W&W: Wilco and Wall-E

What a cute and cuddly trash can!

Similarities abound between the unique Pixar film Wall-E and Wilco's critically acclaimed 2002 effort Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.  Discovering comparable motifs between these two was easier than making a Kirstie Alley fat joke 2 years ago (apparently she lost the weight now).  I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Tweedy and the late Jay Bennett consulted with the filmmakers to create this progressive thinking, environmentally-charged animated picture to expose children to meaningful art.

Now, I could just about go song-by-song down the list of what Rolling Stone named the third best album of the 2000's and find a relation to plot points in Wall-E, and that is exactly what I am going to do.


"I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" - I never thought trash collectors could cause a grown man to tear up, but damnit if Wall-E didn't come close.  That little compactor almost made we want to go out and hug a can-collecting vagrant or two on the street and maybe duet a Hello Dolly number while I was at it.  The last and loneliest of his species, Wall-E "assassins (trash) down the avenue" and has his heart broken after sharing a seedling (that sounds dirty, but was not meant as a play on words) with his new found beau, Eve.  The despair and isolation of the Earth Wall-E now inhabits mirrors the themes of hopeless love and isolation found throughout YHF.  Wall-E could have easily sung to Eve "what was I thinking when I let go of you."

"Kamera" - "I need a camera, to my eye," opens this tune.  And I'm pretty sure Wall-E's eyes are made of cameras.  Check.

"Radio Cure" - The refrain to this ditty mentions "Electronic surgical words."  Interesting seeing as Pixar took a gigantic leap in featuring a main character who could only speak in the robotic, electronic surgical language of love.  I also find it interesting that Pixar took the risk on this experimental film and they were rewarded with a hit, while Warner Bros. found YHF too risky and non-mainstream which lead to the disintegration of Wilco's record deal.  Looks like Pixar made the right call while Warner Bros. added to the decline of music business.

"War on War" - Wall-E may be viewed by some on the right as an affront on the American way of life.  I see it as calling us on our shit.  I am an American and I know plenty of lazy, overweight, fast-food loving Americans, and 3 people from other countries that love the same things.  This movie makes it's points, and inflates them to satirize the state of our world to try and make a change.  It uses the comedic scenes of obese future humans losing the use of their legs after generations of inactivity.  It is a attack on our "wars" against obesity, global warming and robot marriage.

"Jesus, Etc." - Because this album was released soon after the 9/11 attacks, some people believe this song is an homage to that day because of lines like "Tall buildings shake."  But the reality is this song was recorded months prior to that day.  Still the mood of the country at the time gave this song new meaning to certain fans and the cover art may have added to this feeling.  YHF's cover features the two Marina City buildings in downtown Chicago, that some critics speculate to also be in reference to the World Trade Centers.  Wilco 9/11 conspiracies aside, Wall-E definitely has it's fair share of towers built by centuries of garbage accumulation and also examines the new American experience in a way never before seen in a children's movie.

"Ashes of American Flags" - This song gives the most blatant connection to Wall-E.  Tweedy references the disbanding of the America that he loves and examines the country as a shadow of its' former self.  Wall-E's version of Earth shows a far cry from what we live in now.  The line about fallen leaves filling up shopping bags also leads to an obvious mention of the trash that surrounds and decorates Wall-E's world.

"Heavy Metal Drummer" -  Tweedy nostalgically sings, "I sincerely miss those heavy metal bands used to go see on the Landing in the summer."  And Wall-E definitely shares some nostalgia and longing for the past.

"I'm the Man Who Loves You" - I have the distinct advantage that I can read, write and speak robot, and Wall-E says this exact phrase to Eve at 38, 42, 58 and 107 minutes into the film.

"Pot Kettle Black"- This phrase is used to accuse a person of being guilty of the thing that they are pointing out.  For instance, if it was discovered that Chris Hansen was an online child predator or Hitler's father was Jewish, they would be calling the pot kettle black.  There are quite a few human characters, including one played by the great Fred Willard, in the movie that are responsible for the near death of Earth.  These same people probably spent their time focusing on how music lyrics and video games would destroy society before any environmental or twinkie-obsession problem could.

"Poor Places" - Strange and entrancing lyrics highlight this standout on YHF.  It is truly just a beautiful song.  Similarly beautiful is the scene when Wall-E and Eve ride a fire extinguisher through the star-filled expanse of space.

"Reservations" - I'm not even going to try and compare this.  But still the percentages of songs that compare is pretty astounding, if you even believe a word I wrote.

Check in next when I compare efforts from lady-killers Jack White and Brad Pitt.