--Michael Drewes
----Released 23 October 2020 on Rough Trade
The lines between Wilco the band, and Jeff Tweedy the solo artist were probably always a little crooked and blurred. With this latest release, they’re almost imperceivable. If you are a fan of ‘60s and ‘70s rock and roll, you will feel right at home (aka the TV is now flat, but your VHS tapes still work). Creatively, there is nothing quite groundbreaking here. Think of a more distilled Yankee Hotel Foxtrot sound, à la Ode to Joy.
For Tweedy, it’s the same old bag of tricks that he’s been using for a few years now: smokey vocals, poetic lyrics, and acoustic guitar. Though this time he’s more generous with the electric guitar. This is definitely the most Wilco-esque of his solo records. Sonically more balanced with more up-beat songs and more of a clear attempt at tying the songs together with a cohesive theme.
My favorite tracks are “Opaline” and “Guess Again,” but the whole album really deserves a listen. The first half of "Opaline" is carried by a walking bass line while the lead guitar slowly fades in. The guitar solo is Tweedy's best Nels Kline impression. "Guess Again" is short and sweet, but the delayed electric guitar adds some texture to round it out. The sound is slightly eerie, but not overpowering; and it doesn't detract from the overall feel of the song. Sometimes quiet, but always calculated, Love Is The King is a glimpse of our current blight. The yearning, heartache, and uncertainty of modern life flipped upside down.
There's not much to write about because this is a record we're already a bit familiar with. Love Is The King is a bit like returning home. It's new, but it's old. Familiar, yet still engaging. And if it ain't broke, why fix it? Listen to "Gwendolyn" below:
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