Weezer (Blue Album)
Artist: Weezer
Released: May 10th, 1994
Length: 41 minutes 36 seconds
This week we celebrate the number four. Not only because it is the fourth album review, but also because we are just a few days away from the Men’s and Women’s Final Four. To make it even sweeter, both the Men’s and Women’s teams from UConn will be playing in their respective tournaments. I am fortunate enough to be traveling with my dad, brother, uncles, and cousins to Phoenix to see if the Men’s team can defend their title.
If you are born and raised in Connecticut, like myself, you know very well that we do not have a professional sports team in any of the four major leagues (bring back the Whalers!). Our state is split between rooting for Boston teams and New York teams. However, there is one university, and specifically one sport, that unites the state year in and year out. UConn basketball. The basketball capital of the world. Growing up watching Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Kemba Walker, (I can go on and on) win championships were some of the best memories of my youth. The UConn basketball program is a huge part of why I wanted to play college basketball (Division 3, I wasn’t that good) and why I love the game so much. Both my parents and all my siblings went to UConn and the joy it brings us is unrivaled.
So, what the hell does UConn basketball have to do with Weezer?
Let me tell you. When I sat down to figure out what album I wanted to review, I knew that the artist had to be from Connecticut. John Mayer was the easy choice but I had to challenge myself. Michael Bolton is from New Haven, which did shock me, but wasn’t shocking enough to be make the cut. Then I saw the name Rivers Cuomo, which I knew was the lead singer of Weezer and decided to do a little background check on him. Turns out, our good friend Rivers grew up in Storrs, Connecticut. That’s right, the location of the University of Connecticut. Am I making a stretch? Maybe, but I simultaneously get to write about a great album and UConn so it’s a real win for me. So go Huskies and let’s dive into it…
Track Listing:
“My Name is Jonas”
“No One Else”
“The World Has Turned and Left Me Here”
“Buddy Holly”
“Undone - The Sweater Song”
“Surf Wax America”
“Say It Ain’t So”
“In the Garage”
“Holiday”
“Only in Dreams”
Overall Thoughts
This was the debut album for Weezer and technically the album is self-titled simply as Weezer but it is commonly referred to as the Blue Album (UConn colors are blue, coincidence? I think not). It has three songs I was familiar with before my first listen, which were “My Name Is Jonas”, “Buddy Holly”, and “Say It Ain’t So”. Now, for those of you that were serious Guitar Hero and Rock Band players such as myself, you’ll know just how good “My Name Is Jonas” and “Say It Ain’t So” are. Listening to those songs almost 17 years from when I originally heard and “played” them with my siblings and friends on those video games made me feel like a little kid again. It made me think of praying for snow days the night before school so that I could stay home and shred the virtual shit out of a guitar while my brother hammers the drums offbeat and my little sister sings. Those were the days. Probably not for my parents who were trying to sleep, but for us kids, those songs were staples of our childhood.
Looking at the album as a whole, it reminded me a lot of The Strokes and Green Day. Before you jump down my throat and say those bands sounds nothing alike what I mean by that is each song feels like a “get in, get out” situation. The songs come at you fast, loud, and with tons of energy and then suddenly it’s over and onto the next. I get that same feeling while listening to all those bands, but that’s not to say they are incapable of longer and more intricate songs. In fact, my biggest surprise of this album is “Only in Dreams” which is by far the longest on the album at nearly 8 minutes long. I am a huge fan of the “get in, get out” style of music (a term I just coined) because this style is what brings me back to listen to whole albums. There are songs on this record that I wouldn’t pick individually to play because I don’t love them on their own, but within the scope of the album they find their own role and it works. I’m curious to see if anyone else gets that same feeling.
Overall, if you are a fan of 90s and 2000s punk/pop/alternative rock bands and you haven’t heard this album (much like myself), it’s never too late! My first listen-through was at the gym and I was surprised at how focused and energetic it kept me. I’d recommend giving it a try. I also know for certain that this album will become an essential part of road trips for me moving forward. Something about it screams windows down, slightly over the speed limit, highway cruising.
You can’t tell me Rivers Cuomo (front and center) doesn’t look like Vector, the bad guy from Despicable Me.
Song Breakdown
Since I’ve changed the format of these reviews, I wanted to explain a little bit about the “Song Breakdowns.” The songs I choose to focus on below are the songs that spoke to me the most, and made me think or feel the most. It will be different for everyone and that is why I encourage you to come back and comment what your experience was while listening! Here are mine…
“My Name Is Jonas”
Such a phenomenal opening to a song. The acoustic riff, right into that heavy electric guitar just does it for me.
I love the melody when he sings “come sit next to me, pour yourself some tea, just like grandma made when we couldn’t find sleep.”
I think about my brother when I listen to this song. The song itself talks about two brothers growing up, and so it’s hard not to think about that as well. Being a younger brother is hard because you’re always getting the shit kicked out of you but man am I grateful for it now. Thick skin, couple of scars, and memories we can look back on and laugh at.
“Buddy Holly”
The song starts immediately. And when I say immediately I mean it. Boom! “What’s with these homies dissing my girl?” I don’t know Rivers, why are they dissing your girl?
After multiple listens, I’m ready to declare that I think the bridge and chorus in this song are the best on the album. Catchy, fun to sing along to, and taught me who Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore were!
“Undone - The Sweater Song”
This song made me do the most thinking. The lyrics “If you want to destroy my sweater, hold this thread as I walk away” really stuck with me. I envision that thread as a core piece of you that you entrust to someone, and they can easily undo who you are as person if they take advantage of that thread and unravel you. It feels like it’s a song about trying to be comfortable with yourself while also trying to trust someone to allow you to be your entire self around them.
Second chorus, the second “As I walk away” that Rivers Cuomo adds is fantastic. Love a good ol’ rock’n’roll ad-lib.
“Say It Ain’t So”
All about the build up on this one. Starts slow, smooth, somber even. Then we get to the chorus and that two-note “dun-dun!” (that’s my guitar sound while writing) hits perfectly everytime.
Two lyrics that I live to sing along to are “something is bubbling-eh-eh—eh” because it’s fun, and “this wayyyyy, is a waterslide away from me that takes her further everyday” because it changes the melody and pitch of the previous verse. It delivers in a big way right before we jump back into the chorus.
“In The Garage”
Harmonica! Enough said, harmonicas are the best.
In my house growing up, I spent a lot of time by myself in the basement. My family called me the “creature of the night” because I spent so much time down there. This song makes me feel validated. The garage for Rivers Cuomo is his safe place where he can escape and do things away from people and not feel like he’s being judged. Not that my family was judging, I just liked and do like being alone because it makes me feel safe and allows me to do the things that I wouldn’t do otherwise if people were around.
“Only In Dreams”
As I mentioned above, this was the biggest surprise of the album for me. It’s competing for my favorite, that’s how much I liked this song.
The bass is the first thing that jumped out to me. I think it carries the entire song and gets its moment to shine on the final song of the album.
The lyrics can be sad or they can be empowering. Depends on your mood. It’s true that some amazing things can happen in our dreams, but they’re just dreams. You can’t sit around dreaming all day hoping they’ll come true. If we want something, we have to find the courage to go get it in real life.
At the 4:55 mark of the song, we return to focusing on just the bass. You won’t hear another word sung. This is my favorite part of the entire album. It builds and it builds and I was lost in it, not a thought in my head. I couldn’t wait for that final payoff when the whole band comes back together to rock out for the final minute of the song, and the album. One of the best endings I’ve felt while listening to an album in a long time.
Everything I’ve wanted to say about this album I’ve said. I don’t have much to add and don’t want to make you read anymore than you have to. It was a pleasure to listen to and I hope each and everyone of you find a song on it that you love to.
Thank you for tuning into Week 4. Please subscribe to the newsletter on the homepage, share with friends, and comment your thoughts below! Follow my playlist on Spotify, I update it after each review with the songs I loved the most. See you next week!
