More Reasons Why Being Deaf Sucks/Rocks: The Audacity of Mope

Columns, Top Story

So Weezer’s new album came out this week and I’m still debating whether or not to pick it up. On one hand, I consider myself a Weezer fan; I love their debut and Pinkerton, and was bumping them both before the resurgence of Weezer in the new millennium.

On the other hand, in the post-Matt Sharp era, I can’t say that I’ve really connected with any of the band’s material. Sure, there have been some catchy singles and songs here and there, but I really don’t think that I could fully recommend a Weezer album other than one of the first two.

It’s sort of funny because a friend and I joked that Weezer were sort of our generation’s version of The Beatles, in that a reunion would be a dream come true.

It really makes me sad. I wonder if this is just a part of growing older. I’m sure that Rolling Stones fans probably have eras that they feel are definitive and eras that are lacking. Wait, I take that back; I’ve been a fan of The Roots for longer than I’ve been a fan of Weezer and I’d be hard pressed for come up with my favorite album. (At this moment it’s Game Theory, but it could change by the time you read this.)

It’s got to be the pressure of success. I think that a similar thing happened to Eminem. His first two albums were his crowning achievements. They were innovative, boundary-pushing snapshots of a damaged mind coping with his surroundings. And then fame went to his head and his music started to suck. (I should also point out that I’m still debating picking up Eminem’s latest album.)

There’s the optimist inside of me that feels like this could be the album on which Weezer recaptures the magic they had on their first two albums. That optimist is asking me to completely overlook how dissatisfied I was at “The Red Album” which really, really disappointed me—to the point of disgust.

But I still consider myself a Weezer fan, so I want to hear new music from them. But I’m also a consumer who’s been burned by the group’s offerings in the past and is reluctant to get my hopes up and rush out to purchase a new album only to have my idealization of Weezer demolished.

Maybe I’m just over-thinking things. No, I’m really not. When I went to see Weezer in concert, and everyone was singing along to songs from Pinkerton and their debut it was a really dope moment. It was something really unique that I’ve never really experienced at a concert. It’s like everyone was singing their hearts out.

I just can’t see that moment being recreated with any of the material that they’ve put out in the last decade. And that makes me sad.