Weezer, or the record more well known as the Blue Album, is the first album from alternative rock band, Weezer. While not one of my personal favorite bands, there’s a lot to like from this group. Whether it’s their experimentation with different genres, or just their ability to make radio-friendly hits, they’ve accomplished a lot in their three decades in the music industry. On this record, the band lineup consists of singer/guitarist Rivers Cuomo, guitarist Brian Bell, bassist Matt Sharp, and drummer Patrick Wilson. Here are my thoughts.

      I really enjoy the way that this album stands out at a time in rock music, where typically the most popular rock genre of the early 1990s was grunge. Weezer’s sound was a drastic departure from that, and the Blue Album clearly has a multi-faceted array of sounds, which also create a cohesive record at the same time. “My Name Is Jonas,” was a track my dad played for me when he was driving me to school, and I really like the power pop elements of the track. There’s also the satirical nature of the track like, “No One Else,” which is about an extremely jealous and overprotective boyfriend. “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here,” is one of the most underrated tracks on the album, in my opinion. I think a lot of people can relate to struggling to let go of an ex, and the song perfectly encapsulates that. It’s easily one of my favorites off of the album, especially with that guitar solo featured. After that, we have a major single off the record, and possibly my favorite Weezer song, “Buddy Holly.” The guitar riffs on this track have a sound that’s aged incredibly well, and the title makes sense, because if you look at a picture of Rivers Cuomo he looks a lot like Buddy Holly. It also has my favorite guitar solo on the entire record, and I like the humorous nature of the track, as well. “Undone-The Sweater Song,” has a much slower tempo and I liked the backstory behind the chorus, “If you want to destroy my sweater. Hold this thread as I walk away.” It’s based off of an analogy one of Rivers Cuomo’s professors made, saying, “All I have to do is hold a single thread in your sweater and it will unravel as you walk away.” “Surf Wax America,” is another under-appreciated song off of this album, as the main guitar riff is catchy and I like the lyrics about surfing incorporated in this track. It has a surf rock, and pop-punk sound to it and the styles of those mesh together incredibly well.

   Following that, we have another single and personal favorite of mine, “Say It Ain’t So,” which I first heard through the original Rockband video game. I had no idea about the backstory of this track, as it’s about Cuomo’s helpless feeling, experiencing the effects that his father’s alcoholism had on his family. It’s an incredibly personal track, and is one of the band’s best. The contrast between clean and distortion in terms of the guitars really hits the emotional angle of the track home. “In the Garage,” tells the story of a loner who feels happiest when he’s alone in his garage surrounded by posters and toys. Instrumentally, the guitars, steady bass riffs, and harmonica featured in the track really hammer home the loneliness in the lyrics of this song. “Holiday,” is another solid song, as it talks about the joys of going on a vacation, but there’s really not that much to the track. It’s pretty much just about going on a trip. However, it’s one of the weaker songs for me on this album. Finally, we close off the album with the track, “Only in Dreams,” which adds a unique twist to the classic cliché of the nerdy guy getting the girl, instead saying that, only in a dream can the protagonist of this song understand his own emotions. It’s a strong closer to a solid album.

    The Blue Album is widely regarded as Weezer’s best record and it’s not hard to see why. I love the guitar riffs and solos on this album, and while the singing isn’t really the strongest, the lyrics are funny, emotional, and relatable for many people. I definitely feel like the last two tracks aren’t as strong as the rest of the record, but they’re not terrible by any means. Overall, a very enjoyable listen.

Overall Score: 8/10

Favorite Tracks: “My Name Is Jonas,” “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here,” “Buddy Holly,” “Undone - The Sweater Song,” “Surf Wax America,” “Say It Ain’t So,”

Least Favorite Tracks: “Holiday,”

Listen: https://youtu.be/kemivUKb4f4?si=MaEmjmHatSA78GPE

Genres: Alternative Rock/Power Pop/Geek Rock