Tim Heidecker
In Glendale
[Rado Records]
In Glendale is the first record from Tim Heidecker, one half of Tim and Eric, Adult Swim’s treasured, absurdist, anti-comic double act. One of the hallmarks of the Heidecker’s humour has always been a giddiness at the idea of turning audience expectations on their heard, a willingness to throw people utter curveballs perhaps just to rattle a cage or two. So, when Heidecker insists that his debut release under his own name was to be a wholly earnest exercise, eyebrows were raised accordingly. Thankfully, despite implications to the contrary, a rich vein of comedy, still runs through the record.
Sonically, In Glendale basks in the various different hues (all of them sun-blushed) of Californian classic rock and Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter fare. Heidecker’s band, lead by Jonathan Rado of Foxygen, play it totally straight, providing an utterly believable soft-rock bed for Heidecker to joyfully toy with the tropes of the form, crooning and bellowing wry paeans to the wonders of air conditioning, accounts of grizzly murders, or the inevitability of going broke. I’ve yet to encounter any joke that benefits from being explained, and In Glendale is no exception. Just go with it, I’d wager you’ll be pleasantly surprised just how life-affirming a song about dog shit can be.
Like this? Try these:
Randy Newman – Good Old Boys
Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy
Tobias Jesso Jr. – Goon
Words: Danny Wilson
