Yanqui U.X.O.

Yanqui U.X.O. is an album released by Godspeed You! Black Emperor on Constellation Records in 2002. This album marks the first release of the Canadian group after their small exclamation mark correction; it was moved to the end of the "you" in their name. This was apparently a move to make the band name more exact with its namesake.

"Yanqui" is the Spanish word for "Yankee." The liner notes also refer to "Yanqui" as a "multinational corporate oligarchy", while "U.X.O." stands for unexploded ordnance. The packaging of the album contains an extensive chart which demonstrats the links between four major record labels—AOL Time-Warner, BMG, Sony, Vivendi Universal—and various arms manufacturers. This chart accompanied a photograph of falling bombs. The band later apologized for some extensions of the chart, conceding that some of their research had been inaccurate.

There are some noticeable differences between the CD and double vinyl set. One of the most prominent is the compounding of the two-part song, "09-15-00," into one. Another is the addition of a hidden untitled track within the final song after some silence. It is masked in a similar manner with the short song "J.L.H. Outro" on the CD release of f#a#∞. The ulterior track consists of a sampled and cut-up George W. Bush speech with applause added. Finally, the second section of the two part track "Motherfucker=Redeemer" is about nine minutes longer on the LP due to an extended ambient opening.

Common alternate titles for certain pieces used by the band on setlists include "12-28-99" (which became "09-15-00"), "Tazer Floyd" ("Rockets Fall on Rocket Falls."), and "Tiny Silver Hammers" (which became Motherfucker=Redeemer).

Track listing

Vinyl edition

Side one

1. "09-15-00" – 22:40

Side two

1. "Rockets Fall On Rocket Falls" – 20:43

Side three

1. "Motherfucker=Redeemer" – 21:23

Side four

1. "Motherfucker=Redeemer" – 19:05

After the second Motherfucker=Redeemer track, there is a "secret" track. It begins with a looped sample of a voice saying "It is a predominant question; Why am I here, and what can I do to make it better? How can I do what is right?" This sample is looped throughout the track. After a while, "someone" (George W. Bush) can be heard giving a speech. The speech is repeatedly interrupted by applause. This hidden track appears on 1-Speed Bike's Droopy Butt Begone! album entitled, "The Day That Mauro Ran over Elwy Yost".

This track was also included on the Museum Fire Records' 2003 compilation "Azadi!" (a benefit for the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan), which was then titled "George Bush Cut Up While Talking".

CD edition

1. "09-15-00" – 16:28
2. "09-15-00" – 6:16
3. "Rockets Fall On Rocket Falls" – 20:43
4. "Motherfucker=Redeemer" – 21:23
5. "Motherfucker=Redeemer" – 10:10

External links

• Chart connecting four major record companies to the American military industrial complex
• Constellation's Information Page on Yanqui U.X.O.
• Yanqui U.X.O at MetaCritic