Weezer (The Green Album): Difference between revisions

'''''Weezer''''', also known as "'''The Green Album'''", is Weezer’s third studio album, released May 15, [[2001]], nearly five years after ''[[Pinkerton]]''. It is Weezer's first "post-Pinkerton" album, as well as their comeback album. It is notable for its short, poppy, and punchy sound.

By [[August 18]], [[2000]], Weezer was having meetings with various producers, learning and rehearsing new songs in their new garage, and ironing out all plans regarding recording a new album. Weezer fans voted on a [[Weezer.com]] poll to select their favorite songs for a demo tape which was sent around to producers. On [[August 23]], the band ran into [[Ric Ocasek]] while performing in New York City. On [[October 5]], [[Rivers Cuomo|Rivers]] had his braces removed and word of a [[The Christmas CD|Christmas EP]] was announced. In mid-October, the band rehearsed the song "[[Move It On]]" for the [[Kevin and Bean: The Real Slim Santa|Kevin and Bean Christmas album]], but details regarding it were still mostly unknown. Even as Karl frequently updated the website with "Album #3" news, it was announced on [[November 6]] that Interscope had not actually approved any kind of new album. Weezer sent a demo tape of five songs to Interscope/[[Geffen Records|Geffen]] and wrote he hoped they saw the "awesomeness" of the songs. The five songs on the tape were "[[No More Confusin']]," "[[Sugar Booger]]," "[[Don't Let Go]]," "[[Ayleen]]" and "[[Cryin' and Lonely]]."

On [[November 9]], 2000, it was announced on [[Karl's Corner]] that [[Ric Ocasek]] (producer of ''[[The Blue Album]]'') would be producing Weezer's third album. [[Karl Koch|Karl]] wrote,  

Ric has been getting copies of all the demos that the band has been doing over the past six weeks, and has been making constructive criticism all along. Recently he got the newest five-song demo of all new material, that the band finished up last week. His response to this new stuff was overwhelmingly positive. Rivers, after a lengthy phone conversation with Ric, reports Ric saying that '(Weezer) really rose to the occasion over the past month, and came up with some great songs', adding that 'we really have a great connection and work well together', and that 'this is going to be an amazing record'.

On [[November 15]], Karl updated fans with exciting news. First, Karl announced that the third Weezer album had been green lighted by Interscope/Geffen and recording would begin in December. Second, Karl posted the cover to the new [[Christmas CD]]. Karl noted that Ric particularly enjoyed "[[The Christmas Song]]" and suggested the band have it remixed in a professional studio. Accordingly, the song was remixed the next day. On [[November 19]], the Christmas CD was finished.

In total, there were 75 contenders for ''The Green Album''. Karl posted many new song titles at the request of fans. Weezer then made a brand new 6 song demo tape, which consisted of mostly brand new songs:

Around this time, it was announced that Weezer would be playing a New Year's Eve show with [[Blink-182]]. In addition, the once-thought free [[Yahoo! Outloud Tour]] was now a corporately sponsored tour. What followed was an intense debate of "did Weezer sell out?" Each day, Karl received several angry emails from fans. Sometimes, emails were posted in Karl's Corner. Despite Weezer's early '90s fame (which most fans claimed to be around for), most of these emails called Weezer sellouts for trying to receive radio play, MTV play, and touring with major bands. Karl wrote, "Letters like that raise a good point, but I feel that they assume too much." In fact, it was later revealed that Blink-182 specifically asked Weezer to open their show, as they are fans of the band.

On [[December 1]]st, it was announced that about twenty-five songs had "gotten the axe", with another 20 on "thin ice". The next day, Karl wrote that in two days he had received 600 emails that praised the band, offered gratitude, and greatly outnumbered the "sellout" emails. Karl wrote,

The band posted an online poll which allowed Weezer fans to choose their own fan opener, possibly to illustrate that the ''Yahoo!'' tour was still very much Weezer's tour. Fans chose the band [[The Get Up Kids]].' With just two days before Ric's arrival, the band continued to rehearse new songs in the garage. Many songs would receive different lyrics, alternate bridges, harmony adjustments, etc. The list was narrowed down to twenty-five songs.

On [[December 10]], Ric Ocasek finally arrived in LA. In Karl's Corner, Karl wrote:

Shortly after Ric's arrival, many songs were cut. The remaining songs were:

On [[December 27]], 2000, work on the new album officially began as Weezer entered [[Cello Studios]]. On the first day, the band recorded drum and bass tracks for "[[Knock-down Drag-out]]" and "[[Don't Let Go]]". On [[December 28]] (day 2), the band recorded newer takes of "KDDO" and "Don't Let Go" as well as brand new attempts at "[[Cryin' and Lonely]]", "Break Up", "[[Gimmie Some Love]]" and "[[Lonely Girl|Homely]]". On [[December 29]], drum and bass tracks were recorded for "[[Island in the Sun]]", "[[Starlight]]", "[[Hash Pipe]]", "[[Oh Lisa]]", "[[O Girlfriend]]", "[[Brightening Day|My Best Friends]]", "[[Crab]]", and "[[If You Want It]]". On [[December 30]], new attempts were made of "Island In The Sun", "Hash Pipe", and "Crab", and all-new recordings were started of "[[Inside A Smile]]", "[[Teenage Victory Song]]", and "[[Sugar Booger]]". Later, the band, under the name [[Goat Punishment]], played a rock show at Hollywood's Knitting Factory, with [[Ozma]] opening the show.

On [[January 1|New Years Day]], songs were given fresh tries and some editing: "Island in the Sun", "O Girlfriend", "Hash Pipe", "No More Disappointments", "If You Want It", and "Crab". The next day, on [[January 2]], new versions were recorded of "No More Disappointments", "O Girlfriend", "Hash Pipe", "Knock-down Drag-Out", and "Crab". Additionally, edit work was done on "My Best Friends Are Gone" and "If You Want It", and a brand new recording was started: many attempts were made at "Always". In just six days, Weezer had basic tracks for 19 tracks. On [[January 3]], the day was divided into three parts: redos, editing the reels, and fixing bass lines. For redos, four songs were completely restarted: "[[Starlight]]", "Break-Up", "Teenage Victory Song", and "Homely". For editing the reels, the final best basic takes of each of the 19 songs were compiled onto 6 master 2" tape reels, from the 25 or so master reels they were spread out on. While the engineers did this, the band went to dinner. On [[January 5]], "Starlight" was completely redone. Karl wrote that the song was a struggle, but that the redo placed the song back in the "favorites" category. Pat was also approached by Jay Leno on the TV segment "Jaywalking".

On [[January 4]], Karl announced the results of the bands online poll to determine a touring opener. Previously, The Get Up Kids were selected for slot 1 of 3. It was announced that Ozma would be opening in the other slot. On day 10 of recording, [[January 6]], the label paid a surprise visit to Weezer in the studio. Despite the songs being in very rare form, the label was displeased with the songs. Karl wrote, "Very lengthy debates and discussions of what should/shouldn't/could be done with the tracks led to renewed attempts to nail down some songs. Later, after intensive internal debate within the band, a few songs got "the boot", their slots in the final running taken over by others that were "bubbling under". Additionally, another song, "Gonna Make My Move" was given a first time attempt." Also, when everyone left the studio, Rivers began work on [[I Do]], which was at the time referred to by Karl simply as "a new song that he wrote earlier today, featuring a Wurlitzer organ." On [[January 7]], the bass and drum tracks were finished. On [[January 8]], the band began doing the guitar work. After moving into a new and smaller studio (where Pet Sounds was recorded), the band did rhythm guitar tracks for 12 songs. Over the course of the next few days, the band continued work on guitars. Rivers also had the band take a mock photo replicating a famous Beach Boys picture (since they were in the same studio). [[Image:Karlscorner-20010109-b.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Weezer impersonates the famous Beach Boys photo]] Karl wrote:

On [[January 11]], the studio flooded. Fortunately, nothing was damaged in Weezer's room, which had minimal flooding. On the same day, Karl updated the list of songs:

As the days went by, backup vocals were recorded. "O Girlfriend" took a last minute key change. After much of the guitars were recorded, and the album was really coming together, Rivers contracted a very sore throat. After many days, Karl said:

Finally, Rivers throat got well enough that he could take numbing medication which allowed for brief hours of vocal takes followed by relaxing his voice. During some songs, [[Justin Fisher]], Ric Ocasek, and Karl Koch provided gang vocals. The album was finally ready for mixing on [[January 31]] in Miami, Florida. While in Florida, the band continued to do some tweaks to songs. At one point, a wild "girl's night only" party was taking place while they tried to record, which Karl said made things difficult to focus. Ric and [[Mikey Welsh|Mikey]] sang gang vocals on "[[Don't Let Go]]" as the party went on. While the band waited for mixes to be made, they often golfed. [[Image:Karlscorner-20010204-e.jpg|right|thumb]]

The art direction of the album was handled by [[Chris Bilheimer]] with photography from [[Marina Chavez]] and Karl Koch. The album cover was shot in between band practices. It featured Mikey Welsh, Rivers Cuomo, [[Brian Bell]] and [[Patrick Wilson]] standing left to right in front of a plain, lime-green backdrop in a manner similar to the band's debut album. This was done as a tribute to Ric Ocasek who had produced their first album, and to symbolize the band's back-to-basics approach they took while recording the album. This is evident in a quote in the linear notes of the album, "Torniamo all'antico e sarà un progresso." This is a quote from Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi that roughly translates to "Let us return to old times and that will be progress." Cuomo remarked on the artwork:

''Green'' received strong reviews from nearly everyone, and it successfully created a new wave of Weezer fans. However, many fans fault the album for its generic pop songwriting, supposed lack of emotion, and the simple solos that only serve to follow the melody. Pat Wilson, prior to the album's release, said, "It's kind of like the first album, but more compressed." Karl Koch has stated in an [[Albumsix]] chat that it was an album that was awesome up until it was compressed and flattened by production near the end. Pat has also said it sounds like, "The Beatles, if they had big rock guitars".