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You Can't Hear it on the Radio is a blog about the current golden age of music. At no time since the 1960s has there been such an output of quality music by so many varied artists. Add to that technology that makes it easier than ever for the curious to find good music today. But, like an unlimited selection at an all-you-can-eat buffet, there's no table service. You will have to seek it out. The old model is dead. Generally speaking, you can't hear it on the radio. You can learn about it here, though.

With the release of The Whole Love we decided to put the totality of Wilco's discography into perspective with a playground style draft. Since we alternated picks, this list doesn't represent either of our individual lists - for instance, Noah would almost certainly have A Ghost is Born higher than Sky Blue Sky, and I would have Being There lower on my own personal list. But as a joint effort it's a pretty fair list. Without further ado:

1) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Steve) - With the first pick there was little debate about which album belongs at the top of the list. What else can be said about Yankee Hotel Foxtrot that hasn't already? By the measure of this blog's tastes, Wilco has made several Great albums; Yankee Hotel Foxtrot goes beyond great - it's an iconic record that belongs on a shelf alongside other albums that explored the essence of what song arrangement can/should be, how a band can redefine itself, and how tremendous tension can lead to great art. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot's brethren in this regard are the likes of Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Exile on Main Street, Led Zeppelin IV, Who's Next, The Wall, Rumours, Thriller, Achtung Baby, Nevermind, Kid A, Funeral.

I often think about two things when I listen to YHF. First of all, I imagine what it would have been like in the room with those Reprise Records executives when they first heard this album. As the opening strains to "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" were heard - the electronic noises, the dissonance of the piano, the drum rhythms disconnected from everything else, Tweedy's monotone vocal reading of non sequitur lyrics - as those first seven minutes played out, what must have been going through the heads of those guys? We know how it played out, who was ultimately vindicated and vilified, but what must it have been like in that moment? Did they breath a sigh of relief upon hearing YHF's more straightforward second track, "Kamera"? How many nervous glances were exchanged during "Radio Cure" when it became clear they were dealing with something so thoroughly challenging? At what point did one of them first speak up, raising his concerns? What kind of changes were requested? What was said?

The other thing I think about is the late Jay Bennett. Much of the celebrated weirdness of YHF can be credited to Bennett. Yet we know how that played out too. Look, I'm more than fine with late period Wilco - it's some of the best music around, and in some ways I prefer it to early period Wilco. And I get too that Wilco can only make a YHF once. But I do think of Bennett when I listen, and I do feel sad for him.

2) Summerteeth (Noah) - I'm sure there's nothing I can say about Yankee Hotel Foxtrot that hasn't been said, but I'm going to reflect for just a second before I get to Summerteeth. Had I gotten the first pick, I certainly would have taken YHF. It is superlative. There are a lot of albums that are legendary for various reasons (Steve's list above is a great one) - fights between band members, drug use, long recording sessions, fights with record companies, being awesome - YHF is one that is not overshadowed by the album's story, which is well-known and epic. It's just awesome.

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