The notion of “progress” is a peculiarly Western and somewhat modern one. Americans tend to worship the young and the new. Former Jimmy Buffet guitarist Tim Krekel is neither young nor new; he is, however, triple-threat good.
Happy Town mines roots-rock sources, echoing with influences like the Byrds and the Rolling Stones to amply display Krekel’s talents as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He may not be new, but he is fresh, completely up to the task of making tried-and-true guitar-rock sound energized and exciting again.
“The Best Thing I Never Had” and “Sunshine Baby” likely will prompt bopping around the room, but lest you think this is some kind of party record, check out “Loss To Explain”, a Stephen Bruton-style ballad about life’s lessons that won’t come from a young turk, no matter how talented.
Other cultures opt for refining tradition instead of constant revolution. Members of all ages, but particularly the elders, perform indigenous music, thousands of years old, with boundless energy. Tim Krekel plays a type of music that you have heard before, but have rarely heard done better.