To say In Heaven is about conquering grief would be oversimplifying everything Tim Showalter has achieved on the album. A stunning, hopeful reflection on love, loss, and enlightenment, In Heaven is a triumph in music making. In 2018, Showalter’s wife, Sue, lost her mother in a car accident. Soon after, Stan, the cat they both adored, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Showalter quit drinking to take better care of his wife and help rebuild the life they shared. Within months they decided to move from Philadelphia to Austin, Texas. It was an irrational decision made at the height of a terrible time, but it’s one that shaped so much of what In Heaven is about. In Heaven was recorded in 2020 with Kevin Ratterman. Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) is featured on guitar, while James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins) contributed vocals and guitar for “Easter.” Bo Koster (MMJ, Roger Waters) keyboards, Cedric LeMoyne (Alanis Morrissette, Remy Zero) bass. The result is something extraordinary, as Showalter has crafted a poignant narrative that transcends his personal experiences and achieves a universality rooted in loss, joy, celebration, and newfound strength. In Heaven is about moving beyond sadness or anger to a state of gratitude. Any sense of hopelessness yields to a different feeling entirely. Perhaps we’re feeling stronger, more prepared for something. Maybe it’s a reminder: call your parents, text friends, hug pets, listen to records. And think about what it means to be alive.