If you haven’t been listening to the music of New Jersey’s terrific power pop quartet, The Weeklings, then you’ve been missing out on something truly special. The group’s phenomenal songs are a remarkable blend of the sounds of the British Invasion and power pop, liberally sprinkled with a hint of modern rock. They’re also a superb live band, whose must see performances always win rave reviews from fans. Now is the perfect time to check out the band and their music, as their fabulous new album, Raspberry Park, is being released this Friday, January 19, on JEM Records. Raspberry Park is something of a concept album dedicated to the band’s home base in Asbury Park, an area which features a diverse collage of musical styles, including rock, pop, soul, R&B, and punk.
Raspberry Park kicks off with the title tune’s brief musical introduction, which segues into the fantastic “Like We Used To Do,” an energetic track which recalls an early Beatles number infused with the harder edged sound of bands like The Kinks. That’s followed up by the sensational “Brian Jones,” a tribute to the late co-founder of The Rolling Stones, featuring tasty harmonica licks, impressive vocals, and some very groovy guitar, bass and drum work. “Etude In E,” another interlude, comes up next, followed by the group’s stupendous version of The Beatles classic “I’ve Just Seen A Face.” The Weeklings are well-known for their unique interpretations of the music of The Fab Four, and their superlative cover of this beloved tune from Rubber Soul is yet another high-water mark in the band’s repertoire.
The Weeklings’ marvelous potpourri of rock, pop and soul sounds is on display throughout Raspberry Park. The album is filled with magnificent songs, ranging from the 90s rock infused ”All the Cash in the World” and “Falling Down a Flight of Stairs,” to the New Wave-styled, punk-fueled “None of Your Business.” You’ll also dig the straight ahead rock and roll vibes of “April’s Fool” and the 1980s-esque gem “Angeline,” one of my favorite tracks on the record. Every song is imbued with the band’s passion, high energy, and top-notch musicianship, whether it’s on brief interludes like “Samson” and “Appalachian Revenge,” or the group’s truly inspired rockabilly re-vamp of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.” Another highlight of the disc is the brilliant intertwining of the music of Buffalo Springfield and The Rolling Stones on the extraordinary “Mr. Soul Satisfaction,” which features guest vocalist Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits.
The Weeklings lineup consists of Zeek, aka Bob Burger, on lead vocals, harmonica, and guitar; Lefty aka Glen Burtnik, on bass and background vocals; Rocky, aka John Merjave, on guitar and background vocals, and Smokestack, aka Joe Bellia, on drums.The outstanding original tunes on the album were largely written by Lefty and Zeek, and several of these well-crafted songs feature a bit more of a bittersweet tone than the band has featured on previous records, which is perfectly fitting given the album’s theme as a tribute to the wide array of musical genres which abound in Asbury Park. By the time you’ve finished your visit to Raspberry Park with the group’s deeply soulful take on the Sgt. Pepper track “She’s Leaving Home,” you’ll understand why The Weeklings just keep getting better with every new release!
For more info on The Weeklings and Raspberry Park, head over to www.jemrecordings.com. For a little taste of Raspberry Park, here are links to the videos for “Brian Jones” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abAFKBANq0I and “I’ve Just Seen A Face” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGlfZ6up7NI.
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