It's said every comedian possesses an often-secret desire to be taken seriously as an artist, and as a very funny performer, writer, producer, and musician,
Tim Heidecker
probably chafes against the perception that his work is "just comedy." Much of his work is very funny indeed, but also smart and wildly imaginative, and as a musician, he's shown an impressive knack for writing evocative songs built around 1970s and '80s musical archetypes. They don't always play for laughs, especially on 2022's
High School
, a witty but frequently bittersweet song cycle about teenage life. After taking an unblinking look at his youth,
Heidecker
has chosen to turn his gaze to adulthood, and 2024's
Slipping Away
is his most musically satisfying album to date. It's also the one that's shortest on laughs, instead putting its focus on the emotions that come with middle age. Recorded with
's Very Good Band (
Connor "Catfish" Gallaher
on guitar and pedal steel,
Vic Berger
on keyboards,
Eliana Athayde
on bass and backing vocals, and
Josh Adams
on drums),
is dominated by roots rock influences, wavering between the sweet sadness of country and the more subtle doubts of contemporary folk, and most of the time
is clearly not playing for laughs. The album's opener, "Well's Running Dry," is about a man struggling with writer's block, and
makes his protagonist's anxieties powerfully real as he obsesses on his age and his uncertain future. He goes on to examine the many mistakes of several married couples ("Like I Do"), his wish for a good bonding moment with his daughter ("Bottom of the 8th"), the sinking feeling that being a good parent means many of his own dreams will never be fulfilled ("Dad of the Year"), and his fear at what sort of world his children will face when they're adults ("I Went into Town"). There are certainly funny moments, but even then, they're balanced against the realities of his characters' lives, which are the stuff of many people's daily existence. And "Hey, Would You Call My Mom for Me," sung from the perspective of a homeless man who can't take life on the streets anymore, is beautifully executed and truly heartbreaking.
has stepped up his game as a songwriter and vocalist on
, and his band complements the many tonal shifts with subtle excellence. Fans who know
best for his surreal comedy with
Eric Wareheim
may well be thrown by
's focus on serious themes, though it opens new doors for
's talent as a singer/songwriter, and it's his strongest album to date. ~ Mark Deming