Weezer
I write this with the utmost gumption to say that this in no way intends to put down one of my favorite bands of all time (or rather of the years 1994-1996). Weren’t those just the golden years of effortlessly made alternative rock masterpieces? Remember when a band of assholes from Berkeley, CA made a record called “Shit” (in so many words), stole a Grammy, and sold 15 million copies? I know I do, it was everyone’s favorite now -eyeliner-sporting political satirists Fall Out Boy Green Day. And taken from the EXACT same era was Weezer’s “Blue Album,” which managed to the capture the hearts of everyone (did I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE) in 1994. The royalty checks are still being cashed every time an eight year old chooses a song to play in Rock Band simply based on the band name that sounds the silliest.
These are distressing times. The top two albums last week in terms of sales were The Game’s “LAX” (don’t get me wrong, My Life is a powerful track) and Slipknot’s “All Hope Is Gone.” Wait, what? I demand a recount! Where is Weezer’s 6th studio album, The Red Album? I can only assume the reason Weezer isn’t the buzz around indie rock circles and middle school emo kid lunch tables is because the new songs bear little resemblance to the Weezer of old. Would I trade “Undone (The Sweater Song)” for “Pork and Beans”? Certainly not. What about “My Name is Jonas” for “Troublemaker”? Good heavens, no. Weezer has traded self-mocking, fuzz-based rock tracks for lyrics like “I’m a troublemaker, never been a faker” and “Put me in a special school, cause I am such a fool, and I don’t need a single book to teach me how to read.” Wait, didn’t Rivers Coumo go to Harvard?! Last time I checked they still used books there.
And have you heard about the Hootenanny Tour? Why would I, or anyone, ever want to go to a concert of my favorite band from the 90s to hear Joey Bag-of-Donuts (on his Walmart acoustic guitar no less) fuck up the chords to an already easy 4-chord song? I’ll take your silence to be tacit agreement: Weezer was better when they were writing songs for themselves and the 5 people that originally bought the Blue Album the week it came out because they thought it was a German techno group. Indie rock isn’t about camaraderie, acceptance, or collaborative lyric writing! I buy albums because 1) I’ve never heard of them, 2) the band name has at least 4 words, and 3) because Pitchfork gave them a 6.0 (anything higher and you can be sure the writer was lying or sleeping with someone in the band). I liked Cuomo’s songwriting a lot better when he went insane from the pressures of NOT living up to Geffen Records’ expectations rather than catering to them.
But all’s fair in love and alternative music. People change and bands become vegans and only wear TOMS Shoes. If I wore what I used to wear when I listened to bands like Green Day or Weezer I’d still be a virgin so maybe we should let Weezer slide for their recent descent into commercialism and their failed attempt to reach it (“Beverly Hills, that’s where I want to be!”). Hear’s to hoping that Cuomo loses his mind again and we can enjoy songwriting from an era when sophomore releases were even better than their predecessors.
Tags: Aging Musicians, Emo Glasses, Weezer
Lifting Fog 
September 6, 2008 at 7:34 pm |
Pinkerton was actually my favorite Weezer album, despite all of its creepiness for eighteen year old girls in japan.
September 6, 2008 at 8:04 pm |
Pinkerton’s a great album, maybe their most under-appreciated. And the lyrics, however creepy as Tian rightly notes (especially the masturbation stuff on “Across The Sea”), feel so much more honest and unguarded than shit like “Troublemaker”. I only just discovered it (read: finally listened to it) last December and it stuck with me in a big way. If mania and depression are what inspired those songs, then Rivers “Nearing 40 And Still Nerdy Cool!” Cuomo could stand another bout. Pain isn’t necessarily a prerequisite for creativity, but it sure can help.
September 9, 2008 at 3:45 pm |
The best things in life really are free, especially when you can win a trip for two to San Diego to watch the geek gods themselves, Weezer, on October 17th!! We’re talking airfare, accommodations, transportation, the best seats in the house and $500 spending money so you can live it up like a rock star. Times running out, the contest ends October 3rd, enter today!
Enter to win here:
http://fuse.tv/contests_and_games/weezer/
Good Luck!!!
September 9, 2008 at 9:23 pm |
Well thanks for the info, Carrie!
September 12, 2008 at 1:12 pm |
Better be careful with the locational references there Mr. Burbank. Hey, it ain’t no Beverly Hills, but you’re a whole lot closer than you used to be (hmmmm….what would be the location reference to your former life – Burbank is to Beverly Hills, as Haddonfield is to…..? Or would Haddonfield be the BH equivalent and Collingswood is tthe Burbank?. Soon you’ll be shopping for your manse in them same Hills………or not. BTW from my geezer (and sometimes “wheezer”) perspective – where do Blink 182 and Radiohead fall into this dialogue – or do they?
keep writin’ – it’s gettin even better.
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