Thed Weller

Birmingham native Thed Weller was once a third of a modest local hip-hop clique called Cadilac Opus, but now the breakout talent has released his first solo CD, titled Ain’t No Pillows on the Road, via his own label, Unknown Sounds.
With a mainstream release, the disc would probably get nationwide critical acclaim: as is, Ain’t No Pillows on the Road promises to be a bona fide classic for Birmingham fans. Available on his website www.thedweller.com, each “Black Wood edition” of the disc is autographed and numbered (Weller quips that selling 1,000 would be going “Mahogany”)
Largely self-produced, the disc has a smooth, nostalgic vibe. The song “Broke Dance” is a wonderful ditty any working man can related to, and the lead single “I Don’t Got” is a crowd-pleasing funk jam that plays off the melody of The Wiz classic “Ease on Down the Road.” Several notable locals make appearances on the CD: “Stop, Look, Listen” features Red Light District front man S-Fly assisting Weller with some verbal jousting over a P. Johnson production and should be a mix-disc staple in 2005. Spoken word artist John Paul offers his services on the track “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades.”
You can download each song as a single on iTunes or purchase the CD at www.thedweller.com. The website also has a bio, booking information and upcoming tour dates.
-Walt Dirty
Overall Grade: B
- Birmingham Weekly Magazine