Make Believe [Enhanced]

Fair enough there's a significant lack of the bouncy and the cheerful on this record but rest assured that doesn't mean a decrease in the interest. The least appealing track has to be Beverly Hills which, once you've got the riff stuck in your head, becomes irritating and cheap-sounding. Thankfully the rest of the album veers away from the anthemic somewhat and rests on a more mature sound which I think (probably in contrary to everyone else) suits the band, as they themselves are now well into their thirties. Stand-out tracks are the fantastic 'This Is Such A Pity', an 80s tinged look back at the Pinkerton days and 'Pardon Me' which sounds like the bigger, bolder sister of 'Butterfly'. There is a definite similarity between this album and Pinkerton which is perhaps unusual given lead singer Rivers' hatred of the excellent 1996 record. This time around, however, the album has a more focussed sound which isn't interrupted by often similar sounding cheerful tracks.

This is, as many others have commented, an essential album for an Weezer fan's collection, although there is a newer sound which may appeal to others who have been put off by their previous work. A great new direction for the band.

Catchy, poigiant and generally fantastic, that's 'Make Believe'. Rivers Cuomo, recently described by Liam Gallagher as 'my new favourite rock star' again fails to disappoint. Tracks such as 'The Other Way', 'Perfect Situation' and 'My Best Friend' (which was set to open Shrek 2) are very upbeat, and would certainly encourage the trademark Weezer clapping. If you are more of a fan of mellower songs, then 'Hold Me' and 'Haunt You Every Day' are proper lighter-wavers, with giant guitar solos cropping up in many songs, 'Pardon Me' for example. 'This is Such a Pity' is my personal favourite, and I would challenge anyone to sit still to it and not jump around/sway/clap/enjoy it!
I'm not going to compare this to other Weezer albums (also definately worth buying) as I think that it is very different and should be treated on its own. However, I think that it should, (like Pinkerton etc.) take pride of place at the top of any record collection-beat the rush, as when more singles are released, 'Make Believe' will certainly be hot property!

In the span of a decade between their debut and Make Believe, Weezer has become more popular and Rivers' lyrics became more and more insanely catchy. This time around, there is a sign of positivity and happiness in the songs, particularly in the single 'Beverly Hills'. Some fans may be appalled by this turn of events but unlike Maladroit, there is not a single 'poor' song on here, each song is either moving, good-feel or just plain great.

Power ballads like Hold Me and The Damage in your Heart are fantastic, very rocky and lyrically great without getting way too soppy. There are also the poppy tunes like My Best Friend, or the next possible single 'We Are All On Drugs' making Make Believe a mixed bag.

Of course this album will split opinions right down the middle, but i will stick to my guns and say that this is one of the albums of 2005. Fantastic, cheerful and bloody catchy. Buy it now!