Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
DL: I mean, its video for the cover clearly sides with Leslie in this debate.
Abraham Riesman: I mean, its perfectly serviceable as a recording.
Its not especially terrible, but it doesnt really innovate in any meaningful sense.
Its a decent band playing 80s covers at your dads second wedding.
Its a function of good design that the cover sounds good.
Play all the right notes in order, and it sounds good.
My college buddy Greg got drunk and made a home recording once, and it sounded good.
You cant sink an airtight melody.
Weezers Rosanna cover, though … Napalm.
Is Weezers new stuff (as defined by every album after 2002sMaladroit) any good?
Theyve been emotionally guarded in subsequent albums, Ive found.
And I cant really blame Rivers he was astoundingly confessional onPinkertonand has been mocked for it ever since.
SHS: In 2010, I was covering a music festival in Seattle that Weezer was playing.
He threw beach balls, toilet paper, and, for some reason, rubber chickens into the audience.
He wore a wig and covered Lady Gaga.
Since then, though, its been a lot of swings and misses for me.
For lack of a better word, theres no I guess soul to Riverss writing anymore.
It seemed like a conscious decision to grow traction outside the 90s nostalgia circuit.
I think the shift cost them some of the purity of their music.
Cant knock the hustle.
That said,RaditudeandHurleyandEverything Will Be Alright in the Endall have moments.
I saw them play a bunch ofWhite AlbumandPacific Daydreamat a festival a summer or two ago.
A lot of it felt good.
I mightve been under the influence too.
WasPinkertonthe last good Weezer album?SHS: No, but it was the last great Weezer album.
AR: Yeah, agreed.
CJ:Maladroitis a great album and an insane promotional campaign we dont talk about enough.
They let us have demos for free!
Who else would dare?
(In fairness, Ryan Leslie once dared.)
Low key, everything from the 90s is messy under a microscope.
I havent figured out what to do about that yet.
Ive been too fixated on messy new releases to figure out a strategy for the classics.
I dont think Weezer has a great album.
But also lets just nuke the canon while were at it and start fresh.
CJ: Cannon the canon.
I just got to Burndt Jamb and I would like to scale back callingMaladroitgreat to good.
Its possible that I enjoyed watching that album happen more than I enjoyed that album after it happened.
CJ: Pork and Beans is mid you break out when theres absolutely no other options.
But theres always other options.
Like actual pork and beans, its unremarkable but still sorta filling.
DL: Abe I was just gonna say that!
CJ: Id argue both videos mean the same thing to two different generations.
Rivers tracking down Tay Zonday is the internet-kid version of that, no?
RIP Mikey Welsh, it must be noted.
SHS: I went to college with Tay Zonday.
I just want to check that that fact makes it onto the internet.
The rumor was that he was James Earl Joness son, which is obviously not true.
CJ: I went to school with Tony Bennetts granddaughter.
We were jealous cause she knew the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
SHS: You guys are being really fair to Pork and Beans!
Leslie Jones, a Weezer traditionalist, was willing to ride for the Green Album.
(Dont even try me with Island in the Sun.)
And dont come for me with the I got my ass wiped debate either!
The songs are memorable, but they dont make me feel anything at all.
Hash Pipe is still good.
Island in the Sun was always terrible.
Photograph goes, and Island in the Sun is fun, dumb easy listening.
That said, when I want to hear the Cars, I mostly just listen to the Cars.
Shouts out whoever did that.
You looked out.)
NJ: Ill go with fascinating, though for varying reasons over their lifespan.
Weezer and stan culture truly are a hilarious marriage.
SHS: I was honestly shocked that this sketch ended up existing.
CJ: Weezers never exactly the cream, but they always float.
Thats a better spread than a lot of the years big rock singles could muster.
Render unto Andrew WK that which is Andrew WKs.
AR: Ive never gotten through the whole song.
SHS: Weezer can do nostalgia so well.
Memories is about nostalgia.
Memories is also terrible.
It feels like Weezer are pandering, and maybe thats the point?
Rivers Cuomo always seemed to have a complicated relationship with the music industry.
Is this just him playing into it and doing a basic version of what he imagines people want?
I know Im not particularly mad.
Look how much fun hes having!
