MUSIC

McGonigel's Mucky Duck presents Randy Weeks.

Randy Weeks has described his music as “late ‘60s AM to early ‘70s FM,” but on his new disc Going My Way, I hear a bit of early ‘70s AM in there as well. Which may be parsing eras just a little too precisely, perhaps...but to me, the hits that dominated the radio circa 1972-75 marked a nirvana of sorts for songsmiths who excelled with melody and harmony above all other elements. And when it comes down to it, that’s what makes Weeks’ music so appealing. - - Peter Blackstock, No Depression

Weeks puts together a batch of consistently evocative, witty lyrics that he sings in a distinctively wry Lou Reed-meets-Willie Nelson voice. His country roots are strong enough that he’s cranked out the instant honky-tonk classic “The One Who Wore My Ring,” yet, like Peter Case, he also obviously knows his Lennon-McCartney songbook well enough to come up with the pure-pop bounce of “That’s What I’d Do.”

His recent move from L.A. to Austin led to “Going My Way” being produced by Texas Americana ace Will Sexton, and probably at least partially explains the juicy New Orleans funk they’ve brought to “I Think You Think.” That song and “I Couldn’t Make It” showcase Weeks’ love for language and his engaging wordplay. - Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times

Photo by Jen Hellow.