Rockin' & Weezin'

Depending on how "cutting edge" your local "rock" station is, you may or may not have heard the first single, "Beverly Hills", off of Weezer's new record, Make Believe. Having heard it for the first time today, two things surprised me: 1) For a first single, it really sucks, and 2) It sounds exactly like "Undone (The Sweater Song)". It also brings up something that I've been kicking around in my head for quite some time: When did Weezer become a Weezer Tribute Band?

I think it happened with the release of Weezer, Part Deux: The Green Album. Their first album, Weezer, was just great, and, buoyed by some excellent Spike Jonez videos, everyone loved it. Their second record, Pinkerton, for no particular reason, was reviled by everyone, even though it was just as good as Weezer. (Sure, they changed their sound a little, but it wasn't as big of a difference as between, say, Metallica's ...And Justice For All and The Black Album). So, they took five years off, and realized the old ways are the best ways, and remade Weezer as Weezer 2. And suddenly, Weezer is the best band in the world. Rock critics couldn't write enough about how Rivers Cuomo was the world's greatest rock-angst songwriter (even though he was just taking '50s and '60s pop melodies and turning the amps up, much like Pearl Jam did with "Last Kiss"). Revitalized by this burst of good will, they fly back to the studio and crank out Maladroit, an album aptly described by its title. Even though there are some good songs on the record, most of it sounds like Weezer going, "Look at us! We are rocking harder than Weezer ever did!!" Uh, guys, that's great if you're a tribute band called Buddy Holly, but you are Weezer. You already rock. Are you trying to be Van Halen or Boston or some other shitty arena rock band? If so, you need to knock it the fuck off and get back to doing what you do best: making catchy pop tunes. Did Linkin Park try to top on Hybrid Theory? No, they just released the same record and renamed it Meteora. Stop getting caught up in the "Greatest Rock Band" thing and trying to take it to the next rock level. You're going to end up like Styx, and end up kicking Rivers out for fagging out your band. You guys are too good to let that happen. Please, let Make Believe be Weezer Part Trois: Greatest Album Ever. All will be forgiven.

P.S. All of this venting may be for naught, as their new record may turn out to be the greatest record ever. But I won't know 'til it comes out. I may be eating crow here shortly, but, if the new single is any indication, I don't think so.