roger weeks - “best time of the year”
photo by lauren nieves
Everyone’s favorite Los Angeles-based folk artisan, roger weeks, is back with the third single from his upcoming EP, North Dakota. The song is entitled “best time of the year,” but it is worth mentioning that it can be enjoyed all year long, presumably until the end of time.
This one begins with some melancholic, lo-fi guitar, gently plucked to set the vibe. roger’s vocal soon sweeps in, reminding us as to why we keep featuring his music on our website– his voice is honest, authentic, and magnificently emotive as he details the journey of returning to North Dakota for the holidays. And while many of us may not necessarily have to cross the country to do so, there is a certain nostalgia that always accompanies the act of returning to wherever you’re from, and all of that is perfectly demonstrated here.
The verses are filled with roger’s lower register as he weaves his sensitive tale, but the hook is filled with remarkable glimpses of his falsetto, as well as a significant expansion to the arrangement. These vulnerable moments will likely have you playing the song on repeat as you try to make sense of your own emotions– the ones that seem to seasonally surface. But please understand that “best time of the year” is not a Christmas song– you will not find any sleigh bells or mention of snow; however, you will find a middle eight that provides a masterful shift in dynamics.
We’ve featured every song that roger weeks has sent over to us, so feel free to use his work as a blueprint to study in an attempt to get your own songs posted on our blog. His recipes are perfect and each tune comes out of the oven full of intimate, folksy flavor and we truly cannot wait to hear his upcoming releases. Until then, we will be playing “best time of the year” in a constant loop, along with his previous singles, “North Dakota” and “i think i love u.”
-HD