Yeah, just listened to this, and it's bad, but this statement is so true. It's particularly frustrating on Mexican Fender and Weekend Woman - in the hands of someone less...misguided, those could have been legitimately good songs. LA Girls and Jacked Up are easily the best two on white imo.
Was expecting this to be my least favorite album by them but Mexican Fender, Weekend Woman, QB Blitz and Sweet Mary are excellent, and there's a few more good ones. No songs that are outright bad unlike Raditude or Red (Beach Boys and Happy Hour have grown on me. Maybe sound better in context), so this is at least above those for me. That's probably where it is on my list after two listens, third to last. Could see it passing Make Believe but I kind of doubt it
That’s actually my least favorite part of the review. If his talents are undeniable, then how about we stop judging each record based on what it *couldve been* and start judging on what it *actually* is. Not saying everyone does.. and certainly some people do believe it’s just a flat out BAD record. But this band is one of the biggest cases I’ve ever seen of all the fans whining that it doesn’t sound like their first two records. Guess what?! It hasn’t in a couple decades. How have people not moved past that? Like it or hate it, it’s actually refreshing to see a band just do whatever the hell they want even though half of their fan base might not approve.
I started listening to their discography from the beginning to get a better sense of where this album falls on my rankings. I don't care what anyone says Green is a great album. Simple Pages gave me chills. It could also be because I have vivid memories of the time when Green came out.
The back half of this is actually pretty good. Any Friend of Diane’s might actually be my favorite on here if the lyrics weren’t so clumsy
Ok I'm up to Red in my listen of all their discography, and damn this is so much better than I remembered. Troublemaker-TGMTEL-Pork & Beans-Heart Songs is an amazing stretch of songs. Plus the Angel and the One is probably one of Weezer's greatest songs. The only problem with this album is the 3 songs where Brian/Pat/Scott sing. They should've been replaced with 3 of the bonus tracks. Also I never saw this before, but this has to be Weezer's best TV performance:
I agree with that last part of your comment (bolded), but as far as what "could've been" and what it "actually is," I honestly feel like those things are inseparable at this point given Weezer's mythology and the well-documented connection between this album and Black Album. And aside from that sentence, the album is reviewed based on what it "actually is." It's a totally fair talking point imo. "Everbody Gets Dangerous" may be the worst song this band has ever recorded, however, which is saying something considering "Love is the Answer" exists
And both of THOSE are saying something considering "In The Mall" exists Is there a band with a bigger chasm between their highs and lows lol
Raditude is at least catchy even on the worst songs (besides In the Mall, that song is absolute trash). If You're Wondering, Tripping Down the Freeway, Let It All Hang Out, I'm Your Daddy, Put Me Back Together, and Don't Want to Let You Go are at least solid imo, and that's half the album. Not saying any of these are anything close to their best material but I can at least enjoy them. Even Can't Stop Partying is catchy I also love that Kids/Poker Face mashup in the bonus tracks
I can't believe they made a song as bad as Can't Stop Partying but never pushed it as a single. So they made it just to make it?
look Rivers gotta have Patron he gotta have the beat he gotta have a lot of pretty girls around him no sleep no sleep he is always on a mission
Right, but even Rivers said that the Black Album is super electronic based and dark/experimental. I think there was a misconception there that "heavier" meant "old school Weezer/guitar heavy." And if you've ever read their Facebook comments and other fan posts-- the pop stuff is certainly not always judged on what it "actually is." So many comments like "this would be a good album if it came from a band that wasn't Weezer." That's the kind of stuff I'm referencing, not necessarily the entirety of the Pitchfork review (which does, of course, reference the lack of the "chunking guitar riffs that sit at the core of Weezer’s soul")
I actually don't care about things sounding like old school Weezer as long as they're good songs. Jacked Up is a good song.
Great gig at Wembley last night. Not exactly a sell-out but didn't matter. That Outkast cover was certainly...something.