Van Weezer is the latest release from Weezer who has been pumping out the alternative rock since 1994. This is being called their 15th studio album which apparently doesn't include Death to False Metal which was a compilation, but still was a studio album of newly released tracks. Thanks to the pandemic, Van Weezer comes out the same year as OK Human which for some reason came out sooner even though this album was mastered first. Weezer fans from any era in their catalogue should find some new songs to latch on to in this one.
End of the Game: Reminiscent of Maladroit Weezer 15-20 years ago, this was the first single released way back in September 2019. It is one of the better tracks on the album that most Weezer fans will appreciate.
All of the Good Ones: An ode to an earlier, simpler time, this could easily have fit on the Red Album. There's not much substance here and neither the girl or the good times are specifically named.
Hero: Reminiscent again of Red Album Weezer with a marching beat and short verse lines that tell a story. The video is a creative one that was released to pay homage to frontline workers in the pandemic. The chorus is an earworm more about being a loner and an outcast, which is classic Rivers.
I Need Some of That: Claps in the verses and a sing-along chorus with simple pop-rock melody reminiscent of Green album. This is the newest single, and a fun little track.
Beginning of the End: Introspective lyrics over a pop-rock track with a driving rhythm. A surprising guitar solo perks the ear two thirds of the way through the song. This could easily have fit on Make Believe.
Blue Dream: Unapologetically samples the guitar riffs to Ozzy's Crazy Train but takes a left turn with quirky lyrics about octopus and rejection. It's like Teal album mixed with White album. This is one of the most unique songs on the album and the effects to evoke sounds of being under water are cool. I just can't love this song as much as I would like to.
1 More Hit: An unusual song about hardcore drugs. It's weird and awkward like some of the songs on Hurley and Raditude. The lyrics "pump it up, please daddy" are kind of creepy. The guitar parts are dark and get darker in the solo. Then there is a key change which brings the song back up again, reinforced by falsetto from Rivers. Odd song again that I would like to love more.
Sheila Can Do It: This song was reworked from the original version written in 1996. It definitely has that old school Weezer sound closest to the Blue album, and has one of the most catchy choruses.
She Needs Me: A slower tempo to start as Rivers sings about getting a jar of peanut butter from a girl picks up tempo and turns to a celebration of a relationship. It's not as emo as some songs Pinkerton, but I could see it fit in there.
Precious Metal Girl: Ironic title for an acoustic ballad. Rivers seems to like to end albums with these lighter songs. This song mentions leather jackets and Faster Pussycat, but it is a simple pop song.
All in all, 10 songs in 31 minutes which harkens back to the early album formula. In just a few days I've already listened to it several times all the way through. I certainly appreciate the return to upbeat alternative rock songs which I vastly prefer to the straight pop of Pacific Daydream, Teal Album, Black Album, and OK Human. For me, this is the best thing they've done since 2016's White album and renews my faith that Weezer can still make fun music. I give it 6.5/10
