" -- are tributes to that day. Eerily enough, the album had already been recorded and finished (complete with the album cover art, which could be said to resemble the Twin Towers) prior to 9/11.

Wilco :: Jesus, Etc.