Weezer - Weezer (White) - 2016
Is this Weezer's "Beach Album"? It sure starts off like that. But it also starts off in trad Qeez fashion, with a four on the floor beat and a staccato 1/16th strum on the guitar ala Ramones without the meth.
And Brian Bell is a better lead guitarist than the Ramones ever had.
Let's note that the opener, which a perfect Cali PCH riding son, was co-written by the guy from Semisonic who wrote "Closing Time", so it's bound to be hooky.
From there we approximate Beach Boys choruses via Cuomo and the boys.
"Thank God for Girls" is what I expect from them as a single. Mid-Tempo "Beverly Hills" redux that touches the harpstrings of Hip Hop and doesn't 100% succeed in that. But that don't make it not good. It's just not bad.
The highlight of side one is that "Islands in the Sun" beach tune, "Girl We Got a Good Thing", which is a Power Pop Glam Rock Beach Boys amalgam. Wilson is pounding that quarter note beat and I just realized....Wilson! There's a Wilson in Weezer!
Perfect.
"Do You Wanna Get High" is a prime example of proof that Cuomo is a perfect songsmith for his own band. He knows how to do it, he does it well and they come along for the ride.
Song Exploder featured Cuomo and "Summer Elaine and Drunk Dori" where Rivers explained his very meticulous, spreadsheet oriented way of songwriting. And I love that story, the song and especially the chorus.
This album is terrific. Well, a terrific Weezer album.
Grade: A
A Side: California Kids, Do You Wanna Get High?, Summer Elaine and Drunk Dori
Blind Side: (Girl We Got a) Good Thing, King of the World, Jacked Up, Endless Bummer
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