Does anyone have an opinion on the new Weezer album?

[ALago1]

I have been a fan of this band since the beginning, when "The Blue Album" first burst onto the modern music scene. "Pinkerton" was my favorite album when I was in high school and I have many great memories set to their music.

When they reunited after their brief hiatus, I wasn't overly impressed with "The Green Album" but liked it a lot to say the least. However, "Maladroit" left me with a bad taste in my mouth and I pretty much thought the band was done after that record.

But here they are, releasing number five entitled "Make Believe", a drastic departure from their typical sound in many ways.

The album, in my opinion, is pretty irregular. There are some above average tracks: "This is Such a Pity", "The Damage in Your Heart", "The Other Way", and "Freak Me Out" to name a few, and the latter being the most experimental work Weezer has done.

Yet, there are some big misses as well, i.e. "Beverly Hills", "My Best Friend", and "We Are All On Drugs". These all sound pretty childish and contrived and would have served the album better to just have been left off.

What I think this album ultimately represents is the inception of Weezer's farewell to their traditional sound, and I expect to see more daring and mature work from them in the future. In fact, I wouldn't be surpsised if they begin to purposely alienate their original audience further as new albums progress. Times have changed and I think they want to shake their original persona as nerdy power pop geeks.

Anyway, enough of my rambling, I'd like to hear the opinion of anyone who has heard this album.

[Abelman]

1. I liked it

Haven't had a chance to give it a full listen - I've got a lot on my plate - but I have heard all of it. It seems pretty solid overall. Weezer at the worst has always been better than most of the crap on the airwaves.

[stellanoir]

2. Have only heard a couple cuts thus far.

Just know that I spent a whole weekend with the bass line to "Hash Pipe" resounding in my cranium.

Quite the earworm I assure you.

Great bass riff though,

[ALago1]

3. Hash Pipe has a great hook...

...however that was released on their 2001 self-titled comeback album. Did you think it was a newer song? That's interesting...

[stellanoir]

5. No I didn't think it was newer

than that. Just thought it was funny.

[ALago1]

7. I remember when that song was first released

I was so excited for the return of Weezer! Ahh, memories...

[ghostsofgiants]

4. Personally I like it a lot more than their past couple albums

It's their best since Pinkerton I think. Could just be me though, I've heard a lot of people disagree.

[ALago1]

6. The high spots on the album surpass anything post-Pinkerton

I definitely think that. However there are some tracks that just seem half-baked and uninspired. I'm not irate like some fans though, I think this is just a necessary transitional phase for the band.

[ghostsofgiants]

8. I'm inclined to agree

But I guess the low spots don't bother me as much as they might some.

[Droopy]

9. Hey, I like "Beverly Hills"

I was listening to a Weezerathon on the radio one night where they were interviewing the band and playing some of the music off of their new album. Out of all the songs they played there was only one other one that I liked on first listen and I can't remember the name of it. Seems like it was a kind of slow love song. Anyway, you know how that first listen stuff goes. Sometimes it takes a little while for a song to grow on you.

[ALago1]

10. This album is definitely a "grower"

When I first listened to it I was so thrown off by the new sound that my instant reaction was "I don't like this, it's not the Weezer I know". Then I began to take it for what it is, not viewed in the context of past releases. It quickly became more and more enjoyable. Now I'd give it a 7/10 rating.