Weezer - "Troublemaker" (2008)

Weezer needs no introduction. They’ve been a constant in the alt rock scene since their 1994 self titled debut that yielded hits like “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So.” Since then the band has released five more albums. The band’s newest album hit stores earlier this month and is their third self titled record, being dubbed “The Red Album.” The band had been out of the spotlight for a while after seeing great success in 2005 with their fifth album Make Believe. It was rumored at one point that the band would be breaking up but obviously that is not the case. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Red Album simply because Weezer has been kind of hit or miss since The Blue Album. That’s not to say they haven’t made some great records, but there have been a few songs on each album I wasn’t particularly fond of. My fears were somewhat alleviated after hearing the album’s first single “Pork and Beans.” It’s classic pop rock from Weezer with great guitar crunch, a soaring chorus and tongue in cheek lyrics from front man Rivers Cuomo. I read somewhere that the song was written in response to the label requesting that Weezer write a radio hit. So Cuomo penned a song about not wanting to write a radio hit. Great stuff. The video makes it even better. I finally got the album earlier this week and while it has it’s moments, I would have to say that so far I’m not completely sold. There are some fantastic songs like “Everybody Get Dangerous” and “Heart Songs.” But then there are some weird experiments like the genre hopping “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived.” By some band’s standards six minutes isn’t that long, but considering that most of Weezer’s tunes clock in at under three, it begins to grow tedious. Also vexing is the fact that guitarist Brian Bell and drummer Pat Wilson take over on lead vocals on a couple of songs. It’s not that they aren’t competent singers, (each has released music with his own side project,) it’s just that it doesn’t seem like Weezer if Rivers Cuomo isn’t singing, even with his creepy mustache and newfound affinity for Western wear. Also of note is that there is a special edition of the album that features four bonus tracks not found on the original version. This is totally worth it if for no other reason than “Miss Sweeny” a hilarious song about an office manager with a major crush on his secretary that almost feels a little like Fountains of Wayne at times. And it’s almost catchier than any of the songs that made the album. Today’s tune is the lead off track and according to Cuomo in the liner notes; it’s a song that says “this is me. This is who I am.” The lyrics are great and the tune is infectious. I would suggest checking this out, especially if you’ve been a Weezer fan for a while, just don’t expect to be blown away.


Weezer - "Troublemaker"