Sphinx's Music Blog - Weezer (The Blue Album)
Welcome all to this week’s music blog. Hopefully you are all safe and cozy in your homes, being cooperative and social distancing yourself from others. Since I am a teacher in Michigan, my next three weeks opened up significantly, so I may actually be bringing more of these to you than normal. Lucky you I say - hopefully reading the upcoming blogs (and the ones from the past) will spur your curiosity and you will grow interest in a new album or band to listen to.
Today I bring you an album that influenced me a lot in my teenage years, and I assume it may have done the same for some other readers. I’m talking about the 1994 nerd rock self titled debut album Weezer, commonly referred to as The Blue Album. Produced by Ric Ocasek from the New Wave rock group The Cars (I did a blog about their self titled debut too, find it here ), the album has some heavy hitting Cars influences, along with some classic garage punk rock and heavy metal. Stew all this together with some references to looking like a dork and playing Dungeons and Dragons, and you’ve got a nerd rock classic.
From left to right: Patrick Wilson (drums), Rivers Cuomo (guitar, vocals, songwriting), Matt Sharp (bass), Brian Bell (guitar)
The album is so improbable to be a success in 1994. Liking nerdy things was not cool then like they are now, and the rock music scene was all grunge at that time. But then you have this album, with these sing-along tracks, and well, how can you resist? I think it’s what has made Weezer such a big deal the last 25 years. Their songs fuse together catchy pop music with rocking hard. I mean, I’m humming Buddy Holly right now as I type this blog. And I can’t get it out of my head!
The band first got together in Los Angeles, and were going to record the album at Ladyland Studios in New York City. Originally they were going to self produce their record, but Ocasek was brought in from the record company Geffen to give it some TLC. Ocasek and the group agreed to some rules that brought on a brighter sound which included no reverb and only down-strumming on the guitars and bass. It was in New York that rhythm guitarist Jason Cropper found out his girlfriend was pregnant, and he kinda started to go crazy, with rumors that he would climb to the top of the building at the studio and just start screaming from time to time. Band leader Rivers Cuomo forced Cropper out, and actually re-recorded the parts Cropper played on. Brian Bell filled in for the remaining songs and has been with the group since. While even Jason Cropper believes what happened was for the best for the band, he does get a writing credit for the intro guitar part on the first track...
My Name is Jonas - a huge rocker and a favorite among fans. I love the acoustic guitar in the beginning. Then the guitar break during “workers are going home” rocks hard. The lyrics are tongue in cheek with a man lost in his toys, and doesn’t yet want to grow up to be an adult. Meanwhile, what’s the point to be an adult? The workers are going home. I personally find this one of the greatest starts to an album, and to a career.
No One Else seems a bit misogynistic looking back at it today, but it’s a song of a lonely boy and his wish list of what he wants his girl to be like. The World Has Turned And Left Me Here is the teenage loneliness for the girl and/or friend he loves. Come on now, what teenage boy can’t relate to this? Both these tracks dig deep in that punk guitar sound, with The World Has Turned having a nice acoustic addition sprinkled into the mix.
We then continue with possibly Weezer’s most famous tune - Buddy Holly, which today is still such a great song. It has that 1950’s beat, with some hand claps in there. And then Boom! The bridge is virtually a rap in the middle of this nerdy punk rock tune, with more great guitar. And the song is simple enough - two nerds in love. They don’t care what you say about them anyway, they don't care about that. Also, the music video is super famous, as it throws the band into the set of Happy Days (it has over 49 million views on YouTube).
Up next is a sleeper of a hit song, Undone - The Sweater Song. Simple guitar riff as we hear a group of people waiting for a show to start. The dialogue is actually bassist Matt Sharp talking to a life-long friend of the band and then a key founder of the band’s fan club. Cuomo has said they were looking for a Velvet Underground type feel, and at the heavier parts bringing in some Metallica. It was also stated that instead of dialogue in the beginning, they just wanted various sound clips playing, but found out that licensing for that was going to be too expensive. Cuomo has also said of the song, “"Undone" is the feeling you get when the train stops and the little guy comes knockin' on your door. It was supposed to be a sad song, but everyone thinks it's hilarious.” Again, another great music video.
Surf Wax America I think is their most underrated song. It’s a great rocker, and obviously, a homage to surf rock like the Beach Boys. They even throw in a slow middle part - with vocal harmonies like the Beach Boys.
Say It Ain’t So is my favorite Weezer song. It was their closing song on tour the last two times I’ve seen them. Such a great lead guitar line, I want to learn it so badly. The track starts so chill, tells a great story, so simplistic. And then “The bottle is ready to blow” and it blows you off your feet with sound. And then the bridge is so emotional in Cuomo’s lyrics.
In the Garage is another nerdy rocker that references KISS and the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Obviously a total garage band feel. Cuomo feels safe. No one cares about his ways. Maybe he was picked on by bullies in his youth, but who’s laughing now? Holiday to me is the album’s weakest track, but still a good rocker. But Only In Dreams - and that great bass line. It’s one of the first things I ever learned on the bass when I was in high school. Such an emo song for a genre that was just starting to grow (I guess you could argue the 80’s with The Smiths, but not the same punk characteristics.) The track just has a groove to it, even with it being nearly 8 minutes long. And stick around for that end, because it climaxes with a great metal guitar solo.
This album is one of the finest debuts of all time. It’s always a fun conversation with fans of the band if this is their favorite album (it’s usually a toss up with this and their follow-up Pinkerton). I’d personally give it a slight edge as their greatest, but overall most of Weezer’s catalog through the years is solid (a few misses here and there). The band continues to roll on through, and my wife and I plan to see them for the third time as they are teaming up with Green Day and Fall Out Boy on tour this summer (please tell me things are back to normal by then - fingers crossed).
Have opinions on this album, or Weezer in general? I’d love to chat about it! Send a message either on social media or on the Gamezilla Media discord. In addition, if you love gaming and movies, check out the five podcasts on Gamezilla Media, and consider being a patron on Patreon! You can find me on the Last Action Podcast or the Noobs and Dragons podcast.
You can listen to this album and the other albums I have reviewed here on my Spotify playlist. Please consider being a follower on Spotify! It’s free to do!
Sphinx