Photo by Clark Reinking

On March 15, Tim Heidecker of super-gonzo sketch comedy duo Tim and Eric releases a collection of songs called Starting From Nowhere. The semi-serious album is a collaboration with T&E musical collaborator Davin Wood-- together, they're going by the (fitting) moniker Heidecker & Wood. Listen to Starting from Nowhere's "Wedding Song" above.

If you're familiar with the cheap pop and R&B goofs Wood's composed for Tim and Eric's past work-- notably the TV shows "Tom Goes to the Mayor" and "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!"-- then the smooth, yacht-y 1970s rock featured on Starting From Nowhere might throw you for a bit of a loop. Talking to us about the record, Heidecker cited acts like Steely Dan, Billy Joel, and Chicago as inspirations. "They're like my nursery rhymes," he said of the album's MOR-centric sound. "I have a fondness for that style, and that's what we write for fun."

We spoke with Tim about injecting subtlety into his humor, the upcoming Tim and Eric movie, and what happens when your bassist starts puking during a show:

Pitchfork: Although there are some jokes on the album, some people might expect a more traditional comedy record when they put on Starting from Nowhere. Did you guys consider that?

Tim Heidecker: For us, there are a lot of funny things happening musically, but it's a mixed bag. There wasn't a lot of pretense like, "We're only gonna make stuff that makes us laugh." It's just what came out of us.

Pitchfork: The humor operates on a more subtle level than a typical episode of "Awesome Show". Do you feel someone who isn't that familiar with your career will be able to pick up on the funny parts?

TH: I doubt it. I thought there was something interesting about putting this album out without too much explanation. I always liked records that didn't explain themselves too well-- ones that you had to listen a few times. We didn't put the lyrics in because we want people to let them be whatever they want.

A good example of a lyric that makes me laugh but might not hit anybody right away is, "Sit behind the guitar and play the chords," just because it's such a lame image. It's not rock'n'roll at all to be sitting behind a guitar. If you were good at songwriting, you might write a little more subtly about it. We thought it was funny how there's no attempt at being clever, it's just blah.

Pitchfork: The record features a lot of soft rock sounds that are currently en vogue in the indie scene right now, are you aware of that?

TH: I don't really keep up. I'll be honest, I stopped looking at your website a long time ago-- nothing personal. I sort of fell out of new music. I'm 35, I like what I like, and that's that.

Pitchfork: Fatherhood is a recurring motif through your work-- there's even a song on here called "A Song for My Father".

TH: There's nothing too weird there, just that thing when you get older-- your dad becomes this other man rather than a scary man, and you have a friendship. Dads are awkward because they're older guys who aren't cool anymore and are figuring out who they are, and they often make bad choices in fashion and music. I was playing the record for my parents over the holidays, and that song came on. It was really awkward for me because, as much as it's funny, there's some truth in it.