Pinkerton [CD]

This was actually the last of all the Weezer albums that I bought. My dad had given me some money for a much-needed new swimming costume for our upcoming holiday, but I saw this and simply could not let it pass, because I had nver ever seen it in a shop before and I didn't have the internet to order it. Yes, it is elusive. And yes, after the first listen I wasn't really impressed. Pinkerton doesn't have the same punchy, easily-accessible sound to it that 'The Blue Album' (eponymous debut) and 'The Green Album' do, perhaps even that 'Maladroit' does. But after I decided to give it another chance on my walkman on the way to school I discovered that each song is a meticulously crafted, extremely personal insight into the frontman, Rivers Cuomo. Not only was I excited by the fact that it lasted exactly the length of my bus journey (34 minutes, which, in my opinion, is roughly the perfect album length for our simple human minds to stay focused on); as I listened again, I was satisfied by the afore-hidden melodies of the songs. I could sing along!
This really is a fine album. If you listen closely enough you will discover that each song is just as gratifying (with 'pop-sensibilities' I think the media call it) as the debut's, and you will marvel at Rivers' ability to compose succint, personal pop songs made to sound, at the same time, like the best clash of electric guitars EVER.
Buy this album!

During the summer of 1995 Buddy Holly was on heavy rotation and you would hear people praising a video they found on their computers operating system. After some vigorous touring for the "blue" album. Rivers Cuomo upped sticks and enrolled into an ivy league college.
Then in the autumn of 1996 Pinkerton was released without much attention except for the preceding single, el scorcho.
At first many of the people who had bought the blue album were extremely skeptical and labelled WEEZER as a one hit wonder.
However Pinkerton was an open book of personal trials in which many people could relate to.
Kicking off with the lo-fi intro to TIRED OF SEX the song then explodes into a rock anthem detailing the boredom of the high life and the struggle of finding a partner to settle down with. The fuzz rock of GETCHOO follows in the same vein as does the anthemic NO OTHER ONE. WHY BOTHER is a mid paced rocker which details the struggle to motivate after failing in love stakes. ACROSS THE SEA is about a letter recieved from a japanese schoolgirl asking all about them, musically it is monumentous from the piano-led intro through to the fuzzy solo. THE GOOD LIFE is a cheery sing-along which lyrically has yearns for a return of the lifestyle described in TIRED OF SEX. EL SCORCHO sounds like the pixies and has a great rousing chorus. PINK TRIANGLE is an amazing song with a country/rock feel but describes a relationship with a girl who would be perfect only to find out that she is a lesbian. FALLING FOR YOU is undoubtedly the albums high point sonically it is a classic sounding like a more beefed up PINK TRIANGLE but with a lyrical theme that everyone can relate to, meeting your perfect partner but feeling inept to do anything about it.IT contains the immortal lyric "what could you possibly see in little ol'three chord me". The album ends on the placid butterfly which Rivers plays solo. At just over thirty three miniutes the album may not appear to be a rock epic but it clearly conveys the thoughts of one person in which many others can relate to. People who enjoyed the recent JIMMY EAT WORLD or RIVAL SCHOOLS albums will love PINKERTON. Simply PINKERTON is the album which describes perfectly love won and lost.

With the release of Make Believe I now own 5 =W= albums and already i find myself reverting back to their older albums - in particular Pinkerton. This, in my humble opinion, is not only Weezer's best, but also one of -the- best albums currently in circulation. When i saw the slow record sales and all the critics slating it as a complete failure after the success of their debut I was honestly dumbfounded. It is an excellent album and is finally getting the praise it deserves - from 'Tired of Sex' right through the melancholy brilliance that is 'Butterfly' I never grow tired of listening to it. Favourites for me are Tired of Sex, Why Bother?, Across the Sea, The Good Life, Pink Triangle, Falling for You and Butterfly. So basically the whole album - there isn't a bad track on it!