Mate's Takes - The Weezer Discography

[matedog]

I like Pinkerton. Never been interested enough to explore further, though.

You might like Blue Album well enough. I doubt you'd be impressed with much else.

I like the first three albums well enough, but since then it's seemed too much filler.

I think Green (the third one) is as soulless and generic as all the other ones that followed. I did pick it up right around high school graduation so do have a ton of fond memories of it.

[Dr. Medulla]

I like Pinkerton. Never been interested enough to explore further, though.

You might like Blue Album well enough. I doubt you'd be impressed with much else.

I like the first three albums well enough, but since then it's seemed too much filler.

I think Green (the third one) is as soulless and generic as all the other ones that followed. I did pick it up right around high school graduation so do have a ton of fond memories of it.

I can't say that any Weezer album blows me away. I think if I'd been exposed to them when I was younger, in my music-sponge adolescence, they'd have done more for me. Mostly fun stuff, but nothing that really makes an impact on me.

[Rat Patrol]

I like Pinkerton. Never been interested enough to explore further, though.

You might like Blue Album well enough. I doubt you'd be impressed with much else.

I like the first three albums well enough, but since then it's seemed too much filler.

I think Green (the third one) is as soulless and generic as all the other ones that followed. I did pick it up right around high school graduation so do have a ton of fond memories of it.

I can't say that any Weezer album blows me away. I think if I'd been exposed to them when I was younger, in my music-sponge adolescence, they'd have done more for me. Mostly fun stuff, but nothing that really makes an impact on me.

I think the fact that it was more interesting and melodic rock for 1994 than end-stage grunge and morphing of "alternative" rock into vanilla Top 40 faire begetting the utter dreck that was the late-90's which made it resonate a lot more. I wouldn't call it totally generation-defining for me because I identify more with the end-Gen X'ers than first-wave Gen Y'ers. But I was also radio- and MTV-bound back in high school, and didn't have money for a CD collection or any sort of record stores in godawful CT except for some mediocre (and now defunct) big chains. I didn't have access to the 1979-83 music I craved and which most Gen X'ers grew up on; it was a rare treat to ever hear that stuff when it was on-the-outs in that era. So in making do with what was current Weezer was a pretty damn good highlight. Not a great one, but pretty damn good.

[esmark]

Really interesting matedog. Nice review. Keep 'em coming! Weezer is good!

[Jimmy Jazz]

Good review. I like the first two Weezer albums. After that, there's a song here and there but nothing special. Thought the Red album last year was weird. Half of it was a good return to form, the other other half was terrible. And some of the bonus tracks were better then a lot of the album tracks. Haven't heard anything from Raditude yet, outside of that "I Want You To Want Me Too" (or whatever) single which I do not like.

[almo]

Good review. I like the first two Weezer albums. After that, there's a song here and there but nothing special. Thought the Red album last year was weird. Half of it was a good return to form, the other other half was terrible. And some of the bonus tracks were better then a lot of the album tracks. Haven't heard anything from Raditude yet, outside of that "I Want You To Want Me Too" (or whatever) single which I do not like.

Don't bother. I caught my dick trying to detach itself from my body shortly after listening to Raditude.

NEVER AGAIN

[Inder]

Good review. I like the first two Weezer albums. After that, there's a song here and there but nothing special. Thought the Red album last year was weird. Half of it was a good return to form, the other other half was terrible. And some of the bonus tracks were better then a lot of the album tracks. Haven't heard anything from Raditude yet, outside of that "I Want You To Want Me Too" (or whatever) single which I do not like.

Don't bother. I caught my dick trying to detach itself from my body shortly after listening to Raditude.

NEVER AGAIN

lolf

I'm hearing mixed reviews on Raditude, as well. Well, mostly bad.

[Kory]

I would give "In The Garage" higher marks too. That thick guitar tone kills me.

[matedog]

I would give "In The Garage" higher marks too. That thick guitar tone kills me.

It's weird. I really like the song, but can't rate it that highly. Shit maybe I can give it a six. I just didn't want to be too generous after my hyper critical reviews of the first two VU albums.

[ElvisIsKing1977]

This just reminded me I had some old Weezer footage of Say It Ain't So lying around from 2005. I took the video on my point and shoot camera so it's not great quality and I couldn't get the full song, but still a pretty good version.

[youtube][/youtube]

[matedog]

– Rivers abandoned Sci Fi space opera (Songs From the Black Hole) rewritten after a tumultuous semester at Harvard
1. Tired of Sex – 8. If you asked me when I first got the album (cerca 99) how I’d rate the song, I would have given it a 5. Now, depending on the day, I might rate it as my favorite Weezer song. This song was written before even the first album but it fits in thematically with the rest of the album and sets the scene – Rivers is tired of meaningless relationships and is in search of something special. Well fuck that, this song rocks. The second verse is extra special as it begins with one of my favorite drum fills ever before Rivers starts screaming the lyrics. Then there is the ceiling scraping guitar solo, wailing distortion, and cut time ending. Badass.
2. Getchoo – 4. This is a continuation of the No One Else – The World Has Turned and Left Me Here story almost. One of the first songs written for the album (after Tired of Sex of course) detailing trying to get back with lady after mistakes. This is as dirty and messy sounding as the rest of the album but doesn’t really distinguish itself melodically or thematically.
3. No Other One – 5. Rivers is in a shitty relationship but won’t get out of it because he thinks he has no other options. Not exactly enthralling lyrically or melodically although there is a clever key change and it’s welcome to hear a song in 3/4 with some Matt Sharp octave harmonies.
4. Why Bother? – 7. Memorable melody? Check. Rare Brian Bell guitar solo? Check. Sharp lyrics concerning a pessimistic look on love (“Maybe we could even get together. Maybe you could break my heart next summer”)? Check. The enthusiasm of the last verse makes the song.
5. Across the Sea – 8. The Pinkerton monster ballad if you will. Rivers receives an adoring letter from a Japanese fan and falls in love. What follows are some downright creepy but oddly touching lyrics. The hook is strong and the final verse contains his most “heart on my sleeve” lyrics.
6. The Good Life -7 (so close to an 8). The one song on the album not explicitly concerning love/relationships. Rivers wants to get down after getting his leg brace off and his beard grown out. This and the following song provide about as much levity as the album ever gets (in spite of lyrics like “I should have no feeling cause feeling is pain.”) The timing is all over the place throughout the changes and we get probably the only known slide guitar solo on a Weezer song. Sloppy? For sure, but that’s what makes this album this album.
7. El Scorcho – 8. Green Day, obscure pro wrestling references, Public Enemy quotes, double time almost punk bridge, and a big gang chorus vocal. Not part of the song critique, but also one of my favorite videos of all time.
8. Pink Triangle -7. Rivers falls for a lesbian and is sad about it. I’m getting tired of writing about this. But yeah, good song and good tempo changes to build up the final chorus.
9. Falling For You – 8. Another one I would have rate much lower initially as it is not all the memorable melodically. However, this one ties the entire story together. The half Japanese cellist from El Scorcho is the subject again and courtship is resumed. The song ends with them beginning some sort of romance. Beyond the interesting story continuation, the song is musically advanced. In spite of proclaiming in the last verse “What could she possibly see in little old three chord me?” the song utilizes at least fifteen chords (to my count) and one key change (E major to G major) to good effect.
10. Butterfly – 7. After an album’s worth of dirty feedback, dry drums, screaming vocals, tempo shifts, key changes, and odd chord progressions, Rivers closes with an acoustic ballad, the only major change in tone (in contrast to Blue’s more diverse sound). Unlike the other songs on this record, this one leaves no chance for misinterpreted and/or smart alec lyrics. Like 90% of the other songs on the record, this concerns disillusionment with love. Nice little coda too.
The B-sides
You Gave Your Love to Me Softly – 8. Rivers wrote this tune for the Angus soundtrack (mid 90’s glory). The song he wrote initially for the film “Wanda” was rejected and he quickly wrote this upbeat rocker. Although this gives the sense that there is less heart in this tune compared to others from the era and it might have been a warning of things to come post-Pinkerton, I think it fits in well with the more whimsical and romantic lyrics of the first album as opposed to the completely disassociated lyrics from the following albums. There are two mixes of this song, one from the Angus soundtrack and one from the El Scorcho single. Go with the El Scorcho version as it has better vocals and louder guitar. Otherwise, the song is short, sweet, catchy, and memorable. Big thumbs up.
Devotion -6. Big sludgy 6/8 song with prominent Moog. This song is a hold over from Songs From the Black Hole and has a more upbeat lyric than the Pinkerton tunes. Matt Sharp’s falsetto really nails the last chorus making the three part harmony so lacking from the rest of Pinkerton (even 2-part for that matter).
Waiting on You -8. Another sludgy 6/8 song with studio chatter and feedback. The first verse is sung rather restrained going into the off kilter chorus with Brian trailing just behind Rivers. The second verse picks up as Rivers vocal becomes far more nervy to the point that he wails off key in falsetto and makes it sound so good. The song ends in a sea of feedback with multiple interplaying vocal parts before fading out with some gentle drum fills. A great song.
I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams – 7. Another Black Hole song with lead vocals from Rachel Haden. This almost has a Rentals feel to it with the female vocal and the Moog, but with Rivers’ more adept songwriting and his vocal harmony coming through especially strong at the end. Unique and very good.

[Still216]

I think Green (the third one) is as soulless and generic as all the other ones that followed. I did pick it up right around high school graduation so do have a ton of fond memories of it.

Funny, that's my favorite Weezer album. Especially the last five songs (or Side B, for the hipsters). I realize that this was their first album in four years and it was barely 30 minutes long, and all the guitar solos mimicked the vocal lines exactly. But I mean, listen to Knock Down Drag Out or Simple Pages and tell me those aren't great songs. And I'm no Weezer apologist - I can't stand most of Maladroit or the albums that followed. But I listened to the green album more than the first two combined (and those were both really good). What can I say - I'm a sucker for concise power pop songs about various girls that sound like they were written by me while I was a sophomore in high school.

[Still216]

7. El Scorcho – 8. Green Day, WWF references, Public Enemy quotes, double time almost punk bridge, and a big gang chorus vocal. Not part of the song critique, but also one of my favorite videos of all time.

Excellent review and I hate to detract, but Pinkerton came out in 1996, and "Watching Grunge legdrop New Jack through a press table" was an ECW reference, back when they were on at 2AM, or equally obscure timeslots, on various regional sports networks and UHF stations. I remember hearing that line on the CD and I completely freaked out. I was 16 at the time, but ECW was as punk rock as anything back in the death-of-grunge days of 1996.

[Flex]

Fantastic reviews Matey, nothing I immediate would argue with from reading it once over. Might have to pull out the 'ol Weezer collection and examine further.

Also, I am 99% sure this is the most that has ever been written about Weezer. You should do these album reviews for, like, some Everclear albums or something.

[eumaas]

You should do these album reviews for, like, some Everclear albums or something.

Jesus. People listen to that?