Artist: Weezer
Album: Everything Will Be Alright in the End
Year: 2014
Genre: Power pop

A while ago, I heard that Weezer were releasing a new album. I didn't get all that excited, as I'd only heard their two first albums, and everyone talks about the seven following ones being utter crap. I liked the album cover, though. Look at that album cover. It's cool. Anyway, I heard their new single, "Back to the Shack", and I was not impressed. Mediocre radio rock at its mediocre...st? It lacked catchiness, so it was just a dumb tune about how they should stop writing dumb tunes. Then I heard their other single, "Cleopatra", and thought "hey, that one wasn't too bad", and I started waiting for the album just like everyone else.

And then, tuesday last week, it was released. I gave it a listen right now, and hey, I was positively surprised. The first track starts out with a pretty dull, chuggy guitar riff, but quickly becomes a catchy power pop song that I totally bobbed my head to. It's followed by... eh, "Back to the Shack", which is easily the worst song on the album. But the next song, "Eulogy For a Rock Band" is awesome, probably my favourite of the album, and totally makes up for it. The songs get a little samey after a while, as they're all just similarly constructed hook rock tunes (it's a fun style, though), but at the end is a trilogy of well-composed, up-beat tracks that all focus on the instrumentation rather than the vocals. Actually, only one of them has vocals: "II. Anonymous", and they're not even the main focus, but only there to help build the (almost overtly) happy atmosphere.

So... positive surprise, much recommended, not Pinkerton or anything, but still a good album.

3.5/5