=w= TUG's Weezerhead Reviews Part 1 =w=

Note: This review is off of a burned CD, so I am unfortunately failing to provide information about the manual/lyrics. But hey, it's all about the music, now isn't it?



Ah, here we have it: my series of reviews for the NEW best band in the world, Weezer. Actually, I don't know if it's new that they're the best, if you ask me, it's been that way since 1994. Forget what I said about Adema, they're now the third best (the Hives beat them out too). Actually, I'm really seeing Adema possibly getting kicked off of the top six, unless their latest album, which is coming out on October 22nd, is REALLY good.

But f#$% Adema, we're here to talk Weezer. Yes, Weezer... I almost get chills from saying that name, it's so holy. A friend of mine and I always talk about how there should be a Weezer country called Weezeria, and in Weezeria, there should be a religion called Weeza, and if you're apart of that religion, you're a Weezan. And living in this country, and being apart of this religion, all you would do all day is sit and listen to Weezer peacefully, and enjoy their music, and indulge yourself and enlighten yourself in their music, even though, of course, their music has no moral meaning AT ALL. It's all about love, the pains of love, and the pleasures of love. But that, and their perfectly harmonized sound is what makes them so great! Weezer is truly music handed down from God, whether they believe in Him or not.

Contained in this album are the holy ingredients which brought Weezer to the world's attention: hip songs like Undone, and Buddy Holly. Emotional songs like Say it Ain't So and Only in Dreams. Or fun songs like Surf Wax America and My Name is Jonas. Whether they're hip, fun, or emotional, it doesn't matter: they all have one of those qualities to some degree in every song. I love this album.

Weezer makes their "we are the greatest band ever" statement right with the first song: they don't say it literally or metaphorically, but just by the sound of the song, we can clearly see that they know it. This song is the surprisingly energetic My Name is Jonas. Okay, maybe not all of their songs are about love, but most are. This one talks about the good old days, and how "we the workers" miss them, but then again, you don't notice this, you enjoy the song.

No One Else, the next track, has pretty demanding lyrics, check them out:

I want a girl who will laugh for no one else
When I'm away she puts her makeup on the shelf
When I'm away she never leaves the house
I want a girl who laughs for no one else


And after that, the lead singer (Rivers Cuomo) disses his current girlfriend (and dumps her) because she doesn't live up to these expectations. Hey, he may be an @$$hole, but this song still rocks.

The World Has Turned and Left Me Here... well, let's just say I didn't like this one the first time I heard it, but after enough listenings, it has stuck with me, and the lyrics are just about perfect:

I just made love with your sweet memory
One thousand times in my head
You said you loved it more than ever
You said
You remain, turned away
Turning further every day

I talked for hours to your wallet photograph
And you just listened You laughed enchanted by my intellect
Or maybe you didn't

This song is one of the most amazing ways to express your love for a girl (or even a guy, if you're a girl), and you have to at least appreciate it for that.

Buddy Holly, the album's most popular single, is pretty interesting, with it's 1950's recall. Rivers talks about how he looks "just like Buddy Holly" (which is exactly what I was thinking before I even heard this song; the resemblance is almost creepy), and how his girlfriend looks like Mary Tyler Moore, which I wouldn't know about, since he does talk about a lot of girlfriends. "Buddy Holly" eventually makes no sense well into the song (you probably understand if you've heard it), but you must ignore that, for the SENSELESSNESS is what makes it GREAT. Don't you see? Senselessness? Great?

Undone (the Sweater Song) is TRULY odd, and a lot of people would hate it upon hearing it, but it reportedly plays through your head so much that you end up loving it. I was one of the people who fortunately liked it from the beginning: it starts out with an odd, meandering tune, and you hear conversation going on at some sort of class reunion. Then the real song kicks in, and the chorus, and it all comes together in the finale for a most excellent ending. "Undone" is simply one of the best songs ever written.

Oh, Surf Wax America... this is one of those songs that makes you wish you could understand the vocalist more, because when you look at the lyrics, you're pretty much forced to say, "They said THAT?" I sang along with this song several times, not knowing the real words. I'll provide an example:

Real lyrics: The sea is foaming like a bottle of beer

My thoughts: SHE is foaming like a bottle of beer

or:

Real lyrics: And when you run out of fuel

My thoughts: And when you're out of view

(sighs)... it gets frustrating, but it's something you have to deal with in a lot of bands... particularly this one. However, the song is still great, providing a sound that a like to call "Happy Hate." The lyrics are angry, but the sound is strangely happy.

Say it Ain't So... luckily, I can tell what they're saying in this one, but the lyrics confuse me: I can't tell whether he's talking about his son, his brother, or his lover. Check it out:

Dear Daddy,
I write you in spite of years of silence.
You've cleaned up, found Jesus,
things are good or so I hear.
This bottle of Steven's
awakens ancient feelings.
Like father, stepfather, the son is drowning in the flood.

and

Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heartbreaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a lifetaker

Catch my drift? Say it Ain't So is, as usual, great, but oddly confusing.

Next is In the Garage, the only song on the album that isn't GREAT. It's good, but it feels like something's missing... somehow, the chorus doesn't really strike me as beautiful, and therefore, not as sing-a-long-able. Guess not everyone is perfect.

Wow... Holiday, the next track, is just barely great. It's almost good, barely crossing the borderline to greatness. The reason is that it doesn't start off too well, but a minute and a half into the song, you really get into it, and you sympathize with the lyrics:

Let's go away for a while
You and I
To a strange and distant land
Where they speak no word of truth
But we don't understand anyway

While Holiday isn't as worth listening to as the rest of the tracks, it is still great.

Only in Dreams, the closing track, is the perfect ending: it is long, it is conclusive, and it is powerful. Playing out for eight minutes, only in dreams starts out with a nice bassline, and slowly, Rivers' sweet voice comes in, after he sings, we have a great combination of bass, guitar, and drums, which lasts forever, until you are left with the last words: "Only in Dreams..." An awesome ending for an awesome album.

And this was an awesome debut for an awesome band. While it's not my favorite, Blue Album is the best (just because), and maybe someday I will find reasoning in that statement.

Next stop: Pinkerton.

Rating: A