Although it has been only a year since Weezer’s last release, their third self-titled album, Weezer fans have still been anxiously awaiting the release of this fall’s Raditude. While some tracks undoubtedly are destined for the pop genre, the classic humor and insanity of Weezer abounds.
The first single off the album, “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To,” admittedly has the feel of a radio single. It’s catchy and has little metaphoric depth, shown in the words “I took you to Best Buy/ You took me home to meet your mom and dad/ Your mom cooked meat loaf/ Even though I don’t eat meat.” Yet this is the spark that is Weezer. They have the unique ability to avoid taking themselves seriously one bit.
Perhaps the biggest anticipation is the one guest artist on the album: Lil Wayne, who contributed to “Can’t Stop Partying.” It is not clear at all why the band would think Lil Wayne could manage to successfully sync with the sounds of Weezer unless it was the similarity of their names –Weezy and Weezer — that deluded them to try featuring the hip-hop star. Both are great and established artists on their own, but the song “Can’t Stop Partying” will be a sore subject for Weezer and Lil Wayne fans alike.
“Put Me Back Together” is an insight into what Weezer listeners are hoping for, with a heart-shaking conglomeration of guitar riffs to back up the honest, quirky lyrics which one expects from the band that developed the Weezer Snuggie or just simply the Wuggie, their own version of the sleeved-blanket fad. In this song they croon “My hairdo isn’t cool/ And my lips are lined with drool/ I’m a mess since you left/ You can use this fool/ I’m a useless tool” — words that define this song as one no one but Weezer could put out.
Sounding like the score to a Bollywood film, “Love is the Answer” incorporates beautiful Hindi vocals and is perhaps the most unusual and intelligent song on the album. Nothing like the other songs of course, it highlights Weezer’s ability to create each song as an individual.
Although Weezer pulls a Miley Cyrus by mentioning Jay-Z in a song, “Let it All Hang Out” is sure to follow “I Want You To” on the charts, with a decent intro and sick instrumental buildups to each chorus. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo’s use of the word “homie” when he sings “I’m going out with my homies and we gonna let it all hang out” could also be an allusion to the band, Homie, he formed on the side in 1997. Placed far down on the track listing, “Let it All Hang Out” shows listeners have much to wait for before putting the CD to rest.
There are a few bonus tracks offered, plus some only available on iTunes — one of which is guaranteed to make the Weezer consumer do a double take. A medley constructed of two covers: MGMT’s “Kids” and Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.” Can we say match made in heaven? Regardless of the polarization of the two songs, Weezer rocks both songs and makes them work together.
Maybe the basis of the album is best summed up by an anonymous fan comment on an online video of “Can’t Stop Partying,” which astutely noted that “Weezer has been around for 17 years; they’ve made it big and they’re just having fun with it now.”
3 1/2 stars out of 5.
