Weezer Albums Poll

Pinkerton, just about, then Blue, Green, Maladroit, Make Believe and I haven't heard The Lion and The Witch. Listened to Green the other day and it sounded great in the sunshine, but then it was (believe it or not) the first Weezer album I heard, so I'll probably always look on it fondly.

I'm just bumping this so that people will vote. I guess nobody has any comments, which is fine.

I went back and listened to the blue album again (again again) and a few of the tracks haven't aged well. "My Name is Jonas," and "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here," are worn out. "No One Else" is creepily misogynistic. "In the Garage" just sucks. "Say It Ain't So" is forever tainted by being a song about alcoholism that drunk idiots (self included, but still) would sing along to at parties back in college. I love the structure and bombast of "Holiday," but as with all songs that mention Jack Kerouac by name, it gets docked a point.

The rest of the album is great, but there isn't much left.

Pinkerton is mediocre to me. I like "Tired of Sex" and the one about red-headed Japanese cellists or whatever, but the song at the end about butterflies is noxiously bad.

I had to dig into deep storage to find the green album, but the summer it came out, it dominated my car stereo. The lyrics were a little more cliche’-ridden and generic than before, but when compared to some of Weezer's more obvious tracks, that isn't necessarily bad. Musically, it still sounds fresh and has the best front-to-back impact of any Weezer album. Was this entirely Rik Ocasek's fault? Could be... Regardless, it's my pick.

i love every song on the blue album. they sound great still. pinkerton is the one though.

Pinkerton is perfect, actually.

I love the first two albums in equal measure, but I can throw on the blue album anytime without having to devote myself to it.

its a really good album to practice singing harmony with.

the build of at the end of only in dreams is killer.

*build up

pinkerton for me. blue a close second.

"No One Else" is creepily misogynistic

This was poor word choice, actually. "Creepily co-dependant" might have been the better term.

Interesting to see all the Pinkerton love though. Not that the album doesn't have it's admirable qualities, but I thought that it was a bit more contentious than that.

I also dug Maladroit out of the crates. It actually would have made a great e.p. had they just cut it off about 6 songs in. It rocks hard and soulfully (sorta) up until that point. Then it becomes sort of tepid and forgettable, like a Foo Fighters album.

I just recently bought a Pinkerton cd for really cheap--I only had the album on tape, which I had long since lost. I was pretty amazed at how well the album stands up 10(?) years on. It's just so unguarded and uncool and teenaged. It definitely still sounds like the record you and your 19-yr old buddies would talk about making if you somehow hit it big with your novelty song about Buddy Holly and were suddenly given carte blanche by a major label.

G) Destroy All Of The Above

u crazy

The blue album is superior. (Only in Dreams!) I'm surprised that so many people prefer Pinkerton. There's a part of me that feels like I've outgrown Pinkerton, but I still love blue the way I used to.

Me and a friend listen to "Pinkerton" nearly every time we have drinks before going out or whatever, and we've gotten to the point we just take it off before "Butterfly".

blue album is near-perfect

blue

Pinkerton, by a mile. Blue is better than Green, I guess, but not that much better. Second best album is some Greatest Hits that doesn't exist yet, but what the heck are they waiting for?

I loved Pinkerton when it came out, but Green has better hooks than the first 2, and they still hold up today. It's just catchier.

blue album is near-perfect

-- latebloomer, Friday, 15 June 2007 06:16 (5 hours ago) Bookmark Link

Here's a blue-related student film I really like:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-Mu1VMEJjS0

I'm really interested in hearing the opinions of those who find the blue album to be superior / near-perfect, so a few questions. Am I completely misunderstanding the intent of "No One Else" or does it express some pretty fucked-up sentiments? I can't listen to this song without being seriously weirded out. Or is that part of the point?

As for "In the Garage", while I like Kitty Pryde and Nightcrawler too, does his pronounciation of garage as "grage" grate on anyone's nerves? Also, can you forgive what they do to that poor harmonica?

These are the two big stumbling blocks I've come across when listening to this album. Am I just being overly nit-picky?

I think you're being overly nitpicky. Sure, I guess No One Else expresses some fucked-up sentiments, but that's part of the charm; it's definitely never bothered me. I see it more as insecurity on the part of the singer than misogyny. Besides, if you think No One Else expresses fucked up sentiments, surely a bunch of songs on Pinkerton are worse? And "g'rage" comes similarly comes across as charming, nerdish idiosyncracy to me.

The blue album strikes me, ironically, as a more mature work. Pinkerton wears its heart on its sleeve too much; although, like I said, it didn't seem that way to me in high school. But now I have more appreciation for the subtlety, restraint, and craftsmanship of blue. I also think blue has more variety. The constant feedbacking and over-distortion and wailing of Pinkerton gets old.

I mean, I love Pinkerton, too. There's some really amazing and musically sophisticated stuff in there - particularly in Across the Sea and Falling for You. Sadly, Rivers Cuomo would never even think about approaching those heights again. But song for song there's no question in my mind that blue comes out on top. And you should listen to me, because I've been thinking about this (and arguing about it on message boards) for years!

I'll just assume the people saying Green are joking.

Don't let me kill this thread!

no one else's lyrics ARE fucked up. cuomo seems overall to be a pretty odd guy.

i just think the whole album's an amazingly well-crafted pop album with no bad songs and several great ones.

Pinkerton kind of blows. Srsly, who thought it was a good idea to include "Butterfly"?

PINKERTON IS GREAT SEE: EL SCORCHO

Pinkerton, just about, then Blue, Green, Maladroit, Make Believe

OTM

pinkerton is so genius its scary. seriously an amazing album. and i don't even care about weezer that much. but that album is undeniable. (if you have ears. and i've heard all the other ones.)

dude I even like Butterfly

way creepier than no one else

PINKERTON IS GREAT SEE: EL SCORCHO

El Scorcho is like, third worst.

OH COME ON

I mean, it's cute and all.

And my AIM screen name may or may not contain the string "ElScorcho." But I don't think it's that good, really.

hey st3ve im sorry that youre deaf but honestly its weird for a person who cant hear to post on a message board about music

Ha! Well played, comrade.

But Beethoven was deaf, too!

Diminished seventh chord!!!

And you should listen to me, because I've been thinking about this (and arguing about it on message boards) for years!

You're not the only veteran weezer-obsessive here on ILX. I feel like we should locate BuddyHoliday, mofo, Mu, Tracey, Brad, and all of the old crowd from Weezer Musical Discussion Forum and take over this thread!

Well, we'd probably all be in consensus anyway. Blue is the best.

It definitely still sounds like the record you and your 19-yr old buddies would talk about making if you somehow hit it big with your novelty song about Buddy Holly

Eh, fifteen or sixteen-year old seems more right for myself (but I think nerds are premature in this regard). It sounded a hell of a lot better then.

also, I see Weezer becoming the Violent Femmes in a few years in terms of fanbase and how they are appreciated. Same brew if irony, angst, nerdiness, fratboy love, etc. It's a potion I don't want to dissect too thoroughly now but it seems all too familiar.

I see Weezer becoming the Violent Femmes in a few years in terms of fanbase and how they are appreciated.

Becoming?

I found Pinkerton impossibly hard to get into when it came out, and still years later "El Scorcho" is the only one that I come back to. But the Blue Album remains as great as when it came out, except for the obvious clunker "In the Garage". Although it's hard for me to separate listens from nostalgia. I'm still bummed that I passed up the Dambuilders/Weezer/Lush tour back in 1994 or whenever.

weezer are one of the bands that really got me into music as a youngster, and at one point (late middle school/early high school) i loved pinkerton the most, for kind of obvious reasons it resonated with me at that age. but it definitely wears off faster than the blue album. the blue album is just perfect...only in dreams... the sweater song? buddy holly?! however, it's not a shut out, pinkerton does have songs that are better than the worst songs on the blue album.

purpleton:

1. my name is jonas
2. buddy holly
3. undone
4. surf wax america
5. say it ain't so
6. tired of sex
7. why bother
8. across the sea
9. the good life
10. el scorcho
11. falling for you
12. only in dreams

add something from the green album for a "brownton"

That purpleton is wack. Holiday is one of the best weezer songs! And No One Else and In the Garage are better than Surf Wax.

add something from the green album for a "brownton"

More like, add something from a ween album for a "brownton." Weezer. Ween. Same shelf. Different worlds.

I'll agree with St3ve about Holiday, but Surf Wax America recognizes No One Else and In the Garage for the hodads they are, stomps them with fierce localism, then settles back for fish tacos and Pacifico.

Well done, Billstevejim, for starting this poll. It's had me listening to =w= nonstop the last few days for the first time in years. This has been fun.

The part at the end of Holiday where Rivers sings "...where they speak no word of truth / but we don't understand anywaaaa-aaa-aaa-aaay! is my favorite =w= vocal moment.

I had to dig into deep storage to find the green album, but the summer it came out, it dominated my car stereo. The lyrics were a little more cliche’-ridden and generic than before, but when compared to some of Weezer's more obvious tracks, that isn't necessarily bad. Musically, it still sounds fresh and has the best front-to-back impact of any Weezer album. Was this entirely Rik Ocasek's fault? Could be... Regardless, it's my pick.

Sorry everyone, but this guy is right on.

The blue album is worn out and overplayed to death by a bunch of retards -- and before that, it was a boring Slanted & Enchanted rip-off, anyway. Leave it to the frathouses these days, I won't touch it. Good riddance.

Pinkerton is overrated, the tunes just aren't there for me. I don't think *every* band ought to rely on catchy tunes, but a power-pop band? Come on now, this album is too dull and morose. It's certainly not the "sleeper" album it's claimed to be.

Green is a pretty decent pop album, their best work. Sure, the lyrics are not too bright, but the tunes are absolutely there for a power-pop album, it still sounds fresh, bright and well-produced today.

Maladroit was too dull, overwrought...

...and to be fair, I haven't heard the new one. I doubt it's the best, though, as it's been uniformly panned by most every review out there.

> SO GREEN IT IS! <

I also dug Maladroit out of the crates. It actually would have made a great e.p. had they just cut it off about 6 songs in. It rocks hard and soulfully (sorta) up until that point. Then it becomes sort of tepid and forgettable, like a Foo Fighters album.

Also, I agree with the Foo Fighters reference here. It's not all that surprising, then, that the two bands toured together a couple summers ago, is it now?

;-)

i was never that crazy about holiday

and green is terrible, you're just wrong. no argument necessary.

Yes.

I just put on Pinkerton for the first time since this thread started. Why Bother kicks so much ass.

I'm pretty sure El Scorcho has the first ECW reference in popular music. :D

Watchin' Grunge leg drop New Jack through a press table!

fuck I don't think I even knew who he was talking about until '98 when I got internets. They didn't show that on TV on the west coast back then.

Johnny Grunge RIP, heaven needed a morbidly obese dude who threw a decent worked punch.

why did they change mojo sam to cho cho san?

Cio Cio San is Madame Butterfly dude

oh yah. the original lyric was mojo sam though. i swear.

I'm listening to Green now and it really ain't so bad. I mean I think the people saying it's best are nutty but the people who say it totally sucks are nuttier. I especially like the first two and the last two songs.

well yeah there are a couple of fantastic songs on each post pink album.

Green has catchier singles than Blue, easy.

Maladroit has some nice guitar playing. I'm doing these in order except I'm saving Blue for last.

I'm not sure about this cut Maladroit off after track 6 stuff. I always liked Space Rock and Love Explosion.

Also I like how you can listen to every Weezer album in the amount of time it takes to hear like two Tool records.

the reason i don't think green is good is because when it came out i was like fourteen or fifteen and i really, really wanted to like it, and i still only listened to it a few times. if it couldn't impress me then, it sure as hell isn't gonna hold up now.

i take back saying its terrible, though. its only terrible compared to pinkerton and the blue album.

fair enough.

Slave is another one I like off Maladroit side b.
Make Believe on now. I like Perfect Situation but I don't remember how most of the others go until I hear them.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Green has some decent songwriting, it's just marred by bland, samey arrangements and obnoxious modern production. I've long maintained that it could've been a pretty good album if it were recorded more in the style of blue.

Peace is my pick for best MB album track, which I guess means I like that album best when he stops singing words and just goes "whoaoaoh-oh."

Isn't that also the entire chorus of the leadoff track?

Beverly Hills is the leadoff.

When I listened to Blue today the song I enjoyed the most was The World Has Turned and Left Me Here, which struck me funny as I was never that into it before. Maybe that's why, I never paid enough attention to it to get over familiar with it.

Oh shit, well I was thinking of Perfect Situation. I guess I'd completely blotted Beverly Hills out of my mind.

haha yeah well you're right anyway, those are the two songs I like on there.

Actually, Pinkerton=Mallrats and Blue=Clerks, and therefore Pinkerton wins.

Likewise, ignore everything Weezer and Smith did afterwards.

Pinkerton = Citizen Kane
Blue = Rambo

Pink wins.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

damn we have a lot of Weezer fans here

I guess I can't be too displeased about those results, but for some reason I thought blue would do better.

That's right Blue album! Green's all up ON your ass! We're gonna getchoo...

Make Believe 2

explain yrselves please.

other than this abberation, i'd say the breakdown of this poll is in perfect proportion to my feelings about these records. ilm is good...ilm works.

pinkerton?! ilm is broken!

nah, the result are aight.

srysly tho, make believe? they must have meant to vote for purpleton.

I had the strangest urge to put Maladroit on again this morning, and damn if I'm not starting to be convinced it's the third best Weezer album. Some filler but I think it can take Green.

I have to say that I was totally wrong and Pinkerton is clearly superior.

I saw a dude today in Barnes and Noble with a big fuckoff Weezer tattoo on his forearm (the winged W logo). I don't think I'd get a Weezer tattoo if I was even in Weezer.