'Make Believe' an unbelievable disappointment
By Jeff Renfro
Weezer's new album "Make Believe" revisits old themes in a matter that is unsatisfactory at best.
The band seems to make an effort to recreate older albums. However, they lack the spark and sense of creativity that made their older albums great.
Weezer (Rivers Cuomo: vocals, guitar; Brian Bell: guitar; Scott Shriner: bass; and Patrick Wilson: drums) released their first self-titled album in 1994, unofficially known as "The Blue Album." This classic began their careers and is beloved by many Weezer fans.
Weezer followed their immensely successful debut with "Pinkerton." The album was released with tepid reviews and a mild fan backlash. Not until the band went on an extended hiatus, beginning in 1997, did "Pinkerton" become a cult classic.
The band made a triumphant return in 2001 when they released another self-titled album, unofficially known as "The Green Album." With their renewed fan support, Weezer released "Maladroit" in 2002. Since the release of "Maladroit," Weezer has done very little work, although rumors surrounding the band have been running rampant.
An unauthorized biography called "Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story" by John D. Luerrsen was released in 2004. In the biography, Cuomo is detailed as a power-obsessed maniac.
"Make Believe"draws suspicion even before the CD case is opened. The band members' poses on the cover of the album almost perfectly recreate the cover of Weezer's first album.
This could be interpreted as an intentional nod to the past. With the overall lack of creativity on the album, the similarities appear to be a desperate attempt to recreate everything about the first album.
Their earlier albums relied on big, warm power chords and simple melodies, but they have used these tricks to create an emotionally rich background.
Unlike the early years, this album takes these techniques for granted. On the track "My Best Friend," the backing is an extended guitar solo that does nothing more than create a stale melody.
The sound of the guitar is processed and softened to an almost ridiculous degree, making a timid, family-friendly version of a guitar riff.
The song is also dragged down by its inane lyrics, the chorus being: "You're my best friend/ And I love you/ And I love you/ Yes I do." Unfortunately, this is the closest the band is willing to go to being lyrically deep throughout the album.
"Make Believe" opens with the first single "Beverly Hills," one of the two strongest tracks on the album.
The bass dominates much of the song, harkening back to the days when Weezer possessed an edge to their music.
Hand claps and the bass drum make the song sound energetic, and the guitar solo halfway through utilizes an effect that is rarely heard.
The lyrics are not deep, but they are at least funny. Aside from "We Are All On Drugs," the rest of the album is boring stock.
The second track, "Perfect Situation," begins with a guitar part that is suspiciously similar to "Photographs," a song off the "Green Album."
According to most accounts and reviews, the members of Weezer are talented musicians and are capable of much more than this.
In the event that the release of "Make Believe" makes anyone nostalgic for the band, they would be much better off listening to one of their earlier albums. Grade: C+
* Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 554-4546 or jrenfro@scu.edu.