The Deal: Pop–rockers release third self-titled album, sixth studio effort since 1994.
The Good: The band worked with a handful of producers, but none changed the standard Weezer sound. Singer Rivers Cuomo went for his usual mass-appeal method of songwriting. The first single from the album, “Pork and Beans,” has shot up the album charts. It’s one of those songs that sounds oddly familiar – like you’ve heard it before, and heard it by Weezer before. Maybe I should be doing a chord comparison? Cuomo shares the writing and singing duties on the album – drummer Patrick Wilson wrote and sings on “Automatic,” and “Thought I Knew” was written by guitarist Brian Bell.
The Bad: It’s true to the band’s form and, like the others, also walks a fine line between indie and commercial. “Everybody Get Dangerous” has a similar cadence to a handful of recent Red Hot Chili Peppers songs.
The Verdict: As consistently entertaining as their albums of old.
This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2008.
