Red in the Face

Wow. I have played this POS several times now and hate it more and more each  time I try to listen to it.

Rivers Cuomo has officially pulled a Kevin Smith and might as well start dressing like a 13 year old boy since he writes songs like one.

“Troublemaker” should be called “Ode to Bart Simpson” because it would at least tell me from the get-go how lame and cheesy it is without wasting the 3 minutes listening to it. Instead of writing an actual solo Rivers actually throws out some “UHM NANUM NANUM NUMMM” mumbling to cover up the 6 seconds of bad distortion.

“The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” is even more absurd and embarrassing than “Troublemaker”. While I appreciate the concept of a single song that tries to mimic the many styles of rock history, I only hear it for the preposterous failure it really is. Mostly due to the little monologue in the middle. Terrible.

“Pork and Beans” is alright but the video ruined it for me. I was hoping Weezer would go more loner/indie on this album and I got that feeling when they first released this single. Now it seems a little tainted with all the mainstream viral video antics. I know a guy who has this song front and center on his Facebook page right alongside his other favorite rocker, John Mayer.

“Heart Songs” is actually decent until the whole “Nirvana changed my life nonsense. Come on Rivers. I thought you were better than that. “Everybody Get Dangerous”. Really? Do I need to explain why this song is bad? It sounds like a cross between Red Hot Chili Peppers and Third Eye Blind. Yeah,it’s that bad. “Dreamin’” just seems to me more like a song in a Disney animated movie than on a Weezer album. (Except for the “I don’t wanna get with the program” encore, that’s the best part.)

The next three songs where the other guys write and sing, sound like, well, songs that you get when you let the other guys in the band write and sing. I am most upset about paying for this cd because I feel like the other guys are trying to hone their lead singer skills on my dime. None of the songs are good and if Weezer tried this stunt on their first or second CD, that would have been the end of it.

“The Angel and the One” I’m all for spiritual songs but it’s too little too late. Peace, Shalome. Goodbye. So in conclusion. This album is not good and is hands-down the worst Weezer cd yet. They have become caricatures of themselves. I now know what longtime fans of the Rolling Stones feel like when they hear a new Stones album. Just some old dudes trying to recreate the sound of their youth. Aaarrgh. I really wanted to like this!

Notes:

Allmusic rating of 4.5/5 stars?? Are you shitting me??