Review: Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy gives pandemic some ‘Love’

His newest release is filled with beautiful melodies, while also embracing fear and uncertainty.

Share 

Jeff Tweedy, “Love Is the King” (dBpm Records)

Music Reviews category interest

By: Scott Bauer for AP

“Here I am,” Jeff Tweedy sings at the onset of the title track, and also first song, of “Love Is the King,” a record made in April while the Wilco frontman was quarantining with his wife and sons at home in Chicago.

The song sets the mood and tone for the record, which refuses to give up on love and optimism, while death, disaster and dread are never far away.

“There it is,” Tweedy continues. “At the edge/Of as bad as it gets.”

Tweedy’s reaction to being quarantined was to get to work. In addition to the new record, made with his two musician-sons Spencer and Sammy, he also has a new book out called “How to Write One Song.”

“Love Is the King” is filled with beautiful melodies, while also embracing fear and uncertainty.

“I’m just having a ball/Being alive,” he sings on “A Robin or a Wren.” “And I don’t want to die/I don’t wanna die.”

More than any other track, the stark “Bad Day Lately” sums up quarantining as the pandemic drags on.

“It’s been a bad day lately/A lonely place/I can’t endure,” Tweedy sings.

For a record that can at times be so dark, it’s not depressing. If anything, in Tweedy’s embracing the darkness that surrounds him, and us, he emerges more hopeful than before. Perhaps, as Tweedy emphasizes with the record title, love indeed is the king.

“When you need me,” he sings with assurance on “Half-Asleep,” the final track, ”I’ll be there.”

More Photos

Share 

More from Music Reviews

Chicagos Four Stars Respond to Systematic Racism with
Music Reviews

Chicagos Four Stars Respond to Systematic Racism with "Fools Gold"

An reflection of the way things are and thoughts on the way things should be

Brian Fennell starts 2021 with new SYML single
Music Reviews

Brian Fennell starts 2021 with new SYML single "True"

Check out the new single from SYML, the solo project fo Singer, Songwriter & Producer Brian Fennel

VAINES Shares new single & Video
Music Reviews

VAINES Shares new single & Video "All In My Head"

Out Now via Hopeless Records

Meet Sly Withers
Music Reviews

Meet Sly Withers

Check out their new single & video "Bougainvillea"

Sign up forArtistAndFan Newsletters

Keep in touch with everything onArtistAndFan. Sign up for our newsletter!
 








Stats
Elapsed time: 0.3799 seconds
Memory useage: 2.78MB
V2.geronimo