Here's my fav live Helmet track. I actually prefer this version over the studio version on Betty. The tone and that SNARE!
Helmet recorded this in-studio performance on August 28th, but it was not aired until this special performance episode of 120 Minutes on December 18th 1994. This clip uses the same beta max source as the one on youtube but should look/sound a bit better. Enjoy!
Sponge sounding as good as ever last night in Royal Oak. Amazing set at Rock & Brews!
Cannonball snagged the #5 spot in the top 20 alt videos of 1993. Kim Deal talks after the video about their busy schedule since getting their lineup together. The video was directed by Kim Gordon and Spike Jonze. Enjoy another sweet clean beta max transfer!
July 19, 2025 - St. Augustine Amphitheatre - St. Augustine, FL
Henry Rollins hosted this episode and introduced this as the Beastie's 4th video off of Check Your Head. Enjoy this super clean beta max transfer of this 33yr old airing!
Flashing light warning! Here's the first track from JAMC's 1992 album Honey's Dead. At the end of the video, Jim Reid talks about their unique sibling relationship.
Host Dave Kendall mentions JAMC have been added to the newly confirmed lineup for Lollapalooza '92 - RHCP, Ministry, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Ice Cube, and Lush are also mentioned. Enjoy another super-clean beta max transfer clip!
Music video starts at 2:35 ! On 4th of July weekend, Sonic Youth played a free show in Central Park with alternative/jazz legend, Sun Ra. Thurston talks about working with Butch Vig and covers what some of the new songs are about.
The music video for 100% stars Jason Lee and was directed by Spike Jonze and Tamra Davis. Enjoy this super-clean beta max transfer of this great snapshot of summer '92!
Synopsis:
Pinkerton is the second album by Weezer released on September 24, 1996 Rivers Cuomo wrote most of Pinkerton while studying at Havard , after abandoning plans for a rock opera, songs from the black hole . It was the last Weezer album to feature the bassist Matt Sharpe, who left in 1998. To better capture their live sound, Weezer self-produced Pinkerton, creating a darker, more abrasive album than Blue Album Cuomo's lyrics express loneliness and disillusionment with the rock lifestyle. The title comes from the character BF Pinkerton from Giacummo Puccini’s 1904 opera Mandame Butterfly, whom Cuomo described as an "asshole American sailor similar to a touring rock star". Like Madama Butterfly, Pinkerton views Japanese culture from the perspective of an outsider who considers Japan fragile and sensual.
Review:
The album opens with “Tired Of Sex” it has this abrasive thick groove that lets you know the poppy radio friendly sound of the blue album is dead and buried. The song has this emptiness both sonically and lyrical. Cuomo has a blistering guitar solo towards the end of the song. “Getchoo” is this loud dense sludge rock track. One of Weezer’s grunge adjacent songs they ever recorded. It just feels so disjointed and chaotic. “No Other One” continues that loud distorted sound but there is a melodic harmony buried deep in the track. “Why Bother?” sonically could be the closest the band gets to the Blue Album carefree vibe. Lyrically it still maintains the theme of loneliness and depression. “Across The Sea” might be one of Rivers' most problematic songs. The theme of him fascinating over a letter from an 18 year old Japanese fan comes off as creepy yet endearing at the same time. “The Good Life” abandons the chaotic energy found on earlier tracks on the album. It has this infectious guitar riff that gives the song a groovy energy. It marks a change of direction of the album as if Rivers has decided to stop wallowing in sorrow and return to society. “El Scorcho” was the first single released for the album. It has one of the more bizarre song structures in the band’s catalog. It also feels more infectious and groove friendly than anything else on the album. I love the Green Day dig that Rivers includes. This is one of his best wordplay he ever wrote. “Pink Triangle" has Rivers confessing his love to someone who can never reciprocate, this time a Lesiban is the subject of his obsession. Sonically, it has this infectious energy. After an album worth of obsession and emptiness “Falling For You” has Rivers finally finding someone he likes and is returning his affection which absolutely terrifies him. The track has this dense layered groove. The guitar solo is one of his finest efforts. The album closes with the quiet energy of “Butterfly” which is just this simple acoustic guitar ballad. Inspired by Pucci’s opera Madame Butterfly. It acts as Rivers apologizing for his negativity found throughout the record.
Final thoughts:
Most people know the narrative of this album. Trashed by critics and fans when it was released but is now considered one of the best albums ever recorded. For Weezer superfans the band will never reach the heights of this record again. I have loved this record since the first listen. It is such an amazing departure from the Blue Album. Rivers Cuomo is one of the more complicated songwriters ever. This is probably his masterclass. Whatever you think of what Weezer have put out since this album’s release you can’t deny its power. If you haven’t heard this record, put it on your bucket list.