Love Is the King | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 23, 2020 | |||
Recorded | April 2020 | |||
Studio | The Loft (Chicago, IL) | |||
Genre | Indie rock | |||
Length | 39:28 | |||
Label | dBpm | |||
Producer |
| |||
Jeff Tweedy chronology | ||||
|
Love Is the King is the fourth solo studio album by American musician Jeff Tweedy. It was released on October 23, 2020, via dBpm Records. Recording sessions took place at the Loft in Chicago [1] during lockdown in April 2020 after Wilco's tour dates were cancelled due to COVID-19. [2] Production was handled by Tom Schick and Tweedy himself. It features contributions from his sons Spencer and Sam.
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.4/10 [3] |
Metacritic | 81/100 [4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Beats Per Minute | 71% [6] |
Consequence of Sound | B [7] |
Exclaim! | 8/10 [8] |
Loud and Quiet | 7/10 [9] |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Paste | 8.1/10 [11] |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10 [12] |
Uncut | 8/10 [1] |
Under the Radar | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Love Is the King was met with universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81 based on ten reviews. [4] The aggregator AnyDecentMusic? has the critical consensus of the album at a 7.4 out of 10, based on eleven reviews. [3]
Eric R. Danton of Paste wrote: "Like Warm and Warmer , Tweedy's requires a bit of patience to crack open. The songs tend to seep in slowly, but it's worth the effort to burrow into them: Beneath that low-key exterior, Love Is the King displays luminous depth from a veteran songwriter who continues to grow into his craft". [11] AllMusic's Mark Deming wrote: "Love Is the King is his very personal reaction to an increasingly difficult time in America's history, and while he doesn't pretend to have answers, this music is his own kind of therapy, recognizing his emotions and working through them before they devour him, and he makes both the process and the challenges well worth hearing". [5] Vish Khanna of Exclaim! felt "the vibe is folk, rock, country and kind of homespun and laidback but, like early John Lennon records, there is sharpness to the starkness". [8] Victoria Segal of Mojo wrote: "From the beautiful fable of "A Robin Or A Wren" to "Even I Can See"'s delicate devotion, Love Is The King is determined to hold on tight to the good things while keeping a sharp eye on the mirror". [10] Alastair McKay of Uncut found that "this album marries Tweedy's mature emotional outlook to the workaday manners of Uncle Tupelo or the Woody Guthrie project, Mermaid Avenue ". [1] Ryan Bray of Consequence of Sound stated: "Love Is the King is the work of a songwriter with clear eyes and a full heart. Tweedy leans on the two constants in his life, music and family, to find hope in a year where such a thing has too often been absent. In doing so, he's left behind more than just another solid record to add to his oeuvre, but also some reassurance that maybe things will be okay, so long as we keep sight of what's important". [7] Mark Moody of Under the Radar wrote: "Though recorded under lockdown, the songs may be maudlin in spots but don’t directly address the situation at hand. Primarily Love Is the King has the air of what it in fact is: a man comfortable in his own skin recording a set of songs with his talented kids". [13] Writing for Pitchfork , Stephen Thomas Erlewine said: "The reason the record provides some measure of consolation is due to its modesty. Rather than a concept album about quarantine, it's a snapshot of a moment in time, one that captures the confusion, longing, and loneliness of a world set back on its heels". [12] John Wohlmacher of Beats Per Minute wrote: "for 11 songs and 39 minutes, Tweedy creates a landscape of autumnal beauty and warm layers of guitars, which oscillate between experimental, almost distorted ambience and clear, saccharine folk melodies. There's a few straight country tracks here, but for the most part, it's minimalist genre-revisionism". [6] Janne Oinonen of Loud and Quiet wrote: "A record to mature over time rather than instant classic, Love Is The King might just prove an equally reassuring presence as the world stumbles towards some sort of elusive normality during these uncertain times". [9]
All tracks are written by Jeff Tweedy, except for track 3 written with George Saunders
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Love Is the King" | 4:46 |
2. | "Opaline" | 4:44 |
3. | "A Robin or a Wren" | 2:48 |
4. | "Gwendolyn" | 3:26 |
5. | "Bad Day Lately" | 3:10 |
6. | "Even I Can See" | 3:20 |
7. | "Natural Disaster" | 3:23 |
8. | "Save It for Me" | 3:03 |
9. | "Guess Again" | 3:16 |
10. | "Troubled" | 3:12 |
11. | "Half-Asleep" | 4:20 |
Total length: | 39:28 |
Chart (2020–2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [14] | 78 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [15] | 48 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [16] | 27 |
UK Americana Albums (OCC) [17] | 16 |
US Billboard 200 [18] | 89 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [19] | 11 |
A Ghost Is Born is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Wilco. Released on June 22, 2004, it features singer Jeff Tweedy on lead guitar more than any previous Wilco album. The band streamed the album online free, and offered a five-song EP to purchasers.
Sky Blue Sky is the sixth studio album by American rock band Wilco, released on May 15, 2007 by Nonesuch Records. Originally announced on January 17, 2007 at a show in Nashville, Tennessee, it was the band's first studio album with guitarist Nels Cline and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone. Before its release, the band streamed the entire album on its official website and offered a free download of "What Light".
The Whole Love is the eighth studio album by American alternative rock group Wilco, released on September 27, 2011. It is the first Wilco album that was released on their own label dBpm. Attendees at Wilco's 2011 Solid Sound Festival at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art from June 24 to 26 could purchase the first single from the album, "I Might". The entire album was streamed live on Wilco's official website for 24 hours between September 3 and 4, 2011, and later streamed on National Public Radio. The album packaging and cover art are pieces by Joanne Greenbaum. On November 30, 2011, the album received a nomination in the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album.
Still is the sixteenth solo studio album by British singer-songwriter Richard Thompson. It was released by Fantasy Records on 23 June 2015 in the US and by Proper Records on 29 June 2015 in the UK.
Star Wars is the ninth studio album by American alternative rock group Wilco. It was self-released for free on July 16, 2015, through wilcoworld.net. It is the second Wilco album that was released on their own label dBpm. A CD version of the album was released on August 21 and a vinyl version was released on October 13. The album emerged from Wilco recording sessions at The Loft that also resulted in their 2016 album Schmilco.
Fallen Angels is the thirty-seventh studio album by Bob Dylan, released by Columbia Records on May 20, 2016.
Schmilco is the tenth studio album by Chicago-based alternative rock band Wilco, released on September 9, 2016 through dBpm Records. Wilco announced the album on July 19, 2016, and released two songs, "Locator" and "If I Ever Was a Child". The album's announcement came a little more than a year after their previous studio album, Star Wars.
Together at Last is the first solo album by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. It was released on June 23, 2017 by dBpm Records. It marks the first release of a proposed retrospective series titled Loft Acoustic Sessions that will see Tweedy revisit songs from Wilco's catalog, as well as from his Golden Smog and Loose Fur side projects.
Sparkle Hard is the seventh studio album by American indie rock band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on May 18, 2018, by Matador Records and Domino Records. It reached #174 on the Billboard 200 charts, and peaked at #64 on the Official UK Charts.
Strange Peace is the third studio album by Canadian noise rock three-piece band METZ. It was released on September 22, 2017 through Sub Pop Records. Live-to-tape recording sessions took place at Electrical Audio in Chicago with Steve Albini, at the Woodshed in Toronto and at Baskitball 4 Life with Graham Walsh, and at the Nursery with member Alex Edkins. Production was handled by METZ.
Warm is the second studio album by American musician Jeff Tweedy, released on November 30, 2018 by dBpm Records. It is his first solo album of entirely new material.
Ode to Joy is the eleventh studio album from American indie rock band Wilco, released on October 4, 2019, on dBpm Records. The release has received positive reviews.
All Mirrors is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Angel Olsen, released on October 4, 2019 by Jagjaguwar. Produced by Angel Olsen and John Congleton, the album was preceded by two singles, the title track and "Lark". Both releases were accompanied by music videos directed by Olsen's friend and longtime collaborator Ashley Connors. The album received widespread acclaim from music critics and debuted at No. 52 on the Billboard 200.
Emotional Eternal is the third studio album by French psychedelic pop band Melody's Echo Chamber, released on 29 April 2022 by Domino Records.
This Is a Photograph is the seventh studio album by American indie rock musician Kevin Morby, released on May 13, 2022, on Dead Oceans. The album is inspired by Morby's fascination with the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by musician Sam Cohen. It features a guest appearance by indie folk singer-songwriter Erin Rae. It was promoted by the singles "This Is a Photograph", "Rock Bottom" and "A Random Act of Kindness". It received acclaim from critics, who praised Morby's vulnerability and assessed it as a new artistic peak.
Cruel Country is the twelfth studio album by American indie rock band Wilco. It was released on May 27, 2022, by dBpm Records. A double album, Cruel Country sees the band fully embracing their country music leanings. It was supported with the release of two singles: "Falling Apart " and "Tired of Taking It Out on You". On release, the album received critical acclaim and debuted at number 190 on the US Billboard 200.
Take It Like a Man is the seventh solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Amanda Shires. Produced by Lawrence Rothman and recorded at the RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, it was released on July 29, 2022, through ATO Records.
The Greater Wings is the third studio album by American folk singer-songwriter Julie Byrne, released on July 7, 2023 on Ghostly International. The album focuses on grief, including the death of musical collaborator and romantic partner Eric Littmann and has received acclaim from critics.
Cousin is the thirteenth studio album from American indie rock band Wilco, released on September 29, 2023 through dBpm Records. The album was produced by Cate Le Bon, representing the first time the band used an outside producer in over a decade since 2009's Wilco , and was preceded by two singles: "Evicted" and the title track. The album has received positive reviews from critics.
The Chicago Sessions is an album by American musician Rodney Crowell, released on May 5, 2023, through New West Records. It was produced by Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, and includes a collaboration with him on the track "Everything at Once". It received acclaim from critics.