In January 2018, Huey Lewis was just about to take the stage for a Dallas concert when his hearing almost ceased to exist. Somehow, he managed to do the show, but the affliction stayed with him. A diagnosis later showed that Lewis was suffering from Meniere’s Disease, an innerear disorder. He was told that he might not be able to perform again, but Lewis was still able to make use of the material created during the band’s studio sessions prior to the diagnosis. The resulting album, Weather , is the first new studio release by Huey Lewis and the News in nearly two decades. Patient fans will no doubt welcome it, although they’re not getting much—the album’s seven songs add up to less than a half-hour of music, and while Weather sounds instantly familiar, it doesn’t break any significant new ground; this could just as easily have been a collection of old outtakes. All of the songs here are new originals, save for a cover of an R&B chestnut, Eugene Church’s “Pretty Girls Everywhere,” given a jaunty doo-wop-inflected arrangement punctuated by a meaty harmonica solo by Lewis. “While We’re Young,” the second single, is a nostalgic, bittersweet “here we are getting older” reminiscence taken at a leisurely pace and featuring a warm organ part from Sean Hopper and chunky fills from the solid three-piece horn section. “Her Love Is Killing Me,” a chugging bar-band rocker, is another highlight, while “Hurry Back Baby” is every bit as instantly catchy as the News’ biggest ‘80s hits. As for Lewis’ voice, a listener would be hard-pressed to tell anything was ever wrong with it, and one imagines its owner is damn relieved about that.