Jeff Tweedy, lead singer of art-rock band Wilco, brings us a fifth solo album that embodies the best of Americana music: a ray of light shining from a country currently flirting with darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twilight Override<\/em> is a triple album: one hour and fifty-two minutes of music. And you know what? There are very few dull moments. It’s like embarking on a musical road trip that makes you want to keep going until the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s not Wilco, although Tweedy is still Tweedy. Everything is built around his guitars, which are largely acoustic. Then come the synths, vocal harmonies, sometimes violin, a rock impulse, with plenty of space for the music to breathe. The first track, “One Tiny Flower,” plunges us deep into this universe for 6 minutes and 20 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeff Tweedy said that the idea for a triple album came about incidentally during a road trip with his two sons. He played them Sandinista!<\/em>, a triple album by the British band The Clash. Why not do the same?<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from the format, Twilight Override<\/em> has little to do with Sandinista!<\/em>, except perhaps for the idea of freedom of format. It is also a family album, as the two sons, Sammy and Spencer, are omnipresent. There are also two singers and multi-instrumentalists, Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart, who provide brilliant vocal support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The song “New Orleans” is emblematic of the album. It starts slowly with an acoustic ballad and multiple voices; then sweet synths are added; then multiple guitars follow, dialoguing as they approach dissonance; then the whole mix lands softly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It brings to mind Dylan, Paul Simon, Tom Petty (the acoustic version), Neil Young and many others. This record represents American songwriting at its best. Tweedy renews the genre in a relevant way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It tells lots of personal stories, sometimes bizarre, accompanied by indirect tributes to Lou Reed and the Indian pacifist Amar Bharati. We travel through a very special universe. It talks about butterflies, tattoos, friendships and heartbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, I loved this atmospheric alternative folk music without reservation. Twilight Override <\/em>gives me a little hope for our neighbours to the south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n