Weezer - Weezer (Red Album) [Deluxe]
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Free Music Notes for Weezer (Red Album) [Deluxe]
Free Music Review: Weezer Returns...Sorta
Hit: 4 Stars
For the better part of a decade, Weezer has employed a nearly scientific power-pop formula. Cuomo began this exploration on "Weezer[green]," and, in my opinion, was hugely successful on that release. The albums that followed had varying degrees of success. However, that album's predecessor, "Pinkerton," hinted at a more ambitious and experimental approach that was abandoned after Matt Sharp's departure. "Weezer[red]" signals a return to this eclectic aspect of the band, although one tempered by a more mature and experienced Weezer than "Pinkerton" had to offer. As a result, there is a lot that I like about "Weezer[red]."
This maturity is most obviously represented in the lyrics. In their early days, Weezer's lyrical content centered on reconciling the issues that youth bestows on the young adult. As the group has aged, this viewpoint has become less and less believable, culminating in the surprisingly uneven lyrics of "Make Believe." "Weezer[red]" reexamines their earlier approach, but with the perspective of nearing forty rather than thirty. Rather than lamenting the trials of youth, it seems that Cuomo is looking at the potentiality of fatherhood and aging with a healthy sense of nostalgia and self-reflection. Looking back fondly at his own life, he seems to be constantly questioning how he can preserve his youthful identity without "selling out."
However, it is unfair to only focus on Cuomo's contribution on "Weezer[red]." Much has been made in the media of his loosening of the compositional reins. Although the results are periodically uneven, the album's overall feeling of enthusiasm is palpable. I was intrigued by this collaborative approach: it came at a time when I was lamenting the "good old days," in which members of bands like the Beatles and Queen shared songwriting and performance responsibilities as a matter of course. While it might be bold to singularly compare "Weezer[red]" to these classics, seeing songwriting credits and singing drummers certainly harkens back to the more adventurous days of collaborative songwriting, as opposed to the "songwriting machines" that we so commonly see today.
There are several examples of the band intentionally straying from Cuomo's pop formula, particularly on "I am the Greatest Man That Ever Lived" and "Dreamin'." These songs, as well as others, challenge the Weezer formula in the same way that the lyrics redefine the image of the band. In light of these challenges, the band also delivers some very personal songs. In particular, "Heart Songs" is really moving. In an attempt to write a tune about all of the tunes that created his musical identity, Cuomo has inadvertently done a "roll call" on many of the bands that I related to as I grew up. It brings a tear to my voyeuristic eye as he realizes his own voice in the narrative.
As far as "singles" go, (whatever that means today), "Pork and Beans" is a prime example of the Weezer-pop formula. As such, it belongs to a tradition of songs that reaches back to "Buddy Holly" from "Weezer[blue]." The video is a wonderful homage to Weezer's cleverest visual work, and well worth checking out (especially if you are a YouTube junkie like me). Do it now. Seriously.
The Lowdown: Unlike its sometimes unlistenable predecessor "Make Believe," "Weezer[red]" is an entertaining album that becomes more enjoyable as it becomes more familiar. However, the piece of the puzzle that is missing on "Weezer[red]" is Matt Sharp. If he were still in the mix, "Weezer[red]" would be earth-shattering. Even so, it's the best thing that the band has done in a long time. Also: buy this deluxe version. The four songs only reinforce the "Pinkerton" comparisons.
Free Music Review: These are the songs I keep singin'
Hit: 4 Stars
The fact that Weezer's sixth album is simply titled "The Red Album" would lead most to believe that it somehow resembles 1994's "The Blue Album" or 2001's "The Green Album." While it does parallel both as being yet another rebirth for the band, it's actually a record that Weezer has never made before. For the first time, the whole band has a hand in not just the songwriting, but also in sharing the vocal duties. That's right, Brian Bell, Pat Wilson and Scott Shriner (who is now officially the longest lasting bassist in the band) all get their moment in the limelight. Combine that with a new approach to songwriting from frontman Rivers Cuomo and an overall outsider's attitude, and "The Red Album" is the least predictable album from Weezer since the now iconic "Pinkerton" was released over a decade ago.
For the most part, the material on "The Red Album" will sound alien to even the most devote Weezer fan. Sure, the first single "Pork and Beans" sounds familiar enough (and like "Beverly Hills" on "Make Believe," it's the worst song on the album), and such autobiographical tunes as "Troublemaker" and "Heart Songs" sound like updated "Blue Album" material, but the rest will take some getting used to. "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" is probably the most attention-getting song here. As a good candidate for a second single, which clocks in at almost six minutes long, it is perhaps the most epic Weezer song to date, changing pace almost every thirty seconds and covering a dozen genres all at once. "Cold Dark World," a collaboration between Cuomo and Shriner, despite it's dodgy lyrics, is both catchy and dark, and dares to go places the band has never gone before. "Thought I Knew," as sung by guitarist Brian Bell, sounds like a completely different band altogether, but put in the context of this funky, eclectic album, it seems to fit. "Automatic" is one of the most upbeat and Weezer-esque of the album, yet it features drummer Pat Wilson on both guitar and vocals. Thankfully, "The Angel and the One" is by far the most satisfying closing to an album since "Only In Dreams," and is likely to win over even the most jaded of fans. That is, unless you count the four bonus tracks at the end of the "Deluxe Edition." "Miss Sweeney" is classic Weezer, while the other three songs "Pig," "The Spider" and "King" continue in the same weird groove that the first ten songs started.
The great thing about this album, for all it's flaws, is it's "anything goes" attitude. For the first time, it feels like Rivers has loosened his grip. He's obviously given up the quest to write the perfect song, and letting his bandmates pick up some of the duties has really helped to diversify the sound of the band and ensure they have a future beyond album number seven. It's a tough album to get, and it'll definitely take more than a few solid listens to get there, but even if takes a couple years like with "Pinkerton," this album will find it's audience.
Free Music Review: Weezer from Blue to Red
Hit: 4 Stars
Weezer's RED ALBUM DELUXE, the 6 studio lp has received mainly two types of responses from fans and critics: 1. "It doesn't sound like the Blue Album or Pinkerton, Weezer has lost their touch and should have moved on long ago" or "That it is a solid album from the 16 pop-punk-nerd-rock, (whatever you want to call them) 16 year-old band."
Quick history. A band that came out of no where in 1994-1995 gets signed to a major record deal and blew people away with the Blue Album. Two years later, released their sophomore album Pinkerton which is on list after list of one of the best albums ever. How difficult it must be to be able to match the levels of those first two albums? Think about this. Do you really want Weezer to continue to put out the same music as they did in the mid 1990's? Or do you want them to experiment and grow musically and professionally?
Weezer's "Red Album" is their most experimental album to date. I give the guys props for taking a chance in this "only radio friendly" world we live in now.
For the first time, lead man Rivers Cuomo gives the green light for other members of the band to write and lead songs. "Thought I Knew" - Brian Bell, "Cold Dark World" and "King" - Scott Shriner, "Automatic" - Pat Wilson. These 4 tracks vary considerably from the Weezer we have been accustomed to. At first listen to these tracks, they seem out of place and disrupt the flow of the album. But after further listening more, man what a jewel these tracks are to the album.
Do yourself a favor and pick up the Deluxe version of this album. It has four bonus tracks. 3 tracks lead by Cuomo and the last "King" by Shriner.
Album Track Highlights:
1. Troublemaker - The 2008 version of My Name is Jonas
2. The Greatest Man that Ever Lived - The most experimental and creative Weezer has gone to date
3. Pork and Beans - A "Screw You" to the music industry
4. Automatic - Wilson Leads
10. The Angel and the One - Simply Beautiful
11. Miss Sweeney - A bit of rapping
12. Pig - Joyful and Depressing
Weezer: Keep it coming. Can't wait for the Red Album tour to begin.
Free Music Review: Frustrated....
Hit: 4 Stars
....not with the band, but with people who demand the exact same sounds and songs from 12 and 14 years ago. It's fine if thats all you're open to, but sometimes you must let bands try new things and move their music further. Now, it's one thing to not enjoy their change for a legitimate reason, but to hate it only because it's different is just irritating. This is not only directed at these amazon reviews(obviously there aren't many reviews yet at least at this time), but also iTunes reviews and elsewhere. This is not the Blue album and it is not Pinkerton, otherwise it would hold one of those titles. I am not saying that all musical experimentation works all the time. I do not feel that this album is all that it could have been. I won't call it a masterpiece, but I think a lot of it worked. Also, this review is only in regards to the album on its own, not the extra tracks. I find it annoying when people give 1-10 ratings of each track so i'll only be discussing a few tracks. I've never felt that the songs released as singles from any of their albums have shown what they are really capable of. This is obviously due to the fact that they have to release the radio friendly songs. For instance, I don't care too much for 'Dope Nose' or 'Keep Fishin'(better than 'Dope Nose') from Maladroit, but the rest of that album is where I found the more mature writing. 'Pork and Beans' is sort of a throwback to what many of you have always wanted (something that sounds like the blue album!). It's VERY them and I was hoping for something a little more out of their ordinary, but there were aspects of it that I appreciated and it does work well as part of the album. They probably could have done a bit more with 'The Greatest Man....', but it's a nice accomplishment overall. As you all know by now, the other members have contributed writing and vocals for a number of songs. A daring move, but to me it's one of the best things about the album. It makes the album very free and open. I can't tell you whether you will enjoy this or not, but if you're expecting another Blue or Pinkerton like a lot of closed-minded listeners, you won't appreciate this. It's a mixed bag, but thats the idea. White Album-esque.Free Music Review: Go Deluxe
Hit: 4 Stars
Weezer's latest effort is definitely a mixed bag, and saved by some outstanding tracks on the deluxe version. Not to say that none of the tracks of the standard album are good--"Pork and Beans" is a catchy number with a nice guitar hook, and "Dreaming" features some nice Beach Boys style harmonies. But most of the others are either mediocre (Thought I Knew) or downright annoying (Heart Songs). Several songs seem to be skewing towards a young male demographic--those who may have liked "Beverly Hills" but didn't get the irony. "Everybody Get Dangerous" is particularly loathsome with its celebration of moronic adolescent behavior. That being said things start to get better near the end with "Automatic", and this leads into the best moment of the album "The Angel And The One", ending the standard album with the repetition of "peace, shalom". Moving on to the deluxe tracks three are four are excellent, more personal and emotional. "Miss Sweeney" has an interesting vocal cadence in a song about an office crush, "Pig" is either a PETA theme or an allegory about life. In "The Spider", another song dealing with life and death, he identifies with a spider caught in a drain, struggling to survive, but doomed eventually to die. In the end enough to keep Weezer fans satisfied for the time being.