Wilco frontman, Jeff Tweedy, released his first official solo project, WARM, as a companion piece to his memoir, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back). The memoir was published on November 13, 2018, with the album following just over two weeks later. The book covers his roots in Belleville, Illinois, his time in both Uncle Tupelo and Wilco, and issues with family, depression, and addiction. Tweedy delivers similar messages throughout WARM with just enough humor and twang to make you smile through it all.
Whether you prefer the term indie-folk or alt-country, this genre-bending album shows Tweedy’s more casual side. While inspired by his fears, he does it in a way that can make the lyric “We all think about dying” seem light. The same song, “Don’t Forget,” features reminders, likely for his children, “to brush your teeth,” making the darker lyrics seem almost playful.
“Let’s Go Rain” begins with a reference to Noah’s arc and continues with biblical themes throughout. He satirically reflects on how if God was able to wash away the world’s sin, we should prepare for another big flood based on society’s current state.
One of the singles, “I Know What It’s Like,” introduced the recurring image of seeing his twin. Jeff Tweedy spoke with NPR about lyrics like “When the lights are dim/ In my window I have a twin/ I’m always looking out/ And he’s always looking in.” Tweedy said that “it kind of represents this shadow self that we all have, I believe we all have, that we tend to dismiss and ignore.”
WARM debuted on November 30th through dBpm Records. Despite making the 2018 cutoff, Jeff Tweedy brings us music that matters all the way into the new year.
Recommended If You Like: Wilco, Ryan Adams, Jason Isbell, Andrew Bird
Recommended Tracks: (7) I Know What It’s Like, (3) Don’t Forget, (5) Let’s Go Rain
Do Not Play: None
Written by Miranda Roberts on 01/04/2019