Weezer - The Red Album

1. June 2008 by Matt.

On Tuesday, Weezer releases their sixth album (and third self-titled). I’ve been able to hear the entire album for a few days now and I have to say, I’m more excited about this CD than I was the first time I heard The Blue Album. Do I feel that Red is better than Blue? Let’s find out…

When I first saw the cover I thought, “Oh hell.” Rivers Cuomo looking like a cowboy? Brian Bell looking like a chic homeless man? What are they trying to do? Then I heard the title of the first single, “Pork and Beans”. Shit, another Maladroit, I thought. For those who do not know, Maladroit was Weezer’s 2002 album. I thought, and still think, it sucks. I recently decided to listen to the album again from start to finish and I still can’t get into it. Hardcore Weezer fans love it though. Guess I’m “too mainstream”.
Then I finally heard “PnB”. Wow. My first reaction. This is the same sort of Weezer that performed 2005’s Make Believe and 2001’s Green Album.  The lyrics are unbelieveably catchy, which isn’t much of a stretch for Rivers, and the music is tight and crunchy. Yeah, poor choice of words, but when you hear the song you’ll agree. Rivers is nearing age 40, and his lyrics, as well as music have matured with him. He pokes fun at this fact in the lyrics to “PnB”. “They say I need some rogaine to put in my hair. Working out at the gym to fit my underwear. You’d hate for the kids to think you lost your cool.”  Rivers still manages to come across as that youthful, nerdy rocker that has been his trademark since 1994’s Blue Album, yet he’s grown. It’s a wonderful juxtoposition, and gives me hope that when I near 40 I’ll still be as “cool”, or not, as I am now in my 20’s.
“Pork and Beans” is a wonderful first single and I’m not alone in thinking this. As of now the track sits at the top of the Modern Rock charts. But what about the rest of the songs? Here are some of my favorites:
1. Troublemaker. A thunderous, rocking opener. Musically very similar to the guitar driven Green Album, lyrically much closer to 1996’s Pinkerton. Up till this point, Pinkerton has represented Weezer at their most mature lyrically. After the lack of commercial success of the album, Rivers scaled back on subsequent releases, but has slowly been returning to form. With the very first track of Red, he has done just that. I suspect that Troublemaker will become an anthem for rebellious high schoolers this summer, or this fall.
2. The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations On A Shaker Hymn).  TGMTEL is strange, catchy, and progressive all at once. Opening with a random cheering crowd which turns into the sounds of blaring sirens you can’t help but be at least somewhat intrigued. Soon Rivers oddly country/rap sounding lyrics come in full force. It sounds very different, but very Weezer all the same. “I’m the baddest of the bad. I’m the best that you’ve ever had.”  This soon gives way to a short acoustic segment followed by a military march styled background with a choir singing, “After the havoc that I’m gonna reak, no more words will critics have to speak. “  Rivers then proclaims himself to be the greatest man that ever lived. Tongue in cheek much?
4. Heartsongs. This one is a ballad in which Rivers recalls the songs that have inspired him. It’s really a touching homage to past and present artists. Anyone who listened to music in the 1980’s and 90’s will feel a bit nostalgic along with Rivers. My favorite part is the buildup bridge in which Rivers recalls the first time he heard a copy of Nirvana’s Nevermind. This buildup continues into a rousing final verse that culminates with Weezer playing their own shows and their own “heartsongs”. A lot of Weezer fans do not like this song, but I think it’s a lovely addition to Red.
6. Dreamin’. Dreamin’ is the closest track here to a Blue Album song. In fact, if this song turned out to be something that was originally written for Blue, I would not be surprised. The slow breakdown duet between Brian Bell and Rivers is something new for a Weezer song, and very much welcomed. Dreamin’ reminds me a bit of some of the classic Lennon-McCartney partnerships.
7. Thought I Knew. TIK is Brian Bell’s song. This is the first time on a Weezer album proper that someone other than Rivers has sung a track. Bell is more than up to the task. This one has a very upbeat, techno feel and serves as a bridge between the primary Rivers’ tracks and those sung by the other memebers of Weezer that fill up the second half of the album.
8. Cold Dark World is Scott Shriner’s first track on the album. Co-written by Shriner and Rivers, this is a slower brooding track. There is a definite anger streak throughout the song. Reminds me of alot of the Finnish stuff I listen to. I don’t think I could see Rivers singing it. Shriner is suprisingly good on the mic, I wouldn’t mind future songs with him taking on the lead vocals.
Bonus Tracks:
11. Miss Sweeney. Pinkerton 2008. That’s the best way to describe this one. The verses are Rivers talking to Miss Sweeney in an office setting, giving her directions and such. The choruses are where Rivers breaks down and confesses his love for Miss Sweeney. After the first chorus he initially renegs, but by the second one he goes into full force just gushing the love he feels for this woman. Fantastic track that should have been on the album proper.
12. Pig. Pig is a sad ballad about a pig. Yes, a real pig. “This song details the life of a pig including playing in the mud as a piglet, falling in love, getting married, raising children and eventually being slaughtered.” It’s very touching, actually.
14. King. This is Scott Shriner’s second solo track and a kick ass one at that. The song starts out acoustically with Shriner warning and outsider at his “disco” that he is king in this town. The outsider is drunk and hitting on women. Shriner is basically protecting his kool-aid. The song revolves around Shriner letting this guy know that he is in charge around here and that if he wants to be left alone then he needs to back off. The song reaches a melodic crecsendo where the full band’s instruments kick in,
“You see I own this town
you best not come around
if you wanna get by then cool it down
if you wanna start something
know one thing: i’m king.”
King is definatly a different kind of Weezer than we’re used to, but it’s good. Shriner needs to write and sing more!

So, what do I think about The Red Album? It’s King. I would easily rank it up with Blue and Pinkerton. It has a few tracks that I’m just not entirely into, although they may grow on me.  Red is definetly off to a better start with me than Maladroit or even Make Believe. Don’t get me wrong, I like MB, but the last half of that album doesn’t do it for me. Red is an album that I can listen to from start to finish. I highly recommend it to anyone reading this. It’s that good. Get the Deluxe edition with the 4 bonus tracks if you can, because those are some of the highlights of this strange, delicious trip.  My overall rating? A-

My Weezer album rankings:
1. The Blue Album A
2. Pinkerton A
3. The Red Album A-
4. The Green Album B
5. Make Believe B-
6. Maladroit D

Want to get ahold of the standard album for cheap? Circuit City has it for $5.99 this week (in stores and online)! 6 bucks for an amazing album, you can’t pass that up! http://entertainment.circuitcity.com/Music/Album.aspx?prodid=GEFB001113502.2&store=Movies&si=ccity-prod&channel=b2c&partner=cc&catOid=-13219

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