Can't fight the Weezer
Weezer
feels like your favorite shirt. You know when you put it on it
just works. I knew when I popped in the newly released self-titled
Red Album all of those great feelings that stretch back to 1994’s
Blue Album would return. Mostly The Red Album
gratifies these feelings and is another quick and witty entry
into the bands catalog.
The first three tracks on the album are classic
Weezer with strong choruses, stick in your head melodies and wordplay
that only Rivers Cuomo can create. Who would have thought that
a song called “Pork And Beans” could be so catchy?
With that The Red Album offers some new musical avenues with the
over six minute closer "The Angel And The One" and by
having other band members offer up their own tunes right in a
row on the album and take the mic starting with guitarist Brian
Bell “Thought I Knew”, to drummer Pat Wilson on “Automatic”
and lastly “Cold Dark World” with bassist Scott Shriner.
The songs all have support from Cuomo in the background
but give the album some transition issues as we reach the end
because of the quick stylistic switches. Overall The Red Album
gives the listeners what they came for with some catchy tunes
that will rule the airwaves for awhile but it still falls short
of returning to ultimate Weezer form but is much better and many
steps in the right direction compared to the overproduced Make
Believe [2005] album.
Sam DaMatta
For more of Sam DaMatta's music reviews, check out
The Fire Note
