Saw Weezer on Letterman tonight...

[TCP]

I just saw a video via p4k of Weezer performing with Kenny G. That was a the craziest thing I've ever seen.

Also a duet (a real duet......) of the lead single... not sure how I feel about that.

Does Pat Wilson not perform drums with Weezer anymore???

 

Anyways, I've been listening to Weezer II (The Green Album) on my drive to work for the past few days. The last time I heard any of those songs has to be at least five years. The first four songs (and the last one) are really good. Rivers has a really good sense of melody... almost Beach Boyesque. I'd have made the production more organic and the performances more dynamic but, what can you do?? Just thought I'd throw that out there... in retrospect, Don't Let Go and Photograph are great pop songs.

[lamradio]

I just saw a video via p4k of Weezer performing with Kenny G. That was a the craziest thing I've ever seen.

Also a duet (a real duet......) of the lead single... not sure how I feel about that.

Does Pat Wilson not perform drums with Weezer anymore???

 

Anyways, I've been listening to Weezer II (The Green Album) on my drive to work for the past few days. The last time I heard any of those songs has to be at least five years. The first four songs (and the last one) are really good. Rivers has a really good sense of melody... almost Beach Boyesque. I'd have made the production more organic and the performances more dynamic but, what can you do?? Just thought I'd throw that out there... in retrospect, Don't Let Go and Photograph are great pop songs.

 

Yeah, there actually isn't a bad song on the whole album. Simple Pages, Knock Down Drag Out, Islands In The Sun.. I really enjoyed Green Album... and Maladroit..

 

And what is it with drummers moving to guitar? C'mon, love your instrument.. Dave Grohl another example. Amazing drummer, shitty singer/guitar player..

[marino13]

Two subtle (or not so subtle) differences between new and old Weezer.

1. The use of pop culture references or brand names

2. The use of hip hop slang.

 

For me, these two things have turned Weezer into a novelty act and absolutely unlistenable. It is a sound business move by them to work with Katy Perry, Kenny G, Adam Lambert, etc. Endear yourself to fans of those artists, fans who don't know what good music is, and you will look pretty good by comparison. Kind of like non-country artists getting into pop country music, not the strongest playing field there either.

[Shakespeare In The Alley]

Buddy Holly began with "what's with these homies dissing my girl". And name drops Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore. And has a Happy Days parody video.

In the Garage name drops Kiss.

El Scorcho name drops Green Day and some wrestler whose name I forget.

There are other examples. Those just spring to mind. Hip hop slang and pop culture references were all over the earlier Weezer records too. They just weren't going full on into the hip hop genre.

 

Yet those albums are universally heralded. I'm not saying the new stuff is better, as it obviously isn't. But there isn't that much difference. Rivers isn't really growing up as a songwriter, but his fans are. But he can still write a killer melody, so I'll keep listening. Raditude is worth my time and money so far.

[marino13]

Buddy Holly began with "what's with these homies dissing my girl". And name drops Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore. And has a Happy Days parody video.

In the Garage name drops Kiss.

El Scorcho name drops Green Day and some wrestler whose name I forget.

There are other examples. Those just spring to mind. Hip hop slang and pop culture references were all over the earlier Weezer records too. They just weren't going full on into the hip hop genre.

 

Yet those albums are universally heralded. I'm not saying the new stuff is better, as it obviously isn't. But there isn't that much difference. Rivers isn't really growing up as a songwriter, but his fans are. But he can still write a killer melody, so I'll keep listening. Raditude is worth my time and money so far.

 

It seems like it is more prevalent in the the newer records. Maybe it's not and the act has just worn thin for me. The blue album came out when I was a freshman in college. Maybe I've just grown up since then and it doesn't hit me on the same level? They are pretty much the equivalent of The Offspring ("Pretty Fly for a White Guy") for me now.

[bigideas]

when Blue/Pinkerton were written those seemed to be things he was actually experiencing at the time (maybe romantisized) but Raditude does not feel that way at all.

 

you'd think he'd be writing songs about how much he's in love with his wife or about married life.

[lamradio]

Buddy Holly began with "what's with these homies dissing my girl". And name drops Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore. And has a Happy Days parody video.

In the Garage name drops Kiss.

El Scorcho name drops Green Day and some wrestler whose name I forget.

There are other examples. Those just spring to mind. Hip hop slang and pop culture references were all over the earlier Weezer records too. They just weren't going full on into the hip hop genre.

 

Yet those albums are universally heralded. I'm not saying the new stuff is better, as it obviously isn't. But there isn't that much difference. Rivers isn't really growing up as a songwriter, but his fans are. But he can still write a killer melody, so I'll keep listening. Raditude is worth my time and money so far.

 

I keep telling myself that maybe I have just grown out of Weezer.. Maybe the act has worn thin, but when I listen to songs like "Across The Sea", or "My Name is Jonas".... And then I listen to songs like "We Are All On Drugs" or "Everybody Get Dangerous" and there's just no comparison.. They went from brilliantly written lyrics and music, to"what the hell were they thinking?".

 

I respect that you still listen to them, and that's cool. I have friends that still love them like they did years ago, but for me personally their new stuff is just painful to listen to..

[Shakespeare In The Alley]

I think the act has worn a bit thin. But the songs are still (mostly) good pop-rock. I don't listen to newer Weezer with as much interest. It's a much shallower thing. It sounds good, so I have no qualms about playing it. Whereas prime Weezer is much deeper, better written stuff. I'm not taking Raditude seriously, and it's impressing me.

 

It's just that people talk as if Rivers is betraying them, when he's really continuing to do the same kind of writing he's been doing. I'll even admit to the decline in quality, but to act like pop culture references and gangster white boy posing is a new thing for Rivers is a bit off.

[Guest Speed Racer]

Two subtle (or not so subtle) differences between new and old Weezer.

1. The use of pop culture references or brand names

2. The use of hip hop slang.

 

For me, these two things have turned Weezer into a novelty act and absolutely unlistenable.

 

I can't stand new Weezer at all, but these are two traits that really made Blue and Pinkerton kinda fun. El Scorcho has both of these traits, right down the title, and goddam if I don't love this song.

 

Back in those years though, Weezer seemed to be doing that in Rivers' attempts to be cool, which is great, because I think a lot of us were trying to be cool back then, too. Now, most of us don't care anymore about that business and we all think he should think he's cool, but he's still jockeying for a slot that he already has...

 

But I would echo the statement that it seems weird to be still simmering over teen-angst when he's married with kids. I'd be down with arguing that he's a one-trick pony. Totally totally awesome trick, but I prefer the first two rabbits he pulled from his hat...

[bigideas]

the references were always there, but they were TRUE to Rivers at that time and much more subtle.

 

these are obvious "going to Best Buy" or whatever it is.

 

go to their Myspace Player. they have all of Raditude and some tracks from the Red Album and then Say It Ain't So. SIAS feels totally different.

[Shakespeare In The Alley]

Obviously a song like Say It Ain't So stands out. But songs like Buddy Holly and El Scorcho aren't too far off from Pork and Beans and If You're Wondering. Rivers won't write another SIAS again. I'm ok with that. But the current Weezer pop culture referencing pop songs aren't much different than the older Weezer pop culture referencing songs.

[bobbob1313]

A weezer thread I haven't gotten in on?

 

I've only heard two songs from this album. I love the lead single so much that I'm setting myself up for failure. I really think "(If You're Wondering)" is just a fantastic single. That Letterman performance with the horns is so cool. Kind of nice to see Rivers without the guitar; nice to know there's a front man of a band I could have better stage presence than

 

The only other song I've heard is the Lil Wayne one. Holy shit, that's fucking terrible.

 

But I can't begrudge the band, they seem to really enjoy what they do, they still have a lot of energy and put on a great live show. They've made bad songs before, I just skip them.

 

 

Not sure if I'm alone in thinking this, but I feel like this improves on the original.

[bigideas]

What is everyone's opinion on Maladroit?

 

I got that back out and I don't think there's a single pop culture reference on that whole album.

 

I think that's my favorite post-Pinkerton album.

 

That one song sounds too much like Locomotion though.

 

Keep Fishing should have been a big single, that's a crime.

[Guest Speed Racer]

Keep Fishing should have been a big single, that's a crime.

 

I thought it was? Vh1 and MTV were playing that video non-stop. I would change the station to the other and it would be playing on both, five seconds apart. I always liked Dope Nose, myself.

[Hoodoo Man]

What is everyone's opinion on Maladroit?

 

I got that back out and I don't think there's a single pop culture reference on that whole album.

 

I think that's my favorite post-Pinkerton album.

 

That one song sounds too much like Locomotion though.

 

Keep Fishing should have been a big single, that's a crime.

 

I really liked Maladroit and still listen to it quite a bit. I thought it was more interesting than Green. I was happy Rivers through out his theory on perfect pop song construction from Green and let the band cut loose more on Maladroit.

[caliber66]

the references were always there, but they were TRUE to Rivers at that time

What the hell does this even mean?

[Guest Speed Racer]

What the hell does this even mean?

 

In 1996, when he said he was the epitome of Public Enemy, he thought he was. In 2009, when he says he's going to Best Buy with his girl, he ain't.

[TCP]

What the hell does this even mean?

During the Blue Album, Rivers was in his 20s and singing about being in his 20s.

On Raditude, Rivers is in his 40s and singing about being in his teens.

[Sir Stewart]

In 1996, when he said he was the epitome of Public Enemy, he thought he was. In 2009, when he says he's going to Best Buy with his girl, he ain't.

 

What if he thinks he is?

[bigideas]

I thought it was? Vh1 and MTV were playing that video non-stop. I would change the station to the other and it would be playing on both, five seconds apart. I always liked Dope Nose, myself.

 

really?

 

At that time I didn't have cable, so I've never seen a Maladroit era video - didn't even know there were any. I saw the Green ones and Beverly Hills.

[Guest Speed Racer]

really?

 

At that time I didn't have cable, so I've never seen a Maladroit era video - didn't even know there were any. I saw the Green ones and Beverly Hills.

 

The Keep Fishin video is great! Features the Muppets. There's an HD version up on Youtube, I think. You should check it out. The Dope Nose video is pretty good, too, in the classic pyrotechnics kind of way.

[bigideas]

The Keep Fishin video is great! Features the Muppets. There's an HD version up on Youtube, I think. You should check it out. The Dope Nose video is pretty good, too, in the classic pyrotechnics kind of way.

 

now that you mention Muppets, i do kinda remember it. =)

[PopTodd]

I think that the new single is the best thing that they've done in a long time.

[chisoxjtrain]

I really, really like Weezer's singles. The majority of their albums are not very good overall. Weezer really is a singles band. This is my playlist for them:

 

1. My Name Is Jonas

2. Buddy Holly

3. Say It Ain't So

4. The Good Life

5. Pink Triangle

6. El Scorcho

7. Hash Pipe

8. Island In The Sun

9. Dope Nose

10. Keep Fishin'

11. Perfect Situation

12. Pork and Beans

13. Troublemaker

14. The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)

15. (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To

[bigideas]

I really, really like Weezer's singles. The majority of their albums are not very good overall. Weezer really is a singles band.

 

I think Blue and Pinkerton are good albums throughout. Green is half good and then repeats the formula too much. I think Maladroit is pretty solid t hroughout. The last few albums I've actually thought the singles were some of the worst tracks.