Record Reviews
After giving it some thought, I've decided that I do indeed want to include writing about music on this blog. One goal I've had for a long time is to review all the CDs (and perhaps some good digital tracks, since I get many songs from iTunes these days) that I own. And I've got several hundred, so it'll certainly take a while.
Now you, dear reader, may be asking yourself - what credentials do I have that you'd take interest in my reviews, especially when there's plenty out there by professionals on sites like Rolling Stone, the All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, PopMatters, etc? Well, I'll have to admit, I'm not a pro. But that's where I feel I have an advantage, since they're reviewing because it's a job, whereas I'm doing it all for the love of it. Not that professional reviews are necessarily bad, and I'm sure most of those writers love music too, but I believe I can give a fresh perspective on the bands and songs that I enjoy. Also, I do play guitar and piano and have written and recorded songs as well, so I have some experience with the general activity of "music making."
So, to start things off, I'd like to begin with the band whose album I most recently bought and whose show I most recently attended. They also happen to be my favorite current group: Weezer.
Weezer (Blue Album) - 1994
This is where it all began. Four nerdy looking guys from Southern California playing pop-punk with a dose of heavy metal score a surprise novelty-sounding hit with "Undone (The Sweater Song)." A few months later, their next single "Buddy Holly" rockets up the charts thanks to what's probably the coolest video ever (GNR's November Rain comes close, but Buddy Holly still takes the cake), starring the band in a clip from Happy Days. A third single, "Say It Ain't So," also becomes a hit. Those three songs were undoubtedly what attracted me to buy the Blue Album, but surprisingly, the rest of the album was just as strong. From the 60s-style pop of "Surf Wax America" to the nerd anthem "My Name Is Jonas" to, well, another nerd anthem "The World Has Turned And Left Me Here", each song is bright, catchy, hummable, and showcases Rivers Cuomo's goofy yet interesting lyrics. Anyone who likes to hear good pop songs as played by a rock band (and who doesn't mind the cutesy geekiness) should really enjoy this record. Rating: 4.5/5
Pinkerton - 1996
Pinkerton didn't have any big hit singles the way the Blue Album did, and so I didn't purchase it right after release. In fact, a good five years passed before I finally bought this record; I did so in 2001 only after hearing that Weezer had regrouped after a long layoff, and I decided basically on a lark to revisit them. Well, my big mistake for waiting. Because any way you look at it, Pinkerton is Weezer's undisputed (ok, disputed - the Blue Album has its fans too) masterpiece, one of the best albums of the '90s, and the record that launched a thousand emo bands. Pinkerton is quite different sounding than the Blue Album - it is much more raw, with powerful guitars, forced vocals, and highly personal lyrics about difficulties in life and in relationships. Rivers really pours his feelings out into these songs, exposing them to the world, and the impact is immediate, intense, and at times heartrending. But it's not just the lyrics that elevate Pinkerton to its lofty pinnacle; the music is simply astounding. These songs are so catchy and powerful that they'll stick in your head for weeks, and yet every time you listen to them, they'll still sound amazingly fresh. There's not an ounce of filler here; the ten songs on Pinkerton combine to create a sonic experience much greater than the sum of its individual parts, and it gets better every time you hear it. Don't wait, just go buy this album and see for yourelf. Rating: 5/5 (Heck, I'd give this a 10 out of 5)
Weezer (Green Album) - 2001
Weezer took a long layoff after Pinkerton, but thank goodness they came back, because the Green Album is flat-out awesome. Stepping away from the rough-and-tumble aspects of Pinkerton, the group returns to the catchy punk-pop of their debut and proceeds to turn out their second masterpiece in a row. Now I know these words may sound sacrilege to many Weezer fans who think nothing can ever top the Blue Album and/or Pinkerton, and indeed the Green Album doesn't quite top Pinkerton. But I think it's catchier, rocks harder, and is just as fun as the Blue Album. The big hits off the album were "Hash Pipe" and "Island In The Sun," but the rest of the CD is just as good from start to finish. Just like with Pinkerton, you'll be humming this one for weeks. The only downside it that it's almost too sugar coated in places, but this flaw is very minor compared to the Green Album's many highlights. There isn't a single bad, or even only okay, song here - the record is that good. It's the perfect album for a sunny day too; play it in the car with the windows down, or out by the pool, and you surely won't be disappointed. Rating: 5/5
Maladroit - 2002
Considering the long stretch between Pinkerton and the Green Album, Weezer somewhat surprisingly issued a quick follow-up, releasing Maladroit in the spring of 2002. This album is pretty similar to the Green Album - it's catchy pop-punk, but this time with a more pronounced '80s metal influence. The guitar solo on "Dope Nose," for example, is a great example of the band expanding their musical palette as such. As for the songs themselves, it's mostly typical Weezer par-excellence yet again; songs like "Slob", "Slave", "Keep Fishing", and the aformentioned "Dope Nose" are up there with the best of the band's career output. The rest of the songs are quite catchy as well, and certainly rock out, but they do seem to blend a bit more facelessly into each other than do the songs on the Green Album. This knocks Maladroit down a bit from Pinkerton-Green Album heights, but any Weezer fan will still certainly enjoy this record. Rating: 4/5
Make Believe - 2005
So the new album finally arrived in April, and I certainly was awaiting hearing the first new Weezer material in three years (not counting their limited-edition "The Lion and the Witch" EP and the expanded deluxe version of the Blue Album, both of which were released in the interim). I saw the band in concert right around the album's release too, and they played a great show, which raised my expectations even further. Yet, upon initial listening, unfortunately I feel disappointed at a Weezer album for the first time. Why? Well, the songs are catchy as usual, there are a couple great hit singles ("Beverly Hills" and the potential future hit despite its corny passe title "We Are All On Drugs"), and the singing and lyrics still define the band as the proud kings of nerd-rock. (Sure the guys are getting into their mid-thirties, but there were plenty of girls at the show wearing T-shirts saying "I Love Nerds", so why not?) So what's wrong with the album? At first listen it was hard to tell, but something just didn't sound right about it. Then it hit me - new producer Rick Rubin's glossy production seems, to my ears, all wrong for the band. Many of the songs, though great tunes at the core, have a shiny, synthesized feel that seems to fit Weezer like a square around a round peg. In other words, it just doesn't work. I can understand having overprocessed guitars on say, an adult contemporary album, but it sounds pretty odd here. Maybe the album will grow on me with repeated listens, but for now, I'd have to say that it's my least favorite Weezer offering. Rating: 3/5
Now you, dear reader, may be asking yourself - what credentials do I have that you'd take interest in my reviews, especially when there's plenty out there by professionals on sites like Rolling Stone, the All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, PopMatters, etc? Well, I'll have to admit, I'm not a pro. But that's where I feel I have an advantage, since they're reviewing because it's a job, whereas I'm doing it all for the love of it. Not that professional reviews are necessarily bad, and I'm sure most of those writers love music too, but I believe I can give a fresh perspective on the bands and songs that I enjoy. Also, I do play guitar and piano and have written and recorded songs as well, so I have some experience with the general activity of "music making."
So, to start things off, I'd like to begin with the band whose album I most recently bought and whose show I most recently attended. They also happen to be my favorite current group: Weezer.
Weezer (Blue Album) - 1994
This is where it all began. Four nerdy looking guys from Southern California playing pop-punk with a dose of heavy metal score a surprise novelty-sounding hit with "Undone (The Sweater Song)." A few months later, their next single "Buddy Holly" rockets up the charts thanks to what's probably the coolest video ever (GNR's November Rain comes close, but Buddy Holly still takes the cake), starring the band in a clip from Happy Days. A third single, "Say It Ain't So," also becomes a hit. Those three songs were undoubtedly what attracted me to buy the Blue Album, but surprisingly, the rest of the album was just as strong. From the 60s-style pop of "Surf Wax America" to the nerd anthem "My Name Is Jonas" to, well, another nerd anthem "The World Has Turned And Left Me Here", each song is bright, catchy, hummable, and showcases Rivers Cuomo's goofy yet interesting lyrics. Anyone who likes to hear good pop songs as played by a rock band (and who doesn't mind the cutesy geekiness) should really enjoy this record. Rating: 4.5/5
Pinkerton - 1996
Pinkerton didn't have any big hit singles the way the Blue Album did, and so I didn't purchase it right after release. In fact, a good five years passed before I finally bought this record; I did so in 2001 only after hearing that Weezer had regrouped after a long layoff, and I decided basically on a lark to revisit them. Well, my big mistake for waiting. Because any way you look at it, Pinkerton is Weezer's undisputed (ok, disputed - the Blue Album has its fans too) masterpiece, one of the best albums of the '90s, and the record that launched a thousand emo bands. Pinkerton is quite different sounding than the Blue Album - it is much more raw, with powerful guitars, forced vocals, and highly personal lyrics about difficulties in life and in relationships. Rivers really pours his feelings out into these songs, exposing them to the world, and the impact is immediate, intense, and at times heartrending. But it's not just the lyrics that elevate Pinkerton to its lofty pinnacle; the music is simply astounding. These songs are so catchy and powerful that they'll stick in your head for weeks, and yet every time you listen to them, they'll still sound amazingly fresh. There's not an ounce of filler here; the ten songs on Pinkerton combine to create a sonic experience much greater than the sum of its individual parts, and it gets better every time you hear it. Don't wait, just go buy this album and see for yourelf. Rating: 5/5 (Heck, I'd give this a 10 out of 5)
Weezer (Green Album) - 2001
Weezer took a long layoff after Pinkerton, but thank goodness they came back, because the Green Album is flat-out awesome. Stepping away from the rough-and-tumble aspects of Pinkerton, the group returns to the catchy punk-pop of their debut and proceeds to turn out their second masterpiece in a row. Now I know these words may sound sacrilege to many Weezer fans who think nothing can ever top the Blue Album and/or Pinkerton, and indeed the Green Album doesn't quite top Pinkerton. But I think it's catchier, rocks harder, and is just as fun as the Blue Album. The big hits off the album were "Hash Pipe" and "Island In The Sun," but the rest of the CD is just as good from start to finish. Just like with Pinkerton, you'll be humming this one for weeks. The only downside it that it's almost too sugar coated in places, but this flaw is very minor compared to the Green Album's many highlights. There isn't a single bad, or even only okay, song here - the record is that good. It's the perfect album for a sunny day too; play it in the car with the windows down, or out by the pool, and you surely won't be disappointed. Rating: 5/5
Maladroit - 2002
Considering the long stretch between Pinkerton and the Green Album, Weezer somewhat surprisingly issued a quick follow-up, releasing Maladroit in the spring of 2002. This album is pretty similar to the Green Album - it's catchy pop-punk, but this time with a more pronounced '80s metal influence. The guitar solo on "Dope Nose," for example, is a great example of the band expanding their musical palette as such. As for the songs themselves, it's mostly typical Weezer par-excellence yet again; songs like "Slob", "Slave", "Keep Fishing", and the aformentioned "Dope Nose" are up there with the best of the band's career output. The rest of the songs are quite catchy as well, and certainly rock out, but they do seem to blend a bit more facelessly into each other than do the songs on the Green Album. This knocks Maladroit down a bit from Pinkerton-Green Album heights, but any Weezer fan will still certainly enjoy this record. Rating: 4/5
Make Believe - 2005
So the new album finally arrived in April, and I certainly was awaiting hearing the first new Weezer material in three years (not counting their limited-edition "The Lion and the Witch" EP and the expanded deluxe version of the Blue Album, both of which were released in the interim). I saw the band in concert right around the album's release too, and they played a great show, which raised my expectations even further. Yet, upon initial listening, unfortunately I feel disappointed at a Weezer album for the first time. Why? Well, the songs are catchy as usual, there are a couple great hit singles ("Beverly Hills" and the potential future hit despite its corny passe title "We Are All On Drugs"), and the singing and lyrics still define the band as the proud kings of nerd-rock. (Sure the guys are getting into their mid-thirties, but there were plenty of girls at the show wearing T-shirts saying "I Love Nerds", so why not?) So what's wrong with the album? At first listen it was hard to tell, but something just didn't sound right about it. Then it hit me - new producer Rick Rubin's glossy production seems, to my ears, all wrong for the band. Many of the songs, though great tunes at the core, have a shiny, synthesized feel that seems to fit Weezer like a square around a round peg. In other words, it just doesn't work. I can understand having overprocessed guitars on say, an adult contemporary album, but it sounds pretty odd here. Maybe the album will grow on me with repeated listens, but for now, I'd have to say that it's my least favorite Weezer offering. Rating: 3/5
posted by Shane at 6:32 PM
0 comments
