3 Bar Fire - Weezer - Weezer (Red Album)

Weezer - Weezer (Red Album)

Written by Reecha

Tuesday, 01 July 2008

I have to start by saying that Weezer’s first two albums – ‘Blue’ and ‘Pinkerton’ – got me through much of my teenage years and so Rivers Cuomo and company do hold a special place in my heart. Regardless of this ‘The Red Album’ only manages to rise above mediocrity and into the category of listenable a handful of times.

Making the album self titled and putting it alongside their two previous colour labelled offerings (‘Blue’ in 1994 and ‘Green’ in 2001) is a clear attempt by Weezer to remind us of what inspiring music they were once capable of making. After a 3 year hiatus, in which time lead man Rivers Cuomo recorded a solo album, its clear that the geek rock poster boys have run out of fresh ideas.

The fact that Cuomo released his solo album ‘Alone’ last year seems to loom over the album as for the first time he shares song writing duties with the rest of the band. These unfortunately are where the album is really let down – uncomfortable, gaudy songs that lack any of Weezer’s nerdish charm that once made them so great.

To their defence the band did endeavour to make their most experimental album to date – and brought in Rick Rubin on production duties to do so – but just because you can programme in an 808, doesn’t mean that you should (‘Thought I know’ being one of the worst songs I have ever heard in my life).

Having said that the album does have a few vintage Weezer moments, the lead single ‘Pork and Beans’ will satisfy those who got into the group through ‘Buddy Holly’ or ‘Hash Pipe’, while ‘The Angel and the One’ harks back to classic, vulnerable Cuomo first seen on ‘Only in Dreams’ off the Blue Album.

Cuomo is currently attempting to write an entire song n youtube with input from his fans – let’s hope they come up with something better than his band.

Words: Robin @ ruffhousing.blogspot.com

Label: Geffen
Out: Now