roheblius's Full Review: Plan B by Huey Lewis & The News
It wasn't all that scary being paired with bob_tomato, but not because he doesn't have his own intimidating music taste. He did wave The Carpenters in my face to see if I would turn my head away in fear. It wasn't scary because I know deep down in The Tomato's heart, he wanted to see me actually have an idea about what I was going to review. See, in the several years Matty Ballgame has hosted this fine write off better known now as the ISYMIYSMY, I've been paired with Given2flymike and The Jiggy One and both gave me really strong albums, but albums I had no idea how to review. Mike sent me a Pearl Jam album while Jay gave me Led Zeppelin. Harmless right? Ya, harmless to a guy who grew up on Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Ya, harmless to a guy who can't wait to hear new albums by artists like Common. Ya, harmless to a guy who wrote reviews on the damn near entire freakin' Mariah Carey catalog. I was scared out of my wits trying to review those albums. But The Tomato was nice to me. He sent me Huey Lewis and The News' 2001 album, Plan B. I will admit to liking Huey and his news a lot. But they fell off my radar after their Small World release and I hadn't hear much new from them save for a few songs off other new releases. So technically, I wasn't in the Huey scene anymore. Now I'm back.
Immediately after listening to this album the first time, something stuck out like a sore thumb. Where were the huge songs? Where were the songs like Power of Love or Heart Of Rock 'n Roll? The type of songs that defined his albums were missing here. While Huey's best stuff to me has mostly been the non singles because they seem more personal and quirky, still the songs that got you excited were the big anthem like songs. Where was Plan B's version of Hip To Be Square?
Because of my lazy work schedule (that Meet and Greet planning stuff is such a piece of cake), I actually was able to listen to this album several times before reviewing it even though it's over a past the deadline. Whether it was in the car, on my IPOD, or here at my computer, I gave it several listens and it gave me an insight to the CD that might never have been figured out before by any Huey Lewis fan in existence. While you don't hear the big singles here, it's still good. Yes, even though Tomato, P.H.D gave this album a stellar review and one that has much more insight than mine, he never said these three words. It is good. It's not bad. It's not great. It's not perfect. It's just good.
Take for instance the opening track, We're Not Here For A Long Time (We're Here For A Good Time). Huey and his boys actually trick you for about two seconds. You hear an organ that sounds like something you'd hear the Golden State Warriors organ player play to pump up the crowd. But quickly he changes tune. The song defines the album. He and the news aren't here for a long time (less than 48 minutes), but they're here for a good time. While Huey is known for that big single, he's also known for singing quirky love songs to go along with quirky videos. Anyone remember Stuck On You and the row boat? And he doesn't disappoint with My Other Woman. You can only imagine how much fun he would've had making this video. Let me give you an example with the chorus. Huey sings:
My other woman's got another man (repeat)
That's where it's at, it's as simple as that. I just find it funny that this entire song is about how he loves his wife, but he also has another woman, but she has another man. The News sing:
He's got another woman, while Huey sings, She's got another man. It's not about them cheating on each other and how guilty he feels either. It's simply about the fact that he has a chick on the side, while she has another man on the side. Simple and quirky. The song I just knew I'd hate on this album is actually one of my favorite songs on the album. Huey pulls off a great duet with none other than Wynonna Judd called I'm Not In Love Yet and the News don't do much except showcase his great voice. Huey doesn't have a classic voice from a genre perspective as to me he's always been slash. Pop slash Rock slash R&B. He can sing a nice ballad because of the deepness in his voice, but he can also wail on the mic because of the strength in it too. Wynonna may have a deeper voice than Huey, but it works. It ain't easy to do, but it's gonna be true. He's just not in love yet, or so he says. You never know. Wynonna could be his other woman. And Huey could be her other man.
Plan B, the title track, sounds very polished and glossy, while When I Write The Book is the song that your uncle who's pretty good at the guitar can reproduce at your summer BBQ. He just won't have the News backing him. The Rhythm Ranch is just plain silly in concept and execution but he comes back with Let Her Go And Start Over. First off, he busts out the trusty harmonica. There's something about that instrument that simply makes a song sound special. It's a soul draining love song where Huey basically says his friends are telling him that he has to let her (is this his woman, or his other woman he's talking about?) go and start over. You can tell by his voice that this decision isn't one he wants to make, but one he thinks he has to make because of their advice. I wonder if the News are giving him the advice.
They end the album just like they started it; by having a good time. While he's not singing about having a good time, he is singing about a dead end relationship. But somehow, he makes it sound like a good time. It's not a drenching ballad, but a happy, bad relationship song, if that makes any sense. Actually it kind of does. He's singing about how couples fight just to fight, act ill towards each other for no reason, because they are already out of love. All Huey wanted was some kindness and he says it all would've worked out. She has a chip on her shoulder, but it doesn't even matter because he doesn't love her anymore. Maybe it's because of that other woman. Damn Wynonna.
Plan B is a good album, not great, but not bad. It's 3.5 stars. And I'm sorry Matty Ballgame for being tardy. Please Matty, don't hurt me.
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