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The good news is, no—the great news is Adam Weiner Private Lives is a killer.
Sounds like the early Bruce Springsteen.
Weiner produced the record and utilized almost 30 different artists to get the sounds he wanted. Although he utilized the studio instead of on-stage performances, it has the feel of a live record. Every song seems to want to break out from the constraints of the workshop in a positive way. This keeps the vibe taut and suggests the promise of liberation.
The characters of his songs are looking for something to believe in. They are the have nots who find pleasure where they can even as their situations seem to be deteriorating. Weiner sees their hearts and flaws. He knows life can be rough and not everyone makes it. Consider his (apparently unintended) sequel to Springsteen's "Atlantic City", called "Look What They Did". Weiner begins by singing over a soft piano melody, "Tough shit for the little guy / Livin' like a chump with his back to the wall" as he bewails the modern day plight of those dwelling in America's Playground. These chumps are the everyday people who populate his songs.
Let's face it. None of this would matter if Weiner wasn't such a charismatic and talented performer. His empathy for others is noble and part of his charm, but there is something more magical happening here. Private Lives captures the spirit of the times in which we find ourselves—the weird world that like Low Cut Connie defies easy categorization—and offers musical solace to help us do more than just survive.