Playing and having fun?
If you do not know that Weezer have new CD out you must live in a small dark hole. If you do not know that during this CD Rivers Cuomo sold almost his every possession and resorted to meditating fifteen hours a day in a small apartment in Los Angeles you must not read as many magazines as me. And if you didn't know that Weezer's 'Pinkerton' was one of the greatest albums of the mid 90's then you should go back to your hole and stay there.
'Make Believe' starts off with the summery love it or hate it affair of River Cuomo's vocal stylings in a rap style delivery on 'Beverly Hills' .Sounds retarded eh? Meek little Rivers singing about celebrities, money and decadence...everything he gave up. Listen to it, watch the video of the band frolicking with Playboy bunnies at the infamous mansion, this song is my favourite song of the summer, classic Weezer sing along choruses, and though the lyrics may be very cliché and done before, but this is Weezer, and they make it work to great result. 'Perfect Situation' is disappointing to say the least, nothing new is explored, it's what I'd expect of a band on the mid west to come up with out of their garage, just produced a little better, the production which has to be commended to the legendary Rick Rubin is brilliant, because we all know it can't be easy to get Cuomo to open up about anything let alone his music to anyone, especially not long enough to record an album. This song has no discerning Weezer-esque qualities, they're try to be "rock'n'roll" and it doesn't really work with Rivers' distinctive voice, one which is not made for dull fodder like this.
'This Is Such A Pity' carries a nice definitive heavy bass line and has an 80's sounding synth track thrown into the mix, somehow this track ends up sounding like a nursery rhyme, the synth makes it stand out. Poignantly so far every track on this album has been very different, but none terrible, but none distinctively Weezer, perhaps due to the break down of communication within the band itself during the making of this record. 'Hold Me' starts off slowly, it doesn't really pick up, it's whiney and dull and plods along under Rivers drawn out and soaring vocals, this song could work for Bright Eyes, but not for Weezer. 'Peace' has a slight country twang to it, it starts off sounding like a Lynard Skynard track, for me, I've never appreciated Weezer's more acoustically driven songs like this one, to me Weezer is 'El Scorcho' and 'Undone' and this does not do the talent this band showed us so early on justice.
'We Are All On Drugs' is easily one of the standout tracks on this CD, starting off much heavier than any other Weezer song, the chorus is ultimately singalong worthy, it will be stuck in your head for days though being so simplistic, this is what Weezer should do to you. A rumbling bass line and heavy drumming over witty and sarcasm laced lyrics with big choruses, in a way completely opposite to single 'Beverly Hills' this is seemingly the anti summer song, and it's bloody good. 'The Damage In Your Heart' is a slower, one again altogether more plod along heartbreaking soundtrack material, not impressive, not original, not up to par with the previous song. 'Pardon Me'...hey wasn't that an Incubus song? Maybe Weezer want to take a mellower route, but this song is just plain boring, Rivers is unusually self apologetic in the lyrics but this is divulgence into his mind, it's written for mindless mainstream college radio rock fans. 'My Best Friends' starts off abruptly, upbeat and kitschy, not too catchy. Weezer display their spectacular dynamic as musicians in this song, back again with the singalong choruses, this song has hit written all over it, perhaps a party tune for years to come, another higher point on this record.
'The Other Way' has underlying piano and acoustic tracks, as well as pounding drums, but Rivers seems to somehow to adapt this song to the point where it once again becomes much like a nursery rhyme, seemingly trivial and sung in a lazy way, the melody is very familiar, but not in a done to death way, it just strikes a chord in the mind. It's an interesting track, another love it or hate track for sure. 'Freak Me Out' is reminiscent of a lullaby, it almost reminds me of a blend of the Get Up Kids and The Cure, quiet and hushed, Weezer make this work, simple bass lines and subtle drumming accent the melody perfectly. 'Haunt You Everyday' is much reminiscent of a Western song or even the blues, sure Rivers whines but he makes it work, he has the backing out brilliant musicians, this song does what the title suggests, it haunts you. Not overtly catchy or over zealous in any manner, this song has a subtle charm much like the previous track that just draws you in; it makes for a surprisingly cohesive listen.
The two bonus tracks on the album are live versions of 'Butterfly' and the stunning, crowd frenzy inducing 'Island In The Sun', both stunning example of Weezer's brilliance as songwriters and live performers.
This CD is very hard to hold to any standard, every track tells a different story, which in many ways is god, there are no bad songs, it's just that we know what Weezer are capable of and the onus two tracks remind us of just that. The best way to describe this CD would be to liken in to a musical, every song evokes a different emotion and a different musical talent from within the Weezer camp, it's a love it or hate it affair, and I for one am really interested to see where this band will go from here. A thoroughly interesting CD, it draws you in for the ride and you won't spend a second of it getting bored.