Tag Archives: pinkerton

#1040: Weezer – Pink Triangle

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So today’s track is number 1040 is this long series, but really it should be more. There have been a few occasions where I’ve missed some songs out and have had to hastily slot some paragraphs for them in larger posts in order to represent them. One thing’s for sure is that this should be #1041, because only a few weeks ago I realised I missed out Weezer’s ‘No Other One’ from the listings. I actually really like that song too, and I feel like I said to myself that I would go back to it at the time. But I didn’t, and now we’re in this situation. To keep things simple, it’s a great number – one about being with a lady who’s no good for you, but don’t want to leave because of the fear of being alone for the rest of your life. Big thumbs up from me.

‘Pink Triangle’, like ‘No Other One’ – also on Weezer’s Pinkerton, is another track on the album detailing a moment in River Cuomo’s desperate search for true love while being a ’90s rockstar and having a tremendously painful procedure on his leg. In the song, he thinks he’s found the perfect match. Finally, someone he sees spending his days with the kids, the white picket fence and the pets. It all seems too good to be true. And it is, as to his chagrin, the lady’s a lesbian. With this information, Cuomo’s lyrics recount the inner turmoil he goes through upon this earth-shattering realisation. Now, I know that Pinkerton contains some lines in there that would probably be categorised as problematic in these times. They most likely always have been. But Rivers Cuomo in 1996 was a person who needed a hug and was clearly very frustrated. It wasn’t something that people at the time were ready for, but it was as real as it gets and for that you gotta give him some respect.

Like all the other songs on the album, the track is a raw and hard-hitting performance on all fronts. What initially starts off with this almost Christmas-like introduction with softly-played guitars playing the opening riff suddenly pummels into the verses with the introduction of Patrick Wilson’s drums, Matt Sharp’s bass guitar and Cuomo’s vocal. Cuomo would never be as expressive in his vocal delivery past this album, though the melody within the verses is realtively simple, he’s really belting them out with some grit and melismatic turns occurring here and there. It’s pretty passionate stuff. Gotta give a shout-out to the slide guitar that arrives in the mix at points. And a big plus to the dueling guitars solo in the break. The chord progression underneath it would be used as the basis for ‘Do You Wanna Get High’ 20 years later, if you didn’t know. Always enjoyed how it transitions into the following track too. Two very complete songs, but hearing them both together is a whole other level.

My iPod #457: Weezer – The Good Life

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“The Good Life” was released as the second single from Weezer’s second album, one that is considered to be their best too, Pinkerton in 1996. Though reception towards the album was not too great when it first came out. You can read about that for yourselves. The song was somehow meant to save the album’s commercial status but by the point of its rush-release the damage had been done.

The song is written from Rivers Cuomo’s frustration after painful surgery in which one of his legs literally had to be stretched in order to match the length of the other. Times were obviously not too great for the guy, and the experience inspired him to write the track.

In it, he still sees himself as a ‘funky dude’ when he looks at the mirror but things aren’t really funky when you’re broken, beaten down, and can’t go around anywhere without a cane to support you. The man is in clear desperation. Now I wouldn’t say this is the most cathartic track on Pinkerton, because that album is catharsis defined. But it is definitely one in which every element from the lead vocals, the improvisational backing vocals, the whole band performance, the fast breakdown which leads into the slow comedown with the slide guitar……. Everything owns. One of Weezer’s best songs, in my opinion.

I wonder if this had been released as the first single whether that would have done anything for Pinkerton back in its day. Oh well.

My iPod #416: Weezer – Getchoo

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Just as final notes of “Tired of Sex” begin to fade to silence on Weezer’s second album “Pinkerton“, the chainsaw-like buzzing rises from out of nowhere to bring “Getchoo” to a raucous start. Much like “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here” is the sister track to “No One Else” on the band’s debut, so is “Getchoo” to “Tired of Sex”. In this case, the narrator has fallen in love with one of the many women he has had meaningless sex with…. but only after she’s gone and will probably not be likely to be seen again. The frustration is real. And this track really delivers on getting those feelings across.

I remember not liking “Tired of Sex” when I first listened to “Pinkerton” years ago. Obviously this changed over time. But back then it was always fine because “Getchoo” was the next track after skipping it, and I was never disappointed. It’s very noisy, guitars are harsh and rough sounding, Matt Sharp does a madness on the bass and Pat Wilson bangs on the drums like there’s no tomorrow. Bar “Butterfly”, those descriptions apply for every other track “Pinkerton” possesses.

My particular favourite moment of the song? The rising guitar leading to the climactic finish as the background vocals cry “This is begiiining to huuuuurt“. And the chorus too.

My iPod #359: Weezer – Falling for You

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It’s good to hear that people are liking Weezer’s new album. Or at least they feel like it’s the best the band has done in many years. But we all know that Weezer were so much better. There are those that completely disregard Weezer’s work after “Pinkerton“, that’s how offended they’ve been. I am not one of those people. Though I have to agree that the band’s second album is the last jaw-dropping thing the band have done.

“Falling for You” has many amazing moments in itself. Too many to describe. Anything I could say has already been written, and it’s a much better read. Have fun with it. In general, there are goosebumps-a-plenty when listening to it.

It is in this track, after eight songs where the narrator has no idea why he’s so shitty when it comes to relationships, that an actual relationship finally begins – only for it to end in the next and last track.

My iPod #315: Weezer – El Scorcho

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I think it was some time in 2008 when I heard “El Scorcho” for the first time. It was either that year or 2007. Whichever year it was, the track was the one which persuaded me to ask for “Pinkerton” for my thirteenth birthday. A good decision, I know.

I had owned the band’s first self-titled blue album for about a year and a bit, but for some reason in that time listening to anything from “Pinkerton” never crossed my mind. Possibly because I had heard shit about it being named the worst album in 1996 by some music magazine. Eventually I thought I should listen to at least one track from it at some point, and where better to start than the album’s first single? What could go wrong? Nothing apparently, because it was very good and still is.

I have to admit, I was a bit confused at the start of it. Actually, I might have listened to it and then skipped it thinking the rest of the track wasn’t worth the time. The gargle and the loose guitar riff may bring up a few ‘wtf is this’ reactions. But as the track carried on I gradually found myself getting into it. The backing vocals sound improvised and are delivered with a ‘don’t give a fuck’ feel, so many times you will hear a random ad-lib here and there courtesy of former bassist Matt Sharp. But this does lead to the chorus sounding like a bunch of drunk guys at a karaoke night. If that is the thing you’re into, you might just be in luck.

Actually, a lot of first time listeners might find the track confusing. It’s slow for the majority, speeds up and gets very loud in the middle, has a guitar solo that sounds like it’s being made up on the spot and generally sounds like it could fall apart at any moment. But you might like it, so why not listen to it before making a decision for yourself?