Jeff Tweedy // WARM

Jeff Tweedy

WARM

dBpm Records

4.5/5 stars

Jeff Tweedy has made a name for himself over the past 20 years as the frontman and principal songwriter of Wilco, which is exactly what makes his solo debut, WARM, so enthralling. You read that right — WARM is Tweedy's first proper collection of original material under his own name, and the songs are so vulnerable, so emotionally resonant, that they mark yet another high point in the storied musician's career. Sonically speaking, WARM also spans 20 years of musical exploration, from the country twang of his first band, Uncle Tupelo ("Don't Forget," "I Know What It's Like"), to the future folk of Wilco's strangest LP, Star Wars ("From Far Away"). The arrival of WARM coincides with the release of Tweedy's autobiography, "Let's Go (So We Can Get Back)," lending to the personal nature of each track. Much of the album, like its literary companion, deals with addiction and rehabilitation, including its exceptional opening track, "Bombs Away," in which a drunken man explains to Tweedy that "suffering is the same for everyone." With just an acoustic guitar, Tweedy proves he can still move us with simple stories and chords. — Aaron Mook