Tag Archives: weezer

My iPod #457: Weezer – The Good Life

Leave a reply

“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

Leave a reply

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

1 Reply

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

1 Reply

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?

Farewell. (My iPod #297: Weezer – Dope Nose)

1 Reply

I’ve given up. I can’t do this anymore. A year and a bit of spouting endless rubbish about the songs I have on my iPod. How could I keep that going? This is the last post I’ll be doing. On here anyway. I’m moving to WordPress.

Even before I started this blog I always questioned myself on which blogging platform was the best to start it on. I chose Blogger ’cause it looked simple and easy to control. It is. But it’s for those reasons that I feel it’s time to move. Blogger looks too simple. I also think that I would get a bit more views if I were to go on WordPress. It looks so fancy and professional.

Blogger’s cool, but from either tomorrow or Saturday – it’s WordPress from here on out.

Let’s not end on a downer.

Here’s “Dope Nose” by Weezer, the first single from their fourth album “Maladroit” and believed to be written on the same night as another popular song by the band. The video is quite confusing; I wasn’t expecting Japanese motorcyclists either, but the track sounds like it should be played with motorcycles being revved up in the background.

Musically, the track is probably one of Weezer’s best post-Pinkerton. It has an edgy 70s hard rock roughness to it, complete with an awesome solo in the middle. However, it is backed up with some rather odd lyrics about cheese smelling good on a burnt piece of lamb and a fag of the year who could beat up your man. You will have a brief  ‘what did he just say’ moment when hearing that for the first time, but the music is so good that it overshadows it. You’ll be singing along to those weird lyrics in no time.

It is a celebratory song. I think the term ‘dope nose’ is a pun on the word ‘dope knows’, so Rivers is calling out to the haters and telling ’em he knows what he’s doing. Who those haters are, I don’t know. I should hope they weren’t hating when they heard this song for the first time.

That’ll do, Blogger. That’ll do.

I’ll be back soon. Hopefully all the posts you find on this site will be on the new one. I will provide you with a link as soon as I make it.

See you real soon.