Thursday May 12, 2005

CD review - Make believe (Weezer)

• Posted by Rob (#1) on May 12, 2005 22:40 CEST

The CD reviews on my previous journal were somewhat popular, so I'll continue making them here. Weezer is an odd band: their debut album "Weezer (blue)" is probably still their best, never topped by "Pinkerton", "Weezer (green)" and "Maladroid", although the last comes very close. So what about the latest effort of these geeky rockers, "Make believe"?

Favourite tracks are in bold.

1. Beverly Hills
   Not what I'm looking for in a Weezer album and I would have expected more of a track released as single and advertised on the album sticker. The song is catchy, but I cannot help but feeling other bands have had more success with their experiments. Even the "gimme gimme" insert is annoying and the little bit of jamming doesn't save it.
2. Perfect situation
   Fortunately track two is a winner: it has a typical Weezer intro with a bit of crescendo, then proceeds to quality melodramatic lyrics which offer a big sing-along opportunity just like the "singing oh oh" chorus (bring out those lighters!). This song reminds me a lot of the better work of Nerd Herder.
3. This is such a pity
   A very strong track, reconfirming a trend I've noticed in modern rock for a while: the eighties are back! There's no climax here, to be honest there seems to be nothing special about this song. But it lifts me up with its positive vibes and some new wave effects every time.
4. Hold me
   A soft rock ballad. It starts a bit weak (I'm no big fan of soft rock), but reaches its moment at and after the bridge with an on-going "ho-o-o-o-ld me", a nice guitar solo and a persistant repetition of the chorus.
5. Peace
   Another slow starter that doesn't truly shine until after the bridge, at which point the song stops being thirteen-in-a-dozen music and becomes Weezer, good Weezer, very good Weezer. The happy "whoa-oh-oh-oh" finishes the song not only by making it whole (I am a big fan of "oh-oh" scants), it also gives it a proper if not slightly funny ending.
6. We are all on drugs
   A good party song that's funny and entertaining. Complete with a small crescendo, but unfortunately just shouting "we are all on drugs" a number of times doesn't really make a good chorus. I like its pace, but the lyrics get a bit boring after a while.
7. The damage in your heart
   Almost four minutes in playing time but I just have very little to say about this song. It's pleasant and acceptable, but also a bit ordinary. Maybe that's why it ends with an oddity I'd sooner expect from the Smashing Pumpkins.
8. Pardon me
   Like the last song: there's nothing seriously wrong with this track and yet it feels like a b-track. Weezer apologises for being mean occasionally but this song is just not mean enough.
9. My best friend
   Finally, a faster song. A very endearing chorus ("you're my best friend, and I love you, and I love you, yes I do") that simply works despite the simplicity. Or to make that sentence work because of it. It probably wouldn't work out as a stand-alone song but some upbeat music is really what the album needed at this point, so I'm always glad when it reaches this song.
10. The other way
    The build-up of this song comes from the text book, which might turn some people away but not me. It has a typical Weezer chorus. The hidden quality of this song is that it's over before you want it to be.
11. Freak me out
    Another slow track: this is pop, not rock. But it has something going for it: it is extremely well-sung. This one would be perfect for an accoustic set.
12. Haunt you every day
    More Weezer melodramatics and a perfect ender for the album: the slow bits are pleasant, the chorus is captivating and the guitar bits are very dreamy.
13. Butterfly (live)
    I'm reviewing the UK release which comes with two live bonus tracks. Nice extras but I would have been more excited had they included "Only in dreams".
14. Island in the sun (live)
    Arguably Weezer's biggest success, at least big enough that it was included on Maladroit after originally being on the green album. And now once more as live version on "Make believe".

In total this album offers a little over fourty-five minutes of new content. And although a little slow for a rock band (and my established taste), I have to conclude I actually like it a lot except for the first song and a few dull ones in the middle. When I stop pretending to be a young rebel and settle down, this might very well become my favourite Weezer album.

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