[.ca] Adult Head (ISBN 193202316X)

Tweedy is a lyrical genius:
Although I haven't read the entire text of this book yet, I have read several excerpts from it and have been a Wilco fan for several years. Just from listening to Tweedy's lyrics in his songs, you can tell he has a natural penchant for poetry. His words are very down to earth, heartfelt, and offer a glimpse into our souls. I recommend checking out this book along with Wilco's Cd's. All of them are great, especially Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Summer Teeth. If your sick of the same old cliched poetry and music, check this out and I guarantee you'll be pleased. Here's one of the poems from the book that I got off of zoopress.org, the publisher's website. The Black Hours - GMH are almost gone the night is dissolving in a cup of god lifted to toast the lightning lightly tapping high-pitched as it hums and as your spine shines with your soul, a shiver, a fist so clear and trying to climb into the unlit sky you can see there's so much less to this than you think your mind's a machine that's deadly and dull it's never been still and its will has never been free it's almost dawn and it's snowing again I have never seen so much night The imagery is always intense, and when a poem reads like a well-crafted song it's only more enjoyable to read. Definitly check this one out.

Wonderful yet difficult.:
Jeff Tweedy is a remarkable artist. In one moment he plays with Wilco, the next with Billy Bragg or Loose Fur, and then with great ease he transfers his lyrical abilities into publish a collection of poems/songs. Many of the poems look to be starting points, or ending points, to many of Tweedy's musical compositions. While reading don't be surprised to hear a Wilco tune running through your head, or if you hear one of Tweedy's side-projects, again, don't be surprised if you make connections to alot of the poetry. Many of the works are painfully personal. The poems are Tweedy bearing all: relationships with his family, personal feelings towards himself, there is nothing that he hides from you. The poems are wonderful yet difficult because they are so personal, understanding these prose sometimes takes many readings to get to the real heart of the idea; however, when that heart reveals itself it is like a wonderful light switch that turns on in an empty basement. If you are a Wilco fan read this book. If you are not a fan of Wilco but like poetry read this book. If you are trying to learn to write poetry yourself read this book and use it as a beautiful study. But, if you don't like reading, listening to music, laughing, crying, kissing, telephone calls from friends, or trying new things, well, don't read this book.

The Map Is Not the Territory:
Oh, dear. Why, oh why must these great musicians write terrible poetry? I will forgive Dave Alvin, and David Berman's Actual Air is actual, viable, vital work. But this puerile foray into the gentler genre is bad news for Wilco boys everywhere. Better than Ally Sheedy's book; however, I'd rather read some real poets and listen to Master Tweedy whine prettily over a soundtrack...

Jeff Tweedy is a Writer:
It's about time Jeff Tweedy who has written engaging rock songs for the past twenty years for Uncle Tupelo and Wilco put out a book of poems. Lyrics from such songs as She's a Jar prove themselves to qualify as poetry. Most rock lyrics on a white page without the embellishment of a crooning voice or a pounding four-piece band can be as painful as waking up next to someone you met in a strobe light club. Somehow the daylight against the white sheets shows unforgiving truths. This has never been the case for Jeff Tweedy. His first book of poems Adult Head holds up as a masterful book of poetry. One of the most rewarding aspects about Adult Head is that these poems are not obvious and explicit. Reading these poems feels like being immersed into the subconscious or tapping into those nebulous dreams we remember for a short while after waking up. They are cerebral poems that lend themselves to contemplation with such lines as "let's wear momentum/how honor pulverizes this now/like nothing else/it's happening/so loosen your body/to me." Jeff Tweedy holds his ground in the realm of contemporary poets. He synthesizes influences from the imagery Williams Carlos Williams to the surrealism of Burgess to avant-garde rock lyrics of Thurston Moore. Even though this collection isn't a masterpiece, there is something hindering in each crafted poem, they give the anticipation of one to come. Fans of Tweedy's music and lyrics may be pleased to find that his sardonic humor continues. "For you to kiss my black eye even though I caught it from you," recalls the domestic turmoil in the Summerteeth album. Also some complete poems will be put to music in Wilco's upcoming album a Ghost is Born. Jeff Tweedy gave a reading at the AWP conference in the Palmer House Chicago just a few weeks before he checked himself into a rehab center. Shielded underneath a grungy army coat, a sock hat, and dark horn rimmed glasses he adjusted his mike for a ten-minute reading. With his raspy singer's voice he spoke, "this is my first time reading in front of a group. And let me tell you how thrilled I am to do it in a roomful of writers." His self-deprecation was unfounded after he got through such gems like "Another Great Thing", "Damen Avenue," and "Hell". Adult Head introduces a new career for Jeff Tweedy as a poet.