Make Believe Blender record review: Difference between revisions
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It ain’t easy being Weezy. Eleven years ago, [[Rivers Cuomo]] was the horn-rimmed face of alternative rock. His band charmed a nation with cranked guitars, candy-coated hooks and oblique mallspeak, riffing on suburban malcontents in hits like “[[Undone (The Sweater Song)]]” and “[[Buddy Holly]].” Then Cuomo began a life course 180 degrees off any known rock-star trajectory. | It ain’t easy being Weezy. Eleven years ago, [[Rivers Cuomo]] was the horn-rimmed face of alternative rock. His band charmed a nation with cranked guitars, candy-coated hooks and oblique mallspeak, riffing on suburban malcontents in hits like “[[Undone (The Sweater Song)]]” and “[[Buddy Holly]].” Then Cuomo began a life course 180 degrees off any known rock-star trajectory. | ||
He attended [[Harvard]] (thus the references to [[El Scorcho|girl cellists]] on sophomore CD ''[[Pinkerton]]''), then started a journey into celibacy, [[Vipassana|Buddhist meditation]] and | He attended [[Harvard]] (thus the references to [[El Scorcho|girl cellists]] on sophomore CD ''[[Pinkerton]]''), then started a journey into celibacy, [[Vipassana|Buddhist meditation]] and facial hair. Subsequent albums cemented Weezer’s reputation as the Monsters of [[Emo]], even as Cuomo became increasingly estranged. Their latest is the work of a deep, spiritual man whose quest for peace makes for less than rockin’ songs. | ||
While the single “[[Beverly Hills]]” is solid if rote Weezer—an outsider anthem primed for [[Spike Jonze]] or the Gap’s in-store playlist—most songs seem to have been stripped down to some Platonic ideal of honest communication, as if Cuomo’s vow of abstinence included wit, irony and humor. Utter certain phrases to a person and they may hug you; sing them, and the effect isn’t so charming. “[[My Best Friend|You’re my best friend and I love you]].” “[[Freak Me Out|I’m going to try to improve my manners]].” To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, only the stoniest heart can hear these lyrics without laughing. | While the single “[[Beverly Hills]]” is solid if rote Weezer—an outsider anthem primed for [[Spike Jonze]] or the Gap’s in-store playlist—most songs seem to have been stripped down to some Platonic ideal of honest communication, as if Cuomo’s vow of abstinence included wit, irony and humor. Utter certain phrases to a person and they may hug you; sing them, and the effect isn’t so charming. “[[My Best Friend|You’re my best friend and I love you]].” “[[Freak Me Out|I’m going to try to improve my manners]].” To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, only the stoniest heart can hear these lyrics without laughing. | ||