Jeff Tweedy, front man of Wilco, has been making waves in the Indie Rock scene since 1995 with the release of his band’s debut album A.M. Although comically referred to as “Dad-rock”, Wilco’s thirteen (and counting) record discography has been enjoyed by lovers of alt, folk, and country rock from all different backgrounds. Tweedy’s unique voice and emotional depth have carried over into his five solo albums, including his most recent, Twilight Override.
An exploration of his past, present, and future spanning thirty songs and three discs (each one an exploration of said topics), Twilight Override is a bittersweet lament that grapples with Tweedy’s struggles to cope with the changes of the modern world. Said to be inspired by listening to The Clash’s Sandinista! start to finish, the influence of 20th-century musicians on this album is undeniable. From referencing The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in his song “Feel Free” to homaging Bob Dylan with his famous lines “Out on your own/Like a complete unknown”, Tweedy’s source of inspiration is clear. With that being said, each track has an original and distinctive feel that transports you into his thoughts and experiences.
The first disc, consisting of ten songs, focuses mainly on the past. Opening with a simple yet effective acoustic guitar riff followed by a faint drum beat, “One Tiny Flower” starts the album off on a hopeful note, discussing the prevailing beauty of nature. What follows is considerably less optimistic, however, to me, more enjoyable. Songs such as “Caught Up In the Past” and “Sign of Life” reveal Tweedy’s fear of running out of time. Similarly, “Parking Lot” takes listeners on a journey of reflection and confrontation as he reminisces on all of the versions of himself he never got to be. The meld of quiet electric and slightly-louder acoustic guitar creates a tonally nostalgic sound that complements Tweedy’s melancholic lyrics perfectly.
Seamlessly transitioning from past to present, the first track of the second disc, “KC Rain (No Wonder)”, compares how Tweedy was when he was born (“a little sad”), to how he is currently– filthy, flat, and confused. Themes of self-resentment and Tweedy’s inability to escape the grip of his past are carried through the rest of the album. He makes it clear that although physically in the present, his mind is constantly carried back to his old self and mistakes that he is “waiting to be forgotten”. His reflections are sporadically interjected by mentions of love and death, a seemingly instigating factor in his turmoil. The second disc ends with “Feel Free”, a quiet yet optimistic song that shows Tweedy’s declining care to do what is expected of him, urging his listeners to “Get on the floor and dream”.
The third and final disc, while still conforming to the theme of past, present, and future, follows the format less strictly. Starting with the contrastingly upbeat “Lou Reed Was My Babysitter”, Tweedy’s voice takes on an eerily accurate imitation of The Velvet Underground’s front man as he repeats the lyric “The dead don’t die” while the song increases in intensity with harsh beats of a drum. This mirrors the rest of the album as songs become obsessively fixated on the theme of death. In the song “Too Real”, Tweedy states that he is pretending “The walls aren’t closing in,” which I interpret as a metaphor for old age and the inability to stop the oppressive passage of time. The album ends with an eye opening question to listeners: “Have you ever felt full/At the end of the day?”, urging them to reflect on the fulfillingness of their life before it is too late.
Through his emotionally deep (and notably long) album Twilight Override, Tweedy takes us on a rollercoaster of reflection, resentment, love, mortality, and hope. Although at times slightly repetitive, it is an overall enjoyable listen. Whether you crave relaxing songs to play as background music (although you might be interrupted with an electric guitar riff or two) or an introspective look into the struggles of growing older and leaving your past behind, Twilight Override is definitely worth a listen.
Photo Credits: Shervin Lainez
Hi, my name is Ainsley Hopkins and I am a freshman at UA, majoring in English Literature. My favorite album is either Instrument Soundtrack by Fugazi or Disintegration by The Cure.
