Review: Wilco's Jeff Tweedy gives pandemic some 'Love'

Jeff Tweedy, 'œLove Is the King'ť (dBpm Records)

'œHere I am,'ť Jeff Tweedy sings at the onset of the title track, and also first song, of 'œLove Is the King," a record made in April while the Wilco frontman was quarantining with his wife and sons at home in Chicago.

The song sets the mood and tone for the record, which refuses to give up on love and optimism, while death, disaster and dread are never far away.

'œThere it is,'ť Tweedy continues. 'œAt the edge/Of as bad as it gets.'ť

Tweedy's reaction to being quarantined was to get to work. In addition to the new record, made with his two musician-sons Spencer and Sammy, he also has a new book out called 'œHow to Write One Song.'ť

'œLove Is the King'ť is filled with beautiful melodies, while also embracing fear and uncertainty.

'œI'm just having a ball/Being alive,'ť he sings on 'œA Robin or a Wren.'ť 'œAnd I don't want to die/I don't wanna die.'ť

More than any other track, the stark 'œBad Day Lately'ť sums up quarantining as the pandemic drags on.

'œIt's been a bad day lately/A lonely place/I can't endure,'ť Tweedy sings.

For a record that can at times be so dark, it's not depressing. If anything, in Tweedy's embracing the darkness that surrounds him, and us, he emerges more hopeful than before. Perhaps, as Tweedy emphasizes with the record title, love indeed is the king.

'œWhen you need me,'ť he sings with assurance on 'œHalf-Asleep,'ť the final track, 'ťI'll be there."