Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album) (CD)

All Music Guide

Weezer was disparaged from all corners when their 1994 debut became a hit. Hipsters and critics hated their raucous, melodic, Pixies-meets-metal geek-pop and the group's clever Spike Jonze-directed videos, proclaiming them as charlatans on the order of Stone Temple Pilots. Time has been kind to Weezer, since they not only turned out a second album that was (no joke) a masterpiece, they wound up being as influential on the emo scene as the purer Sunny Day Real Estate. To top it off, Weezer stands the test of time, standing as one of the great records of the post-grunge era. It's not as good or personal as Pinkerton, but this is a debut and it's a hell of a debut, too, capturing Rivers Cuomo's skills for effortlessly catchy, bone-crunching alt-pop, best heard on singles like "Buddy Holly," "Undone -- The Sweater Song," and "Say It Ain't So," but much of the album is at a similar level of excellence. Also, there's something utterly charming about his sensibility and the band itself, who p...lay with spirit, chiming in with tag-team harmonies. This, as much as grunge itself, is the music of outsiders. Specifically, it's the music of geeks, smart kids that loved comics, books, TV, metal, and girls, but were too afraid to talk to them directly. This spirit is what gave Weezer its character and it's the reason why the group remains beloved by a band of outsiders, years after this scaled to the top of the charts. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read more Less