Weezer (Red Album)

[halo19]

I got the limited edition release the day it came out, but I find it a bit disappointing. It's not bad per se, but inconsistent is the word that comes to mind. The sign wasn't apparent for me until "Heart Songs," in which the name dropping would make the Game blush, and that's why it comes off so much more corny than heartfelt. Oh, add to the slightly sappy music. While it's nice to hear contributions from the other members, those don't often do a lot. Or at least Brian's "Thought I Knew" is kind of a bore. While a more interesting song, I think "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" would alienate many fans, and unfortunately I think that song tries a little bit too hard.

The songs are good, but some of them aren't much of anything special. While "Beverly Hills" was arguably the worst song on Make Believe, I'll think it's safe to declare "Pork and Beans" as this album's finest track. I'll admit on "Everybody Get Dangerous" I think it's cool to hear a Weezer song with "boo-yah" in the chorus. . A lot of people trash that one, but it's really one of the more fun tracks on the album. I like "Troublemaker" and "Dreamin'" well enough. "Automatic" is sung by Pat but I think you could trick someone by telling you that it's Rivers on there. But still, an okay song.

So, it's not their finest and they've never really been critic darlings anyway (even Blue was initially critized from indie purists as a superficial Pavement/Pixies cover band album), but I still looked forward to it anyway.

[a Nick O!]

As I said in Pulse, I price-matched it for Circuit City's $5.99 at Best Buy, figuring to myself that Weezer albums are more obligations for me than anticipations these days, so I helped myself to 7 of the 9 bonus tracks online, so far, including the 4 on the deluxe version.

I haven't even gotten around to listening to it yet, but probably will give it the inaugural listen sometime next week.

[a Nick O!]

Before I have to leave for work, the first thing I'll say is that how could "I Think We're Alone Now" be one of Rivers' "Heart Songs" if he mistakenly credits it to Debbie Gibson instead of Tiffany?

[halo19]

Okay, so I'm well acquainted enough for rankers, and I confidently declare that this is my least favorite of the six Weezer albums. I once complained about Maladroit but it actually has a few great songs on it (aside from the obvious, "Burndt Jamb" and "Fall Together"), although before this I would have still considered it their weakest record. As much as I enjoy "Pork and Beans" it's the only thing that's great. "EGD" is tolerable in spite whatever corniness exists, but still nothing special.

Here goes it, with it being a 3 out of 5:
01. Pork and Beans
02. Troublemaker
03. The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)
04. Automatic
05. Everbody Get Dangerous
06. Dreamin'
07. The Angel and the One
08. Thought I Knew
09. Heart Songs
10. Cold Dark World

[halo19]

Set list for 10/20 show at Austin:
My Name Is Jonas
Pink Triangle
Perfect Situation
Suzanne [Blue Album b-side]
Say It Ain't So
Keep Fishin'
King [Red Album deluxe]
Pork and Beans
Undone - The Sweater Song
Troublemaker
El Scorcho
Hash Pipe
Automatic
Dope Nose
The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)
Time [Pink Floyd]
----
Island in the Sun
Beverly Hills
----
Sliver [Nirvana]
Buddy Holly

Saw 'em live for the first time tonight. Tokyo Police Club opened. The performance was solid and the light sequencing was even clever, even though I don't think they are all that different from most indie/new wave bands of the past several years.

Angels and Airwaves had moments but at times I was not really that interested during plenty of the set. But it didn't really last that long, about 45 minutes IIRC.

Weezer was a bunch of fun. True to the album's role involving the other members, they frequently would sing some of the classics lead. Brian and Scott did plenty of the lead vocals. They brought up Tom and Atom (playing the extra set of drums out at the time) from Airwaves during "Undone - The Sweater Song" and toward the end Rivers was playing the drums and during that performance Pat played the guitar part.
I was sort of surprised about the "Time" cover, but it was fairly true to the original actually.
A bunch of people who played various instruments in Austin places for music were joined on stage to play with them during "Island" and "Beverly Hills." "IITS" was offered with a trombone solo, and the band got the crowd involved with the "BH" chorus.
In between this, Weezer hadn't really left but weren't back at the stage and right before that, Karl (?) shows us a turntable and the vinyl of the Red album. And then "Heart Songs" plays (not a performed song) as that record is lighted up. Toward the end, the band came back on stage, kicking the turntable and going on to cover Nirvana, namedropped on that actual song.

Their shows are arguably considerably more interesting than their albums these days. But then again I felt that Red sounded better on paper. I wasn't going to pay $35/40 for a shirt but took a poster for just $10.

[a Nick O!]

Oct 21, 2008 3:14:49 GMT -4 halo19 said:

Toward the end, the band came back on stage, kicking the turntable and going on to cover Nirvana, namedropped alluded to on that actual song.

Fixed.

Anyway, I'm not sure how I'd feel with all those bells and whistles you described, but on paper anyway, that setlist reads like just about the best Weezer setlist one could expect these days. If they ever came through St. Louis in the past 7 years, I'd kick myself if I missed a show like that. Of course, at this rate, I'd prefer to win tickets to a Weezer concert, rather than have to pay for it.