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Still hope for Weezer's latest |
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Written by JON SINGER
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Friday, 13 May 2005 |
Forty-one minutes went by before I heard something captivating on Weezer's new release, "Make Believe." That's the point where the final song, "Haunt You Every Day," began. It had the operatic guitar playing that has always been the secret charm fans forget about when getting into deep philosophical discussions about Weezer. Yeah, it's true. Their fans are that into the band.
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Weezer
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 Entertainment
 Art
"Make Believe"
(Geffen)
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Raving about "Haunt You Every Day" does not mean the rest of the album is stripped of other good tracks. "Hold Me" is an honest and intimate ballad from the band's singer/songwriter/leader/namesake Rivers Cuomo that shows he can still deliver a soft and touching melody. "Pardon Me" takes the same road, but gets back to guitar leads that rock.
"Make Believe" isn't as mundane as, say, the Green Album. it's also not as hard and raging as 2003's "Maladroit." It lies in between, and takes a couple of peculiar side roads, likely at the direction of producer Rick Rubin. For instance, "This is Such a Pity" begins as an '80s-sounding pop song, but earned my appreciation with its catchy chorus. "My Best Friend" has a "That Thing You Do"-type sound. "The Other Way" is flooded with reverb, and "Freak Me Out" begins with chillin' harmonics and later uses synths and a harmonica.
I can see why many people would be turned off quickly by "Make Believe," and I understand several bad reviews it’s received. But I think the album deserves more than one listen. It's still Rivers' voice and songs, and the instrumentation behind him is as far a departure as Weezer has taken thus far. I only wish the talented Cuomo would take it a step further. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
