Review
By: Patrick Dillon
Artist: Weezer
Album: Weezer (White Album)
Like so many other people Weezer’s music deeply effected me during probably the worst series of years in a persons’s existence: middle school. Records like Blue Album and Pinkerton with their lyrical sharpness and angst melded beautifully with their sense of humor and pop rock sensibilities, they really helped to define that point in my life (I know all the words to both…). Although Weezer and I started to go our separate ways, particularly their mid-late 00’s output, I never really stopped listening. Weezer brilliantly touched on the alienation, anger, and general malaise of these years, in an unpretentious and honest light that so few can truly emulate. Rivers and Co. are in their forties now (far from youthful) and although they may be far past their best, their latest record proves that their creative moments are anything but fleeting (despite what Raditude may have you believe!)
While this may not be a ‘concept’ record pre se, it does try to emulate the sound and feeling of those magical California summers. This is, after all, a beach record, and you can hear a certain group of Boys (who may or may not play songs about the beach) influence all over this record. Not least of all the closing track appropriately styled after the seminal Beach boys compilation Endless Summer) complete with the sunny harmonies and love lorn lyrics you’d expect. In fact if you’re at all familiar with Weezer you probably know exactly what to expect here, catchy pop rock gems with explosive choruses, “clever” sometimes funny lyricism, and the best goddamn bridges in the business (at least on this record but more on that later). All of these tracks rest snugly in that 2:45-3:30 comfort zone, sans the closer, with very few curveballs thrown at the general sound Weezer is known for. For some that may be seen as a weakness but I argue that Weezer hasn't sounded this musically put together in a long time. Even 2014’s surprisingly solid Everything Will Be Alright In The End, lacked the punch and fine details that i believe make this record their most compelling since Maladroit.
The record opens with “California Kids”, as anthemic a song as Cuomo has ever written, complete with soaring guitars and a typically killer refrain. Appropriately kicking off with the sounds of an ocean, complete with seagulls flying lazily in the breeze, it evokes the kind of idyllic exaggerated caricature of California the lyrics themselves paint throughout the song. Of course real California kids won't actually throw you a lifeline in any way shape or form, but this idealized image of the California dream fits snuggly in the concept and sound of this record. “Wind in our Sails” continues the redemptive spirit of the opener with the one of the more clever hooks on the record. I love the plinking piano throughout, and lyrically in continues Cuomo’s more recent streak of cleverly hip historical references and characters, perfectly utilized on the first excellent bridge on this record. Really almost every track here features an excellently crafted pop formula, these bridges not only sound great, they lyrically tie these tracks together. My favorite is probably on “Summer Elaine and Drunk Dory”, where after mentioning that god was a girl earlier in the track he pines: “Remember when we were only sixteen, you made me believe in God, but when I finally wake, both girls are gone”.
Lyrically this may be one of my favorite Weezer records, it’s jam packed with clever character allusions, hip biblical references, and genuinely excellent pop song craft. Some of these tracks are actually some of the darkest Weezer’s sounded since Pinkerton like on the track “Do You Wanna Get High”. Lyrically Cuomo recalls memories of his past relationship with not only his girlfriend (also mentioned on Green Album’s “O Girlfriend”) but their pill addiction. Sonically it could be a Pinkerton outtake with blissfully distorted guitar and a killer drumbeat. I love the descending chorus harmonies and Cuomo’s impassioned falsetto on the bridge. “Thank God For Girls” is another lyrical standout, it confronts Cuomo’s hangups about the typified version of masculinity and the struggle to retain that facade, it also throws in a great deal of biblical imagery and characters with a healthy spoonful of absurdity and surrealism. The piano returns from the previous track “Wind in our Sails” though it sounds much more dramatic and emotive here it perfectly compliments River’s rap like delivery (Not new for a Weezer track) with the fuzz of Brain Bell’s guitar. There’s even a line here that dates back to 1997: “I'm so glad I got a girl to think of even though she isn't mine, I think about her all the day and all the night it's enough to know that she's alive”.
Sandwiched between the two darker songs of the album lies what may be one of the prettiest. “Girl We Got A Good Thing” is the breeziest track here, the tambourine is lovely (and I love how they even make reference to tambourines and jingling in the lyrics, its the little things for me man) the 70’s California soft rock guitar sounds great with a little extra fuzz, and the returning piano comes in really nicely. This may be the finest realization of the Weezer sound in a “Beach Record”, it’s upbeat, sunny, and (again) lyrically clever. “King Of The World” is similarly lovely but not for all the same reasons. While many of the songs on this record reference the sound of their older catalogue, this track sounds more like their later output, which at first was a little jarring but this song is definitely a grower, particularly when you look into the lyrics. This is first and foremost a song for his wife, it’s personal and familiar, and although the sound of the song is not nearly as intimate as the lyrics, it maintains the sharp song craft of the rest of the tracks here. The guitar intro just launches you headfirst into that classic 00’s Weezer sound and continues to warp, twist, and change tone. Brain Bell is really a great guitarist and his instrument soars over and plows through each of these tracks with energy and creativity, it sounds like he’s having a blast.
The wall of sound and guitar on “L.A. Girlz” is immense and lovely, contrasting well with the bright melodies of this ballad track and the result is, I think, a song that ranks as one of the best the band has ever put together. The sweet melodies work well with Cuomo’s bitter lyrics: “L.A. Girls please act your age”, a little unfair seeing as Weezer are hardly playing songs any traditional 40 year old men would. Still the tune is undeniable and features another gorgeous bridge: “Does anybody love anybody as much as I love you, baby?” Plus theres a Jaberwocky reference in the lyrics so what more do you need here? (seriously read the disney picture book based on the novel its brilliant). The tail end tracks here end on a similar bummer note lyrically with Cuomo’s laments over being “Jacked Up” over a failed romance. The song features a great drumbeat and lovely impassioned falsetto. It also features some of my favorite lines from the record: “Oh, why, why, why do my flowers always die?” and “We’ll sleep together minus one”. The closer “Endless Bummer” may be the most explicitly Beach Boys song here with its acoustic harmonies and gentle melody (not to mention the title) but it doesn't get lost in the influence, this is still Weezer and this quaint guitar ballad builds organically to a nice finish before the sounds of the ocean appropriately bookend this record.
With only 10 songs on this album and only one of them even approaching anything more than 4 minute length its very hard for this record to wear out its welcome, each song is sharp, instantaneous, and memorable. Its not without its flaws, it can be cheesy, self referential, a tad formulaic at times.and for some those may be a legitimate problem but for me, when the formula is this well put together its hard to argue that this is the best Weezer record in years and stands as a worthy successor to their earlier work. It really brings me back to being a kid again listening to Weezer effectively get the wind back in my sails (get it?). Here’s hoping Black Album is even better.
8/10
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