Weezer
Lead single Pork and Beans follows on 23 June
Following months of internet rumour – some true, most not; some started by the band, most not – Weezer have revealed details of their new long-player, which for the third time in the band’s six-album history, will be titled simply ‘Weezer’.
Whether by accident or design, Weezer have released an eponymous record every seven years. In 1994 their debut, since christened ‘The Blue Album’, broke through on the back of worldwide hit ‘Buddy Holly’. ‘The Green Album’ followed in 2001, propelled by alterna-smash ‘Hash Pipe’, and now ‘Weezer’ mk.III, already being referred to as ‘The Red Album’, looks set to continue that trend.
‘The Red Album’ not only marks Weezer’s clean sweep of the primary colour chart, but also a high point in the band’s 14-year evolution, and the moment where the band realises its power pop dream. The Jacknife Lee-produced lead single, ‘Pork and Beans’, is released on 23 June. Riding a wave of frontman Rivers Cuomo’s passive-aggressive power-chord power-play, the song set the internet ablaze when it leaked in early April and is already being regarded as a masterpiece by fans and the internet mafia. It is joined on the album by nine other soon-to-be classics, including the epic slacker-cum-prog rock of ‘The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)’, arguably the most ambitious Weezer song ever committed to tape. There are also two UK-only bonus tracks: covers of Talk Talk’s ‘Life Is What You Make It’ and ‘The Weight’ by The Band.
‘The Red Album’ is the first Weezer long-player to feature all four members contributing songwriting credits and singing lead vocals. ‘Automatic’ is written and sung by drummer Pat Wilson, whilst guitarist Brian Bell delivers ‘Thought I Knew’. Meanwhile, bassist Scott Shriner co-wrote ‘Cold Dark World’ with Rivers.
Comprised of sessions produced by Rick Rubin, Jacknife Lee and the band themselves, the album is undeniably Weezer, playing like a particularly satisfying pick n’ mix of the band’s finest moments from the aforementioned primary colour albums, and the intervening long-players Pinkerton (1996), Maladriot (2002) and Make Believe (2005).
The album ‘Weezer’ is out 9 June (digital) and 16 June (physical) The single, ‘Pork and Beans’, follows on 23 June via Geffen/Interscope via Polydor