Weezer - Weezer ("The Red Album")

Genre rock Publisher Geffen External Links Weezer Website

As much as I've always loved Weezer's quirky brand of rock, I truly believe the guys need to reconsider their apparent obsession with the self-titled album. At this point, it seems a short jump until we find ourselves on the receiving end of Weezer (the Burnt sienna or Mauve album). That said, with the so-called Red Album, Weezer continues the band's long running streak of solidly crafted, entertaining collections. Rivers Cuomo's clever lyrics and the bands musicianship shine throughout. While there isn't much change in the signature guitar-driven 70s rock sensibility from their previous efforts, there is a greater feeling of self-assurance and a sense of fun permeates almost every track. You can see that these are seasoned rock veterans at the top of their game… and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

This is obvious throughout, but nowhere so much as "The Greatest Man that Ever Lived (Variation on a Shaker Hymn)." From another band, the track could have easily degenerated into the worst kind of posturing, but thanks to Cuomo's sarcastic delivery and the over-the-top orchestration, the whole thing comes off as humorous and likeable. Not many vocalists could pull off lyrics like "I've got the money/ And I've got the fame/ You've got the hots to ride on my plane," but with the feeling of false bravado that pervades (along with Weezer's long-standing reputation as the kings of nerd rock) and the bombastic drums underneath, the band manages to pull it off famously. Later in the album, Weezer once again tries their hand at the ballad with "Cold Dark World" and "The Angel and the One." While neither song achieves an "Only in Dreams" vibe, both serve as poignant moments in the collection. With subdued instrumentation, Cuomo's sentimentality (some would say vulnerability) is broadcast to excellent effect

Weezer has an uncanny skill at leading their listener to fits of nostalgia as in, "Everybody Get Dangerous." Anyone who spent their adolescence engaged in petty vandalism and various other irresponsible behaviors will immediately find themselves transported to happier, easier times. Citing reckless teenage driving, mailbox baseball, and hockey games sans protective gear, the song reads like of a laundry list of the vagaries that occupy ones high school years. Personally, I found myself reminiscing and nodding in wonder along with the line "There must be a guardian angel / Or some kind of destiny we had / Cause we should have died a long time ago / The way we were living in our past." It doesn't hurt that the track is catchiest rocker in the collection with driving guitars and pounding drums almost guaranteed to induce toe tapping.

It should be mentioned that if Weezer's previous albums were not to your taste, you will find little here to excite new interest. This is definitely a collection in line with the rest of their body of work. If Pinkerton was their diamond in the rough (named Worst Album of 2006 by Rolling Stone, but went on to later become a fan favorite), this is the fully cut and polished stone. The "Red Album" is a collection that will remind any fan of Weezer why the group has survived fifteen years, several forced hiatuses, and near band-ending breakups. Put simply, they are the best around at their brand of witty, esoteric rock.