Weezer Red

[Mackus]

Picked this up last week, really like it. Considerably better than anything they've done since the big break between Pinkerton and Green, although I did like Make Believe quite a bit.

I Am the Greatest Man That Ever Lived is a freaking masterpiece. Almost completely different than anything they've done before.

Troublemaker and Heart Songs are both great as well, but the whole album is pretty solid. Troublemaker is a very poppy catchy tune similar to anything from the Blue Album, Heart Songs is more emo-y like most of Pinkerton. Interesting to hear some songs written and sung by band members other than Rivers.

[tywright]

Picked this up last week, really like it. Considerably better than anything they've done since the big break between Pinkerton and Green, although I did like Make Believe quite a bit.

I Am the Greatest Man That Ever Lived is a freaking masterpiece. Almost completely different than anything they've done before.

Troublemaker and Heart Songs are both great as well, but the whole album is pretty solid. Troublemaker is a very poppy catchy tune similar to anything from the Blue Album, Heart Songs is more emo-y like most of Pinkerton. Interesting to hear some songs written and sung by band members other than Rivers.

I've listened to "Greatest Man" like 50 times since I downloaded it 2 weeks ago. It's unbelievable and it sort of reminds me of Bohemian Rhapsody with its many transitions.

Pork and Beans, the radio single, is pretty catchy as well. Plus the additional tracks on iTunes are classic Weezer as well.

[NewMarketSean]

I got turned off on Weezer with the whole "Beverly Hills" song crap... so I think I missed 1-2 albums of theirs after Malodroit. "Pork and Beans" has grown on me, reminds me of Blue Album stuff, so I think I will check this album out despite its mediocre critical reviews.

[Mackus]

I've listened to "Greatest Man" like 50 times since I downloaded it 2 weeks ago. It's unbelievable and it sort of reminds me of Bohemian Rhapsody with its many transitions.

Pork and Beans, the radio single, is pretty catchy as well. Plus the additional tracks on iTunes are classic Weezer as well.Bohemian Rhapsody is a great comparison stylistically.

[Mackus]

I got turned off on Weezer with the whole "Beverly Hills" song crap... so I think I missed 1-2 albums of theirs after Malodroit. "Pork and Beans" has grown on me, reminds me of Blue Album stuff, so I think I will check this album out despite its mediocre critical reviews.Make Believe was the only album they've put out since Maladroit (that was the one with Beverly Hills). Its a pretty solid album. Even Beverly Hills which I didn't like at first has grown on me. But Perfect Situation, Freak Me Out, and a few others on that album are really good songs. I definitely think the Red Album is the best thing they've put out since they started back up after Pinkerton.

[glenn__davis]

Thanks for the quick review, Mack, I'll definitely check it out. Big fan of Weezer although I missed their last album as well.

[Tank]

Its a good album. "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" is an amazing song, I agree. That song, along with "Dreamin'" and "Troublemaker" are coming out on Rock Band tomorrow.

[CrimsonTribe]

I was going to start a thread on this a while back, but got sidetracked w/ my big move. I'll preface this by saying that despite the disappointment of every album since Pinkerton, Weezer has always been my favorite band. In my eyes, the Blue Album and Pinkerton are absolute perfection (w/ the exception of Getchoo) and every album since has been mediocre at best. There have been several good songs, but nothing nearing a complete offering. The Red Album is no exception. After listening to the first three songs (Troublemaker, Greatest Man, Pork and Beans), I thought I was finally listening to the next great Weezer album. Unfortunately, after that it falls apart. The only other song worth listening to is Dreamin', which is a pretty catchy tune. Mack, I'm going to have to disagree with you about Heart Songs. I think it's a totally sappy, name dropping abomination. I hate it. The rest is just generic take it or leave it album filler, which seems to proliferate throughout all of their post-Pinkerton albums. I don't know what their deal is. They obviously still have it as evidenced by songs like Greatest Man, but they just can't put together a full album that's worth listening to from beginning to end.

[Lucky Jim]

I was going to start a thread on this a while back, but got sidetracked w/ my big move. I'll preface this by saying that despite the disappointment of every album since Pinkerton, Weezer has always been my favorite band. In my eyes, the Blue Album and Pinkerton are absolute perfection (w/ the exception of Getchoo) and every album since has been mediocre at best. There have been several good songs, but nothing nearing a complete offering. The Red Album is no exception. After listening to the first three songs (Troublemaker, Greatest Man, Pork and Beans), I thought I was finally listening to the next great Weezer album. Unfortunately, after that it falls apart. The only other song worth listening to is Dreamin', which is a pretty catchy tune. Mack, I'm going to have to disagree with you about Heart Songs. I think it's a totally sappy, name dropping abomination. I hate it. The rest is just generic take it or leave it album filler, which seems to proliferate throughout all of their post-Pinkerton albums. I don't know what their deal is. They obviously still have it as evidenced by songs like Greatest Man, but they just can't put together a full album that's worth listening to from beginning to end.

Finally someone talking sense! (Put me in the no-need-for-anything-post-Pinkerton camp.)

[DREKTUNES]

Finally someone talking sense! (Put me in the no-need-for-anything-post-Pinkerton camp.)

I'm a little suprised by this thread (excepting the last two posts) as I haven't heard a good word about this album anywhere. I'm amazed KingCrim isn't here voicing his dissapointment.

And I thought (and think) the Green Album is fine, but it didn't need to be made, and it adds nothing to their canon. Love the first two, for very different reasons, like everyone else. I had a problem for a while, singing Pink Triangle in a Bela Lugosi voice. I got over it eventually.

[McLovin]

I'm a big Weezer fan - the Blue Album has been in my car since it came out.

I like the latest album. Most of it is a little less poppy than the recent offerings. Pork and Beans is perfect for pop radio, but it's ironic because the message is "screw you record company, we won't churn out the pork 'n beans for you." I guess they had to have a single to get the album out there, so they came up with a single that had a nice record company FU in there.

I liked 'Heart Songs' because it resonates with me - Weezer songs are my heart songs.

'Automatic' is my favorite on the album, and it sounds like nothing they've ever done.

[tywright]

I'm a little suprised by this thread (excepting the last two posts) as I haven't heard a good word about this album anywhere. I'm amazed KingCrim isn't here voicing his dissapointment.

And I thought (and think) the Green Album is fine, but it didn't need to be made, and it adds nothing to their canon. Love the first two, for very different reasons, like everyone else. I had a problem for a while, singing Pink Triangle in a Bela Lugosi voice. I got over it eventually.

I've seen some good reviews...you just need to not look at Blender's "where's the old Weezer" review and RollingStone's overly pedantic drivvle.

[DREKTUNES]

I've seen some good reviews...you just need to not look at Blender's "where's the old Weezer" review and RollingStone's overly pedantic drivvle.

Nope. AvClub (who I like), Pitchfork (eh), other places that I can't think of now...just hadn't heard anythign good about it.

[Lucky Jim]

Not wholly unfavorable. A Metacritic 63. Link. (http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/weezer/weezerredalbum)


90
All Music Guide
A cheerfully restless record, one where all the parts don't fit and it's better because of it, as it has a wild, willing personality, suggesting that Weezer is comfortable as a band in a way they never quite have been before.

90
musicOMH.com
The Red Album brings forward everything they do best, with hooks aplenty, emotive and funny lyrics, all washed down with the odd frisson of self doubt. It's a potent mix, and keeps them a step ahead once again.

88
Los Angeles Times
Though it tails off toward the end, the second Weezer-Rubin collaboration (and the band's third self-titled album, out June 3) is a rush, starting with a sustained, four-song soliloquy on pop music's allure.

80
Uncut
Starting with irresistible lead single 'Pork and Beans', a chunk of Weezer’s sixth album delivers the band’s trademark combo of crushing power chords, pop-culture references and a healthy dose of ironic self-ridicule.

70
PopMatters
['Pork and Beans'] is the best geek anthem this side of whatever MC Chris’ last hit was. The rest of the album may try men’s souls, but if you ask me the verdict’s still out.

70
Alternative Press
The Red Album is a wonderful jumping-off point for their second wind. [July 2008, p.145]
70
Hartford Courant
There are a few clunkers, and the three songs sung by other band members don't add much, but the so-called "Red Album" is better for its unevenness.

70
New Musical Express
What stops The Red Album being a great Weezer album, is--for the first time ever--Cuomo’s invitation to his bandmates to sing and write songs too.

70
Billboard
Cuomo turns the mic over to the other three members of Weezer for a song each (the best: "Automatic," sung by drummer Pat Wilson), unironically salutes the influence of Nirvana ("Heart Songs") and marries fake crowd noise and piano to the thick power chords of "Greatest Man." Rock on.

70
Boston Globe
The songs are consistently vibrant, catchy, and well-built.

67
Entertainment Weekly
Lyrics that once seemed cheeky and slyly referential back in the halcyon days of their 1994 debut (think ''Buddy Holly'') and 1996's Pinkerton (''El Scorcho'') have become tiresomely Seuss-ical on their sixth outing, Weezer.

60
The Guardian
Weezer's third eponymously titled album sees the progenitors of emo still frantically chasing their tail.

60
No Ripcord
Just download the good stuff or buy the album and don’t expect much from Rivers because he never really gave you more than a few minutes of cheap thrills in the first place, which is plenty to thank him for.

60
Mojo
The Rick Rubin and Jacknife Lee-produced follow-up to 2005's "Make Believe," finds Cuomo precariously balanced btween amused/amusing self-obsessed and de facto narcissism. [July 2008, p.110]
60
Delusions of Adequacy
All in all, this is pretty good album and it is by no means horrible.

60
Rolling Stone
It's rich, often funny material, but in Cuomo's ambition to make a career-sweeping tour de force-- telegraphed by the band's choice to return to estimable producer Rick Rubin--he badly overcooks the musical porridge, layering on overdubs, packing songs with key-change modulations and meandering instrumental codas, and generally refusing to hone and self-edit.

60
NOW Magazine
Aside from a few missteps like 'Everybody Get Dangerous,' there really isn’t anything to get all pissy about here because it’s an older Weezer willing to take a few chances and still doing what they want to do.

50
Drowned In Sound
A number of plays through and it’s still not clear who, exactly, the band are taking the proverbial out of: themselves, playfully and absolutely intentionally, or us, fans who’ve become conditioned to not expecting the best from a band who, personally, have been a shadow of themselves since that first ‘sequel’ release.

50
Blender
Weezer dwells on his well-documented obsessions with bad girlfriends and geek nostalgia, but without the usual giddy, mathematically precise songcraft.

50
The New York Times
Over all, this new CD relies on familiar formulas: twitchy, singalong choruses, lyrical and musical in-jokes and affable vocal harmonies. But it also feels disjointed and indulgent, packed with stylistic U-turns.

47
Pitchfork
Like the YouTube culture the "Pork and Beans" video depicts so well, the song--and this album--relies on a high quantity of short-lived pretty good ideas to distract from a shortage of great ones.

40
Paste Magazine
Now we get Cuomo name-dropping Eddie Rabbit, Joan Baez and "a Cat named Stevens," which makes Weezer sounds like a retread of "Built To Spill," who did the recycled-classic-rock-cliché thing back in 1999. Did it better, too.

25
The Onion (A.V. Club)
The blame for Weezer can't all be laid on Cuomo—his bandmates' songwriting contributions (particularly Brian Bell's Uncle Kracker stab 'Thought I Knew') are just as unforgivably soulless.

20
Tiny Mix Tapes
Despite what they’d like us to think, The Red Album sounds like every one of Weezer’s misfires since "The Green Album": a few songs that work and a whole slew that flounder completely.

20
Slant Magazine
Weezer seems to have driven their old shtick into the ground so perfectly, it almost seems like they've purposely become tired and boring.

[DREKTUNES]

Not wholly unfavorable. A Metacritic 63. Link. (http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/weezer/weezerredalbum)


90
All Music Guide
A cheerfully restless record, one where all the parts don't fit and it's better because of it, as it has a wild, willing personality, suggesting that Weezer is comfortable as a band in a way they never quite have been before.

90
musicOMH.com
The Red Album brings forward everything they do best, with hooks aplenty, emotive and funny lyrics, all washed down with the odd frisson of self doubt. It's a potent mix, and keeps them a step ahead once again.

88
Los Angeles Times
Though it tails off toward the end, the second Weezer-Rubin collaboration (and the band's third self-titled album, out June 3) is a rush, starting with a sustained, four-song soliloquy on pop music's allure.

80
Uncut
Starting with irresistible lead single 'Pork and Beans', a chunk of Weezer’s sixth album delivers the band’s trademark combo of crushing power chords, pop-culture references and a healthy dose of ironic self-ridicule.

70
PopMatters
['Pork and Beans'] is the best geek anthem this side of whatever MC Chris’ last hit was. The rest of the album may try men’s souls, but if you ask me the verdict’s still out.

70
Alternative Press
The Red Album is a wonderful jumping-off point for their second wind. [July 2008, p.145]
70
Hartford Courant
There are a few clunkers, and the three songs sung by other band members don't add much, but the so-called "Red Album" is better for its unevenness.

70
New Musical Express
What stops The Red Album being a great Weezer album, is--for the first time ever--Cuomo’s invitation to his bandmates to sing and write songs too.

70
Billboard
Cuomo turns the mic over to the other three members of Weezer for a song each (the best: "Automatic," sung by drummer Pat Wilson), unironically salutes the influence of Nirvana ("Heart Songs") and marries fake crowd noise and piano to the thick power chords of "Greatest Man." Rock on.

70
Boston Globe
The songs are consistently vibrant, catchy, and well-built.

67
Entertainment Weekly
Lyrics that once seemed cheeky and slyly referential back in the halcyon days of their 1994 debut (think ''Buddy Holly'') and 1996's Pinkerton (''El Scorcho'') have become tiresomely Seuss-ical on their sixth outing, Weezer.

60
The Guardian
Weezer's third eponymously titled album sees the progenitors of emo still frantically chasing their tail.

60
No Ripcord
Just download the good stuff or buy the album and don’t expect much from Rivers because he never really gave you more than a few minutes of cheap thrills in the first place, which is plenty to thank him for.

60
Mojo
The Rick Rubin and Jacknife Lee-produced follow-up to 2005's "Make Believe," finds Cuomo precariously balanced btween amused/amusing self-obsessed and de facto narcissism. [July 2008, p.110]
60
Delusions of Adequacy
All in all, this is pretty good album and it is by no means horrible.

60
Rolling Stone
It's rich, often funny material, but in Cuomo's ambition to make a career-sweeping tour de force-- telegraphed by the band's choice to return to estimable producer Rick Rubin--he badly overcooks the musical porridge, layering on overdubs, packing songs with key-change modulations and meandering instrumental codas, and generally refusing to hone and self-edit.

60
NOW Magazine
Aside from a few missteps like 'Everybody Get Dangerous,' there really isn’t anything to get all pissy about here because it’s an older Weezer willing to take a few chances and still doing what they want to do.

50
Drowned In Sound
A number of plays through and it’s still not clear who, exactly, the band are taking the proverbial out of: themselves, playfully and absolutely intentionally, or us, fans who’ve become conditioned to not expecting the best from a band who, personally, have been a shadow of themselves since that first ‘sequel’ release.

50
Blender
Weezer dwells on his well-documented obsessions with bad girlfriends and geek nostalgia, but without the usual giddy, mathematically precise songcraft.

50
The New York Times
Over all, this new CD relies on familiar formulas: twitchy, singalong choruses, lyrical and musical in-jokes and affable vocal harmonies. But it also feels disjointed and indulgent, packed with stylistic U-turns.

47
Pitchfork
Like the YouTube culture the "Pork and Beans" video depicts so well, the song--and this album--relies on a high quantity of short-lived pretty good ideas to distract from a shortage of great ones.

40
Paste Magazine
Now we get Cuomo name-dropping Eddie Rabbit, Joan Baez and "a Cat named Stevens," which makes Weezer sounds like a retread of "Built To Spill," who did the recycled-classic-rock-cliché thing back in 1999. Did it better, too.

25
The Onion (A.V. Club)
The blame for Weezer can't all be laid on Cuomo—his bandmates' songwriting contributions (particularly Brian Bell's Uncle Kracker stab 'Thought I Knew') are just as unforgivably soulless.

20
Tiny Mix Tapes
Despite what they’d like us to think, The Red Album sounds like every one of Weezer’s misfires since "The Green Album": a few songs that work and a whole slew that flounder completely.

20
Slant Magazine
Weezer seems to have driven their old shtick into the ground so perfectly, it almost seems like they've purposely become tired and boring.


Oh, Mojo. How I miss you so.

[frankpembleton]

I'm a little suprised by this thread (excepting the last two posts) as I haven't heard a good word about this album anywhere. I'm amazed KingCrim isn't here voicing his dissapointment.

And I thought (and think) the Green Album is fine, but it didn't need to be made, and it adds nothing to their canon. Love the first two, for very different reasons, like everyone else. I had a problem for a while, singing Pink Triangle in a Bela Lugosi voice. I got over it eventually.

Haven't listened to Red yet, but I can honestly say that the biggest disappointment in my music listening life has been Weezer post-Pinkerton. How a band could go from being pretty much my favorite thing ever to a band that I could care less about is just plain sad. Weezer is pretty much what got me into music.

It's pretty obvious that Matt Sharp deserves a hell of a lot credit for for making Weezer what it was. I mean seriously - Scott Shriner?

[McNulty]

Wow, I really thought I was the only one who liked Pinkerton more then the Blue Album.

This thread is giving me hope that I'm not alone.

[DREKTUNES]

Wow, I really thought I was the only one who liked Pinkerton more then the Blue Album.

This thread is giving me hope that I'm not alone.

I think you'll find Pinkerton has the lion's share of the critical cache.

[The Wedge]

Pinkerton was very much Weezer's "Pauls Boutique." If you know what I mean.

[DREKTUNES]

Pinkerton was very much Weezer's "Pauls Boutique." If you know what I mean.

You know, for once, I believe I know exactly what you mean. Stranger still, I agree.

And I was working in a record store when Paul's Boutique came out. Bought it the the night before it was released. That's all.

[The Wedge]

You know, for once, I believe I know exactly what you mean. Stranger still, I agree.

And I was working in a record store when Paul's Boutique came out. Bought it the the night before it was released. That's all.

I figured a guy like you would know what I meant. If anybody doesn't, I'll try to explain but it's hard to put in to words. Basically something about a deviation in style that was critically panned initially, and sort of as a result tanked commercially...but then critically adored later in hindsight and looked upon as the best album.

[DREKTUNES]

I figured a guy like you would know what I meant. If anybody doesn't, I'll try to explain but it's hard to put in to words. Basically something about a deviation in style that was critically panned initially, and sort of as a result tanked commercially...but then critically adored later in hindsight and looked upon as the best album.

Also, a 'difficult' second record after a hugely successful debut.

There could be a fairly interesting debate as to which record (Pinkerton or Paul's) was, ultimately, more influential.

A guy like you?? Jeez.

[McLovin]

Pinkerton was very much Weezer's "Pauls Boutique." If you know what I mean.
Pretty much. Paul's Boutique revolutionized hip hop, and Pinkerton basically mainstreamed emo. Both were critically acclaimed, important, and sold poorly.

The thing about Pinkerton is that Rivers is sort of embarrassed about it. The only song from it that I've heard them play live in the past 7 years is 'Tired of Sex'. I think he really put himself out there emotionally on that album, and maybe regrets that...

And BTW, Rivers wrote all of Pinkerton basically isolated from the band and the world (and Matt Sharp).

[The Wedge]

A guy like you?? Jeez.

You know that was a positive statement, you goober.

[The Wedge]

Both were critically acclaimed, important, and sold poorly.



Pauls Boutique wasn't really critically acclaimed at first though, which lead the company (was it Capitol they were with) to pull promotions and such which helped lead to the commercial failure.

[DREKTUNES]

You know that was a positive statement, you goober.

I most assuredly do not, ThePaulBartonWedge. You wound me. To the core. The very candy center of my being.

[The Wedge]

I most assuredly do not, ThePaulBartonWedge. You wound me. To the core. The very candy center of my being.

You have a candy center? Uh oh, cannibalistic tendencies are surfacing...

[McLovin]

There could be a fairly interesting debate as to which record (Pinkerton or Paul's) was, ultimately, more influential.

Shoot, Paul's Boutique by a mile. No one was sampling like that, and playing so many layers at once. Most of that credit should go to the Dust Brothers though...

I mean, look at all the big hip hop producers - Timbaland, Scott Storch, etc. - their stuff *is* Paul's Boutique...

[DREKTUNES]

You have a candy center? Uh oh, cannibalistic tendencies are surfacing...

Get away. Now. Ick.

[McLovin]

Pauls Boutique wasn't really critically acclaimed at first though, which lead the company (was it Capitol they were with) to pull promotions and such which helped lead to the commercial failure.
Yeah, I should have added 'eventually'. Rolling Stone modified the Pinkerton review 8 years later to 5 stars...

[DREKTUNES]

Shoot, Paul's Boutique by a mile. No one was sampling like that, and playing so many layers at once. Most of that credit should go to the Dust Brothers though...

I mean, look at all the big hip hop producers - Timbaland, Scott Storch, etc. - their stuff *is* Paul's Boutique...

Yes, but it could be said that Pinkerton influenced 2/3 of the young bands of the last ten years.

[McLovin]

Yes, but it could be said that Pinkerton influenced 2/3 of the young bands of the last ten years.
I would give credit to Nirvana first. Weezer just repackaged it in a friendlier manner.

[The Wedge]

I would give credit to Nirvana first. Weezer just repackaged it in a friendlier manner.

While I'll never take away them "busting the door down" the way they did, Nirvana sometimes gets waaaaaay too much credit for what other bands did...it's hard to really say if the other bands would have gotten play without Nirvana, really. But you can't diminish another bands influence just because Nirvana "opened the door."

[McLovin]

While I'll never take away them "busting the door down" the way they did, Nirvana sometimes gets waaaaaay too much credit for what other bands did...it's hard to really say if the other bands would have gotten play without Nirvana, really. But you can't diminish another bands influence just because Nirvana "opened the door."
Well, I'm not saying they started something. But they probably did influence "2/3 of the young bands of the last ten years."

[DREKTUNES]

Well, I'm not saying they started something. But they probably did influence "2/3 of the young bands of the last ten years."

Disagree. Nirvana is more often cited, but more of the young bands sound like Pinkerton-era Weezer. There's no emo to Nirvana, no matter how loud he yelled.

[glenn__davis]

The thing about Pinkerton is that Rivers is sort of embarrassed about it. The only song from it that I've heard them play live in the past 7 years is 'Tired of Sex'. I think he really put himself out there emotionally on that album, and maybe regrets that...



Yep, I read an article when the Green Album came out that basically said the same thing. He put himself out there, it didn't sell well, and he took it personally. The article said they never played anything from Pinkerton and wanted to just forget about it, but I know they occasionally do play a Pinkerton song in concert.

[Mackus]

Yep, I read an article when the Green Album came out that basically said the same thing. He put himself out there, it didn't sell well, and he took it personally. The article said they never played anything from Pinkerton and wanted to just forget about it, but I know they occasionally do play a Pinkerton song in concert.They've played stuff from Pinkerton at every show I've seen them do (3 times). They play the other stuff more often, but I've heard Getchoo, Tired of Sex, Pink Triangle, El Scorcho, Good Life, and Across the Sea performed at shows.

They only played El Scorcho at the third show I saw of theirs, its my favorite song ever, I was going crazy.

[glenn__davis]

They've played stuff from Pinkerton at every show I've seen them do (3 times). They play the other stuff more often, but I've heard Getchoo, Tired of Sex, Pink Triangle, El Scorcho, Good Life, and Across the Sea performed at shows.

They only played El Scorcho at the third show I saw of theirs, its my favorite song ever, I was going crazy.

Yeah, obviously things have change a little since that article. I've never seen them in concert, but a buddy of mine said they played a few Pinkerton songs when we went.

And I agree, El Scorcho is a great song.

[McLovin]

They've played stuff from Pinkerton at every show I've seen them do (3 times). They play the other stuff more often, but I've heard Getchoo, Tired of Sex, Pink Triangle, El Scorcho, Good Life, and Across the Sea performed at shows.

They only played El Scorcho at the third show I saw of theirs, its my favorite song ever, I was going crazy.
I saw the last three tours, and they only played 'Tired of Sex'...

[tywright]

Pretty much. Paul's Boutique revolutionized hip hop, and Pinkerton basically mainstreamed emo. Both were critically acclaimed, important, and sold poorly.

The thing about Pinkerton is that Rivers is sort of embarrassed about it. The only song from it that I've heard them play live in the past 7 years is 'Tired of Sex'. I think he really put himself out there emotionally on that album, and maybe regrets that...

And BTW, Rivers wrote all of Pinkerton basically isolated from the band and the world (and Matt Sharp).

I've heard "The Good Life" a lot lately actually. And that song was written about him recovering from his leg extension surgery.

[Sideburns]

Wasn't there a point where Rivers refused to play stuff from Pinkerton at the shows? Because it hit another nerve or something?

[beaner]

Waaay late to this party, in fact i had to search Weezer just to find this. Anyway, it took a while, but i really like this album a lot. The first four songs i can honestly listen to all day. My three year old sings "Trouble Maker" all the time. Good stuff!

[Bosibus]

And the video is great...if you are into youtube in general.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI

[whatdoiget000]

The first three songs lead you to believe it's the next great Weezer record...until you hit Heart Songs, and it begins a tumultuous journey downwards. I actually cringe when that song comes on. But the first three are excellent, able to stand up to any other Weezer.

[ledzepp8]

The first three songs lead you to believe it's the next great Weezer record...until you hit Heart Songs, and it begins a tumultuous journey downwards. I actually cringe when that song comes on. But the first three are excellent, able to stand up to any other Weezer.

I thought Heart Songs was a pretty tight song. The record is pretty stellar...I mean it's no Blue Album...but what is? The bonus tracks are all top notch too...especially "Pig", "King", and their cover of "The Weight".