Huey Lewis and the News – “Weather” Album Review

Story posted February 19, 2020 in Arts & Entertainment by William Roche.

Huey Lewis and the News released a new album for the first time in ten years, “Weather.” Most known for their 1983 album, “Sports” and their power anthems like “The Power of Love,” which was featured on the 1985 soundtrack for “Back to the Future.” “Hip to be Square” is another, which is painfully referenced in the film “American Psycho.” Recently, Huey Lewis, the lead singer, announced that he is suffering from hearing loss. The band also cancelled all upcoming tour dates. With this new album, “Weather,” it solidifies the fact that they should simply retire. Consisting of low effort lyrics, aging voices, and only seven songs, it’s time for the band to turn off the amps.

“Weather” ironically starts off with “While We’re Young” despite the band’s aging sound.The intro reflects the 80s through synthesizers and guitar riffs. With lyrics that are exactly what the listener would expect, their creativity does not shine here.  The chorus is primarily “While we're young/ Let's go out and have some fun/ Ooh baby but we're done/Let's go back and give it some.” They are trying to be youthful and fun, but it comes off cheesy and out of date. Huey Lewis and the News try to bring their sound into 2020, but it is hard to do that when the band sounds like they are trying way too hard.

“Her Love Is Killin’ Me” is a fast-paced song filled with metaphors: “Driftin' and driftin' like a ship at sea/Her love is killin' me” and “Stumblin' and tumblin' like a bumblebee/ Her love is killin' me.” Both of the separate sets of pre choruses insist that the listener shouldn’t take the band’s music too seriously. They are attempting to be what they once were at the peak of their career, but again, with similar instrumentation (guitar and horn riffs) their attempt is not at its finest.

The next four songs are about pursuing a significant other: “I Am There For You,” “Hurry Back Baby,” “Remind Me Why I Love You,” and “Pretty Girls Everywhere.” Now, listeners should be used to this theme in music. Every artist known to the music industry has probably written a song surrounding this topic. However, the consistency of this topic in only a seven-song album may cause some listeners to turn it off.

“I Am There For You” is the slowest song on “Weather” with a chorus like hymn paired with backing vocals and a beat that people can sway to. It still has similar instrumentation: piano and guitar riffs, but it is one of the few that don’t have horns.

It transitions into “Hurry Back Baby.” With this song, the band is back to business as usual with an upbeat melody, guitar riffs and solos, and a repetitive theme: “Hurry back, baby/ 'Cause when I see you smile/I get to hopin' you would stay a while.” The lyrics aren’t that dense, but the listener should expect to go in and have fun, not go on a lyrical journey, which is typical of Huey Lewis and the News. At times the album does have its redeemable qualities. If it wasn’t for the constant use of similar riffs from the handful of instruments, it could be possibly put on at a party.

“Remind Me Why I Love You Again,” has one memorable instance: the lyrics. “I'm blue, you're red/ Thank God we got a Sleep Number bed.” The lyrics stick out because, as Huey Lewis sings, he is questioning why he’s interested in a woman if they like the opposite things and have nothing in common. The listener may find this relatable and humorous, and hopefully it encourages them to keep listening till the end of the album.

The last two songs on the album, “Pretty Girls Everywhere” and “One of the Boys,” are two songs on the album that the listener may actually be able to distinguish one from the other. “Pretty Girls Everywhere” has a doo wop style that is catchy. However, all the lyrics do is talk about all the places they can find “pretty girls.” “One of the Boys” is a standout because it features acoustic guitar, which is a strong use of instrumentation for the band. It is not their best song, but it fits their age, voices, and the type of music the band should be creating.

It’s a steady pace song with a country western feel that provides the listener with a sendoff that, in a twenty-six-minute album, sounds like it ended as soon as it began.

While Huey Lewis and the News is a notable band of past generations, this album will not bring them into a new generation. The instrumentals are too repetitive and the lyrics, while fun, are too meaningless. Even the most die hard Huey Lewis and the News fans will put on any other album besides this one.

Reviewers Rating: 5/10

Favorite Track: N/A

Least Favorite Track: N/A

 

William Roche is a junior majoring in film/video. To contact him, email wtr5043@psu.edu.