Weezer (The Red Album): Difference between revisions
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In June of 2006, Rivers married [[Kyoko Ito]] and the two honeymooned in Japan. While in Japan, Rivers did an interview with MTV. The article was finally published and its selling point was that Weezer had broken up. Despite Rivers never saying "Weezer have broken up", he did say, "Really, for the moment, we are done. And I'm not certain we'll ever make a record again, unless it becomes really obvious to me that we need to do one." Rivers would later admit that he was peeved to have to do an interview on his honeymoon. Additionally, the interviewer was a rookie, and perhaps a bit gullible. Still, the damage was done, and well into 2008 many people were under the impression that Weezer had broken up. The band was quick to dismiss the breakup rumors on the band's official site, where webmaster [[Karl Koch]] posted a picture of Rivers, Brian and Scott sitting around the table. | In June of 2006, Rivers married [[Kyoko Ito]] and the two honeymooned in Japan. While in Japan, Rivers did an interview with MTV. The article was finally published and its selling point was that Weezer had broken up. Despite Rivers never saying "Weezer have broken up", he did say, "Really, for the moment, we are done. And I'm not certain we'll ever make a record again, unless it becomes really obvious to me that we need to do one." Rivers would later admit that he was peeved to have to do an interview on his honeymoon. Additionally, the interviewer was a rookie, and perhaps a bit gullible. Still, the damage was done, and well into 2008 many people were under the impression that Weezer had broken up. The band was quick to dismiss the breakup rumors on the band's official site, where webmaster [[Karl Koch]] posted a picture of Rivers, Brian and Scott sitting around the table. | ||
In April of 2007, Weezer fans were treated to their first bit of new material in nearly two years when the song "[[Pig]]" leaked as an acoustic home demo on music blogs. It is still entirely unknown how the song managed to get out, but Karl did post a link to the song briefly on Karl's Corner. It is unknown why the link was taken down hours later. The metadata for the track revealed it was a twelve track album entitled ''[[Deliverance at Hand!]]''. Nothing related to ''Deliverance at Hand!'' would be | ==Signs of activity== | ||
In April of 2007, Weezer fans were treated to their first bit of new material in nearly two years when the song "[[Pig]]" leaked as an acoustic home demo on music blogs. It is still entirely unknown how the song managed to get out, but Karl did post a link to the song briefly on Karl's Corner. It is unknown why the link was taken down hours later. The metadata for the track revealed it was a twelve track album entitled ''[[Deliverance at Hand!]]''. Nothing related to ''Deliverance at Hand!'' would be known for another year. | |||
Around this time, a mysterious website entitled [[Albumsix]] popped up with an image saying "Album 6" that redirected to the official website. At the time, Karl was rather unaware of Weezer happenings and truthfully reported that he had "no idea what this albumsix stuff is about". Also around the time, Rivers wrote a letter on the official website stating that recording for the new Weezer album would begin shortly. Eventually, Albumsix advertised a fake album called ''[[Tout Ensemble]]'', which many major news outlets picked up on. Karl was forced to post a statement at the official site: | Around this time, a mysterious website entitled [[Albumsix]] popped up with an image saying "Album 6" that redirected to the official website. At the time, Karl was rather unaware of Weezer happenings and truthfully reported that he had "no idea what this albumsix stuff is about". Also around the time, Rivers wrote a letter on the official website stating that recording for the new Weezer album would begin shortly. Eventually, Albumsix advertised a fake album called ''[[Tout Ensemble]]'', which many major news outlets picked up on. Karl was forced to post a statement at the official site: | ||
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''"Please note that Weezer and [[Geffen Records]] have no affiliation with www.albumsix.com. The new Weezer record is not called ''Tout Ensemble'' and there is no official release date yet for the album. Remember, when it's on Weezer.com, it's for sure. (Though I will say, 'well played', to the authors of that site.)"'' | ''"Please note that Weezer and [[Geffen Records]] have no affiliation with www.albumsix.com. The new Weezer record is not called ''Tout Ensemble'' and there is no official release date yet for the album. Remember, when it's on Weezer.com, it's for sure. (Though I will say, 'well played', to the authors of that site.)"'' | ||
==Writing | ==Writing== | ||
''The Red Album'' marks many firsts in Weezer's career | ''The Red Album'' marks many firsts in Weezer's career, mainly involving writing. In the first ''[[Alone]]'' booklet, Cuomo wrote in the commentary for "[[This Is the Way]]" that he had written a symphonic art minute song called "[[Dreamin'|Daydreamer]]". This, along with comments of "darker" subject matter, and the previously leaked "Pig", hinted to a new Weezer sound. Most songs were penned by Rivers, but additional songs were written by Brian, Pat and Scott. Bell's song "[[Thought I Knew]]" was a reworked [[The Relationship|Relationship]] demo of his. Pat's "[[Automatic]]" was a song once considered to be a [[The Special Goodness]] tune before Rivers showed such enthusiasm for it that it was converted into a Weezer song. Scott's "[[Cold Dark World]]" was a bass riff he often played to warm up. The band was so enthusiastic about it that they helped him turn it into a full song. Rivers then wrote the lyrics. Additionally, Rivers himself was writing songs from a new standpoint. In an interview shortly before ''Red's'' release, Rivers stated that being married helped him feel more comfortable about his own writing. He began writing from different perspectives. Among these are included a pig (on "Pig"), a cocky guy (on "[[King]]", "[[The Greatest Man That Ever Lived]]") and a teenager; for the first time Rivers was incorporating several of his actual youth experiences into songs that were narrative without being girl related ("[[Troublemaker]]", "[[Everybody Get Dangerous]]"). Besides experimental lyrical content, ''Red's'' song structures are new firsts for Weezer. "[[Dreamin']]" is the first Weezer song to be released since "[[Susanne]]" to begin with a chorus. "[[The Angel and the One]]", "Pig" and "[[The Spider]]" have no traditional verses, choruses or bridges. Rather, they are a stream of consciousness similar to writing styles by Jack Kerouac (whom Rivers is influenced by). "[[Miss Sweeney]" contains a very different verse style from any Weezer song, which Rivers hinted at in interviews (he referred to it as "southern rap"). Also, "[[Miss Sweeney]]" was co-written with Sarah C. Kim (The band's personal assistant). It is the only Weezer album to have no guitar solos from Rivers, although Pat lends one to "Automatic". | ||
==Recording== | ==Recording== | ||
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==Release== | ==Release== | ||
''Weezer (The Red Album)'' was released on June 3 in two available versions: standard and deluxe. The standard edition of ''Red'' contained ten tracks, a throwback to the roots of Weezer. | ''Weezer (The Red Album)'' was released on June 3 in two available versions: standard and deluxe. The standard edition of ''Red'' contained ten tracks, and the inside jacket is simply a photograph of the band and their equipment. In this sense, it incorporates the environment of writing provided in the ''[[Blue Album]]'' jacket and the band in the recording studio as seen in the ''[[Pinkerton]]'' jacket; a sort of a throwback to the roots of Weezer. | ||
The deluxe edition contained four bonus tracks that were completely recorded, but omitted from the final tracklist for reasons relating to preference of the band, Geffen, or both. The standard edition was a jewelcase with just a fold-out booklet (simlilar to ''[[The Blue Album]]''); the deluxe edition was a digipak which also contained a full booklet with lyrics and band commentary. | |||
As usual, international markets received additional exclusive bonus tracks, and all were cover songs, originally recorded by artists as diverse as The Band, Talk Talk, and Japanese artist BoA. Late in the summer, after ''The Red Album'' had been released for some time, Japan issued a new version of the deluxe edition CD. In addition to the seventeen tracks that the Japanese version featured, it also contained bonus DVD, which contained the "Pork and Beans" video, footage fromt he December 2005 shows in Japan that were recorded for a DVD that never happened, and some promotional interviews | |||
==Formats== | ==Formats== | ||
''The Red Album'' was released simultaneously on vinyl in the standard version, and | ''The Red Album'' was released simultaneously on vinyl in the standard version, pressed in red wax, and available in both a standard and gatefold sleeve. A two-disc deluxe edition ''was'' pressed on 180 gram vinyl, and on [[September 3]] 2008, a video was posted on the official website showing the production line of the deluxe edition vinyl, set to the song "[[Dreamin']]". However, as of April 2009 it has yet to see release, much to the chagrin of vinyl collectors. | ||
The digital release of ''Red'' through iTunes featured a standard exclusive bonus track in "[[It's Easy]]", and pre-order exclusive in "[[I Can Love]]", both of which are acoustic office demos dating back to 2003. | The digital release of ''Red'' through iTunes featured a standard exclusive bonus track in "[[It's Easy]]", and pre-order exclusive in "[[I Can Love]]", both of which are acoustic office demos dating back to 2003. | ||
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===Promotion=== | ===Promotion=== | ||
To promote ''Red'', the band began releasing [[Webisodes]] on their official YouTube page, as well as on the band's media page. Fans who pre-ordered the album through certain independant online outlets received a free exclusive promo "Pork and Beans" 7" containing the B-side "[[Are Friends Electric?]] (Gary Numan cover), a free ''Red Album'' poster, or a red stop sign sticker with the [[Flying =W=]]. | To promote ''Red'', the band began releasing [[Webisodes]] on their official YouTube page, as well as on the band's media page. Fans who pre-ordered the album through certain independant online outlets received a free exclusive promo "Pork and Beans" 7" containing the B-side "[[Are Friends Electric?]] (Gary Numan cover), a free ''Red Album'' poster, or a red stop sign sticker with the [[Flying =W=]]. | ||
==Reviews== | |||
''Red'' received fairly mixed reviews by critics. It is also one of the more polarizing records in Weezer's career for both fans. Some fans consider ''Red'' a huge improvement from the three immediately preceding records, others consider it more enjoyable than ''[[Pinkerton]]'', and some consider it Weezer's worst effort to date. | |||
===Troublemaker Tour=== | ===Troublemaker Tour=== | ||
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{{Main|Main article: [[Troublemaker Tour]]}} | {{Main|Main article: [[Troublemaker Tour]]}} | ||
In promotion of the album, Weezer toured with [[Tokyo Police Club]] and [[Angels and Airwaves]] in North American and played shows in Japan as well. [[The Relationship]] opened for three shows. [[Hootenanny|Hootenannies]] were incorporated into the concerts for performances of "[[Beverly Hills]]" and "[[Island in the Sun]]". | In promotion of the album, Weezer toured with [[Tokyo Police Club]] and [[Angels and Airwaves]] in North American and played shows in Japan as well. [[The Relationship]] opened for three shows. [[Hootenanny|Hootenannies]] were incorporated into the concerts for performances of "[[Beverly Hills]]" and "[[Island in the Sun]]". | ||
==Track listing== | ==Track listing== | ||
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# "[[Everybody Get Dangerous]]" | # "[[Everybody Get Dangerous]]" | ||
# "[[Dreamin']]" | # "[[Dreamin']]" | ||
# "[[Thought I Knew]]" (Bell) - | # "[[Thought I Knew]]" (Bell) - lead vocals by Brian | ||
# "[[Cold Dark World]]" (Shriner/Cuomo) - | # "[[Cold Dark World]]" (Shriner/Cuomo) - lead vocals by Scott | ||
# "[[Automatic]]" (Wilson) - | # "[[Automatic]]" (Wilson) - lead vocals by Pat | ||
# "[[The Angel and the One]]" | # "[[The Angel and the One]]" | ||
===Bonus tracks=== | ===Bonus tracks=== | ||
====Deluxe Edition | ====Deluxe Edition bonus tracks==== | ||
# "[[Miss Sweeney]]" | # "[[Miss Sweeney]]" | ||
# "[[Pig]]" | # "[[Pig]]" | ||
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====iTunes pre-order bonus tracks==== | ====iTunes pre-order bonus tracks==== | ||
* "[[It's Easy]]" (Bell) - 3:10 - | * "[[It's Easy]]" (Bell) - 3:10 - lead vocals by Brian Bell | ||
* "[[I Can Love]]" ( | * "[[I Can Love]]" (pre-order only) - 3:49 | ||
====UK (Standard & Deluxe Edition)/Japan (Standard & Deluxe Edition)/Australia/Brazil/Corea/Germany/México | ====UK (Standard & Deluxe Edition)/Japan (Standard & Deluxe Edition)/Australia/Brazil/Corea/Germany/México bonus track==== | ||
* "[[The Weight]]" (The Band | * "[[The Weight]]" (The Band cover) - lead vocals by Scott Shriner and Rivers Cuomo | ||
====UK (Standard & Deluxe Edition)/Japan (Standard & Deluxe Edition) | ====UK (Standard & Deluxe Edition)/Japan (Standard & Deluxe Edition) bonus track==== | ||
* "[[Life's What You Make It]]" (Talk Talk | * "[[Life's What You Make It]]" (Talk Talk cover) - lead vocals by Patrick Wilson | ||
====Japanese (Standard & Deluxe Edition)==== | ====Japanese (Standard & Deluxe Edition) bonus track==== | ||
* "[[Meri Kuri]]" (BoA | * "[[Meri Kuri]]" (BoA cover) - lead vocals by Rivers Cuomo in Japanese. | ||
====Japan Deluxe Edition DVD Content==== | ====Japan Deluxe Edition DVD Content==== | ||