Weezer - 'Everything Will Be Alright In The End'
It's been out a little while now, and since I picked it up two weeks ago, I've had Everything Will Be Alright In The End on repeat. Now although I'm a Weezer fan, I'll try to be as impartial with this as I can, but first things first: I LOVE this album.
The last few outings from Weezer have seen them deviate from the DIY, rough around the edges sound of the Blue album and Pinkerton, and through this they have alienated their fans somewhat. There have been some catchy tunes thrown in there, but I don't need an excuse to never listen to 'I can't stop partying' again. With this is mind, I was cautious with EWBAITE, but optimistic after the promise that Hurley showed. Right from the off, 'Ain't Got Nobody' feels fresh, but at the same time familiar. The guitars are chunky, the drums are fat and Rivers sounds like he's back in the garage. It's simple, punchy rock music, in the same vain as their earlier work, but there is a more grown up feel to the vocals.
The opening trio of 'Ain't Got Nobody', 'Back To The Shack' and 'Eulogy For A Rock Band' are self referential, as if Rivers is reaching out to the fans for acceptance. With an opening like that, you'd be hard pushed not to give them what they want. From here the album stays on trend, that being radio friendly rock with a lyrical edge. 'Lonely Girl' sounds almost like a sequel to 'Across The Sea', whereas songs like 'Cleopatra' and 'Foolish Father' are reminiscent of the darker sound Weezer showed us on Maladroit. Also worth noting is the well balanced duet of 'Go Away', the female vocalist's voice standing up well to Rivers' falsetto and complementing it rather than competing with it. Safe to say, it's better than hearing Lil' Wayne on a Weezer song.
The closing statement, a three part epic, is pitched perfectly, and rounds off a solid album. If there is a criticism to make about ending the album this way, it's that the three songs, while they work together, may not stand up to scrutiny when examined individually. 'II. Anonymous' is the strongest of the three, however these three songs, and album as a whole, are best listened to in one sitting.
Pat Wilson sounds as good as he ever did on EWBAITE, without a hint of a drum machine or sampled sound cluttering up the tracks. He keeps up with the interesting time signature on 'Cleopatra' and his beat keeps the song flowing, while on 'I've Had It Up To Here' Pat brings some serious groove to the proceedings.
Everyone and their cousin seems to have a view on Weezer these days, and it's not easy to forgive them after the super polished, squeaky clean sound of Raditude. However, with EWBAITE, Weezer have come back strong, with an emphasis on self referential lyrics and punchy rock, which, it can be argued, is what they do best. While this album doesn't quite hit the heights of The Blue Album or Pinkerton, it shouldn't need to. Those albums are almost 20 years old, and things have moved on. Yes, there have been some rough times lately for Weezer fans, but this album is a revelation, and sees them back on top form.
This is a rejuvenated Weezer, looking to the future, but with one eye firmly on their roots.
