Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The King," by Teenage Fanclub would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "International Pop Overthrow" - Material Issue (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
Synopsis:
Few albums in alternative rock history have drawn a line in the sand quite like Weezer's fifth studio album, Make Believe (2005). To casual listeners, it was a massive commercial triumph that spawned the ubiquitous multi-platinum smash "Beverly Hills." To the band's fiercely defensive, Pinkerton-loving fanbase, it was viewed as an existential betrayal. Looking to repair fractured relationships within the band and write more empathetic, universal lyrics, Cuomo brought in Rick Rubin and encouraged Cuomo to dig deep into his feelings, resulting in hundreds of demo songs. However, the final product took a sharp turn. Instead of raw, unvarnished emotion, Rubin polished the songs into hyper-slick, radio-friendly modern pop-rock. The production is completely stripped of the crunchy, messy guitar feedback that made early Weezer great, replacing it with rigid drum mixes and clean, heavily compressed arena hooks. It became an album caught between genuine introspective pain and a desperate desire for commercial validation.
Review:
The album opens with “Beverly Hills” ; it is one of the more polarizing songs in the Weezer catalog. Built on a stomp stomp clap beat and a simple three chord progression. It also has a talk box guitar solo. It is just a catchy pop rock track. It gave Weezer one of its biggest hits but infuriated the Weezer stans who wanted a Pickerton or Malatriot sounding first single. “Perfect Situation" begins with a great guitar hook but then levels off into this nice pop-rock melody. It sounds like classic Weezer. “This Is Such A Pity” has this sharp synth rock groove. It feels like it was recorded in the 80’s. It gives off such Cars energy. The duel guitar solos from Cuomo and Brian Bell top off one the album’ finest moments. “Hold Me” is one of the emotional highlights of the album. It is a melodic power ballad. The song feels so fragile before it explodes into a dense catchy hook. “Peace” is your pretty standard 2000’s power-pop track. With its heavy distorted guitar riffs and crisp clean rhythms. Rivers is reflecting on his meditation journey he was going on during that time. “We Are All Drugs” has this slick yet heavy modern rock groove. The song is about how we are all addicted to communism and hooked on our screens. It is the moment on the album that the Weezer die hard fans felt the album was turning corny. I love this song. I think its one of the best in the Weezer catalog. “The Damage In Your Heart” is this melodic power ballad. It channels Pickerton era sadness but is wrapped in a power-pop melodic haze. “Pardon Me” is Rivers' attempt to apologize to everyone he hurt during his egocentric rock star phase. The song is built on a simple power-pop rhythm. “My Best Friend” has this bouncy pop-punk vibe. It feels out of place on an album filled with melodic power ballads. “The Other Way” is inspired by the woman who inspired Pickerton. It is a moment of empathy for Rivers as he attempts to show some empathy for her after her partner’s death. “Freak Me Out” has this weird creepy sound. Brian Bell plays a warbling harmonica. Lyrically it is about Rivers finding a spider in his room and being freaked out but tries to empathize with it. Pure Rivers awkward weirdness. The album closes with “Haunt You Everyday” it is the first song that Rivers wrote on a piano rather than guitar. It gives off a dark atmospheric vibe. One of the more gothic sounding songs in the Weezer songbook.
Final Thoughts:
I know I am supposed to hate it but I find myself putting this album as one of my favorite Weezer albums. It might be a bit too polished at times but there’s real emotion underneath it. Being a Weezer fan is hard you never know what you going to get from Mr. Cuomo the band has had so many ups and downs in their career but I will always come back to them. If you want to go down the Weezer rabbit hole this one should be a part of it for sure.
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The King," by Teenage Fanclub would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "International Pop Overthrow" - Material Issue (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
The A-Z contest had me digging through old collections looking for forgotten powerpop. Found some Reivers discs I got after seeing them a couple of times in local bars in the 80s. Had such a crush on Kim back then.
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The Kids Are Alright," by the Who would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "So It Goes" - Nick Lowe (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The Kids Are Alright," by the Who would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "So It Goes" - Nick Lowe (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The Kids Are Alright," by the Who would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "So It Goes" - Nick Lowe (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The Kids Are Alright," by the Who would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "So It Goes" - Nick Lowe (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The Kids Are Alright," by the Who would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "So It Goes" - Nick Lowe (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
Made famous by Blondie two years later.
The power pop side of Glam rock/punk
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The Kids Are Alright," by the Who would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "So It Goes" - Nick Lowe (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
Definitely a heavy power-pop influence here.
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The Kids Are Alright," by the Who would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "So It Goes" - Nick Lowe (for ease of those trying to find the songs)
Notes:
'The,' and, 'A,' are omitted from song/album titles (ex. "The Kids Are Alright," by the Who would count for K, not T) and numbers will have a separate category at the end of the list
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Please include the name of the artist after the song/album title- ex. "So It Goes" - Nick Lowe (for ease of those trying to find the songs)