Tim Heidecker, one half of comedy duo Tim and Eric, is secretly a pop songwriter and musician. Well, it’s not really much of a secret these days. After releasing albums like What The Brokenhearted Do and High School the comedian/actor known for his absurdist humor and surreal characters has established himself as a great songwriter, too.
It would be easy to think this was all some elaborate scheme or set up for some meta joke on us all given Heidecker’s penchant for Andy Kaufman-esque performance art, but Heidecker’s the real deal. He seems to lean towards 70s singer/songwriters like Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, and the Laurel Canyon crowd that established their own songwriting brand in the early to mid 1970s. His latest, the sunny and jangly Slipping Away, leans into alt country vibes. With a top notch band and even help from daughter Amelia, Heidecker has made his most earnest album yet.
“Well’s Running Dry” opens the album on a wistful, country-tinged note. Tasteful pedal steel and acoustic guitar carry the song along on a single chord. Big Thief comes to mind as the song plays along. “Trippin'(Slippin’)” is an ode to mushrooms and good feelings with a touch of John Prine in the dusty mood. There’s also bits of The Band in this great track. “Bottom of the 8th” is about taking his daughter to a baseball game, a wistful track that’s reminiscent of the great Randy Newman lyrically and musically.
One of the highlights is the great track “Dad of the Year”, an ode to fatherhood and coming to terms with the fact that we’re never as famous as we’d want to be and to be okay with that. It’s a great pop song with melodies for miles. The tight production makes for a song that is endlessly listenable.
Over the course of 10 tracks Tim Heidecker and his band give us one catchy song after another. From the driving rocker “Bows and Arrows” to the Jimmy Buffet-tinged “Hey Would You Call My Mom For Me” to moody closer “Bells Are Ringing” Heidecker hits all the right notes. He leaves the humor at the door and gives us an earnest and thoughtful rock record.
Tim Heidecker is more than the guy that made a bizarro commercial for Totino’s Pizza Rolls. He’s also a great songwriter, and Slipping Away is proof of that.
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