The Virtues of Weezer

When I was a young child growing up in South Africa, I thought a lot about the virtues of Weezer; softly and quietly in the night. For I knew that a band as worthless and as laughable as the Animal Collective simply could not hold a candle, and the less said about the continuous failures of Cat Power the better. Rivers Cuomo is the Weezer main man, and this has always been the case; and while I will not give you a detailed band biography or even a simplistic Cuomo back story, what I will do is speak of the band in their more recent incarnation and predict as to what the future might bring as well.

Weezer did make a return to form after a lengthy and complicated absence with 2001’s “The Green Album.” This record was produced by Ric Ocasek of New Wave Pop Rockers The Cars, the gentleman behind the grand debut as well. It’s a great album, with fantastical Pop gems such as “Photograph.” Shortly following this time frame, fans were treated with the self-produced “Maladroit.” This is a record that rocked rather hard, maybe not quite at the level of “Pinkerton,” but the lead single “Dope Nose” is just as good a groovy song as anything featured on “Pinkerton,” so please believe. After another involved and complicated absence, Weezer returned with the controversial “Make Believe" in 2005. This album is significant, and is probably the most Punk-oriented gesture in the history of Pop, not even a lame Sonic Youth Starbucks compilation CD can compete with the cheese and goo of “Make Believe.” I find Rivers to be a direct lyricist who really cuts through the jumble beautifully, the man knows riffs, screaming solos and Pop structure in general to a bleedin’ tee!

It is during this time period that we find Rivers at peace with the universe, and I suppose the same can be said for his long-suffering band mates as well? (Rotating list of bass players included). Vipassana is important. Visit his myspace, get informed! Do what you must! As for the future of the Weez; well, who’s to say? It is a troubling and involved issue that would take many blasts to the skull by a faulty spud-gun to truly get to the heart of the matter, but I will leave you with the following Cuomosexual quote, as it is quite telling:

"Hey Party-People,

Weezer is just polishing up a batch of songs for a recording session that is going to start at the beginning of July. This will be the final recording session for our 6th album which we aim to put out in the first half of 2008. We hope you are all having good times.

Love,

R-dawg"

The future is indeed bright, Weezer faithful. And if anyone suggests that you listen to something awful like the new White Stripes album, just be sure to inform your respective mothers’ and tell them Mozart Breath sent ya on behalf of Cuomo and the =W= gang, cuz nothing can compete with earnest and awkward Power Pop.