Album Review: Huey Lewis and the News – Weather
19th October 2020
Copyright: New Hulex
After nine studio albums spread across forty years, the time to say farewell to Huey Lewis and the News was inevitably close. Most bands struggle to give themselves a strong send-off, I think of my favourite musicians and feel saddened by their weak final outings, but it’s a welcome surprise to see Huey Lewis and the News attempt to avoid these pitfalls as best as they can. Potentially their final album, Weather is a stormy, short collection of new material. He and his band never quite escaped the shadow of their Power of Love hit, but they’ve toiled away, attempting to craft something that will break them away from their largest success.
Incredibly simple, but well-written crooners that come together with surprising emotion, Weather consists of seven tracks, all of which are written in a convincing enough manner. A powerful voice keeps the songs from faltering, the glue that holds them together, it should be no surprise Lewisis the strongest piece of these tracks. Lewis and The News’ first album in ten years muses on his career rather poignantly with One of the Boys, a heartfelt song where he details his love of “making beautiful noise / just me and the boys”. He lingers on simplistic ideas with strong melodies, While We’re Young feels like a suitable look-back at the early days of his career, and I Am There For You is a solid song strengthened by good-timing regarding current events.
His funky backing beats are incredible. Optimistic in all the right places, they play well with consistent lyrics that, whilst not having much depth to them, sound good enough to listen to. Remind Me Why I Love You Again is probably the weakest on the track, its questionable lyrics propped up by some great jazz-style backing music. Still, it’s a testament to the abilities of this group that their weakest song is still an enjoyable one.
A curtain call for the man who once told us it’s hip to be square, Weather provides arguably the most artistically rewarding output from the band. Consistent in both its style and overarching tone, the album is a strict, short affair, brief brilliance to be found on every track. It stutters a little towards the end, but by that point you’ve already engaged with four great songs, and you can forgive the nostalgia trip found on Pretty Girls Everywhere. A few problems here or there are washed away with great ease, one last goodbye to a consistent performer.
