We review ‘Weezer (The Gold Album)’, the new work by Rivers Cuomo’s band

What can you expect at this point? Weezer? Well that depends, according to the meme there are two types of followers of Weezerthose who continue to treasure their first two albums like a treasure and look at the rest of their discography as a mortal sin against them. And those who think that yes, that their first two albums are the best, but that the rest are much better than what others think. The former will still not listen to this album, although they should, while the latter will play this twentieth album – seventh named after the group (although, as always, it comes with an associated color, in this case “The Gold Album”)- as evident proof that they are not wrong.

Possibly it is neither one thing nor the other. It is true that few bands have had such a brilliant start and such an irregular rest of their career, but it should also be recognized that for every horrible “Raditude” (09) or “Pacific Daydream” (17) have known how to continue producing things as passable as “Everything Will Be Alright in the End” (14) or this “The Gold Album”. No, it’s not going to make you forget about his debut or “Pinkerton”but we must admit that they sound rejuvenated and with their batteries charged, perhaps due to the best production they have had in decades, thanks to the revitalizing hand of Kenny Beats, producer of IDLES or Geese.

What they have done on this album is simply return to what they do best, crunchy guitars and explosive choruses. Rivers Cuomo is perfectly aware of this and does not hesitate to use irony in one of the singles, “CEO”which is a direct nod to one of his classics, “Undone/The Sweater Song”in which he sings resignedly: “Redoing another ’90s song / I wish I could do something new, but no one wants to hear it / They only want the classics / You can’t blame them, really / Your first songs have something special.” After several failed experiments it is a little sad but it is still true: Weezer They are not The Beatles or Radiohead, capable of reinventing themselves in each work. Theirs is more of a clear style like AC/DC or Ramones: they work very well with their formula, but not outside of it…

In “The Gold Album” They return to it and it works again. Fans will receive songs like the one that opens the album with a smile from ear to ear “Say Yes”, “Shine Again” either “Up In The Clouds” which contains everything that the lifelong fan wants, guitar solos, sunny and harmonized choruses with some good “oo ooo” and a dynamic that goes in crescendo until reaching the climax. Not to mention that “We Might as Well Be Strangers”, featuring Wednesday’s Karly Hartzman, has to be their best song, at least, since “Go Away” either “LA Girlz.”

So we can say that Weezer They have released a remarkable album, one that is among the best they have released that is not called “Blue Album” either “Pinkerton”, although it still does not reach the glory of those first albums, because it must be admitted that those were the ones that had “something special.”