Five years since the release of 'Pinkerton,' emo-godfathers Weezer are back with the most eagerly anticipated album of modern times. And boy, was it worth waiting for.
It's hard to believe how long Rivers and co. have actually been away. Since they left a new bunch of emo bands (say hello, Get Up Kids, Saves The Day etc) have come to take away their geek-rock crown, but 'The Green Album' picks up where the band left off and quite rightly reclaims the title.
The bespectacled, back-pack sporting, sensitive types that seem to infest punk gigs in this country are going to be orgasming for months with this. The rest of the world should foam at the mouth. The 'Green Album' is instant Weezer, there isn't one single wasted moment throughout the 30 minutes this album graces. It's actually hard to describe how good this CD really is. All I can say is listen and then you will see what geniuses make up this band.
'Don't Let Go' is anthemic Weezer, single 'Hash Pipe' is built along a grinding metal riff, splattered with Rivers Cuomo high-pitched vocals and 'Island In The Sun,' is purely gorgeous. Opening with a cutesy riff, it's the perfect chill-out song on a hot summers day.
'Crab' is great, as is 'Knock-down Drag-out.' I could go on for hours. Every song is fantastic, even if 'Smile' does sound a little too much like Scottish indie band Travis. But only a little... One special mention must go to 'O Girlfriend,' my personal favourite, and an absolute guaranteed tear-jerker. This is classic Weezer, with its "Oh girlfriend, that's the end, and I'm lost without your love, oh love," refrain.
Rumour has it the band wrote 350 songs during their hiatus, yet only recorded the last 20 for this album. Please release the rest! In a world chock-full of nu-metal angst and pathetic pop pap, Weezer bring a semblance of goodness back to the world.
Album of the summer? Yep. Album of the year? Maybe. Album of the decade? Quite possibly.
Paul Savage.
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