Many words have been written about Rivers Cuomo, the creative workhorse behind Weezer. With the release of each new Weezer album, dozens of entertainment magazines analyze Cuomo and his band. But Weezer is not a trend. Trends don't last ten years and write timeless melodies. Weezer deserves all the press they have received because they are original and vital.
In May 2001, Weezer's Green Album was released after the band took a six-year hiatus. But the much-anticipated album was lifeless and bland, a collection of mediocre and overproduced songs. Maladroit, the fourth album from Weezer, puts the band back on its successful path.
Maladroit is raw and loud, free and energetic. It contains some of the most memorable songs Rivers Cuomo has ever written--songs which can stand up to his earlier classics.
"Slave," "Slob," and "December" are better than anything on the Green album. They combine the melodies of Weezer's debut album with the rawness of their second album, "Pinkerton." Maladroit is explosive and has melodies that draw the listener in instantly. Radio single "Dope Nose" and the bouncy "Keep Fishin'" will also demand multiple listens.
Unfortunately, Maladroit also has its share of filler material. Unlike the compact ten songs on Weezer's previous three albums, Maladroit carries 13 tracks. "Take Control" and "Burndt Jamb" are b-side quality tracks that were allowed on the album. Both are fun and have solid beats, but don't add to the album.
Another weak area on Maladroit is Rivers Cuomo's increasingly quirky lyrics. "Go and bust rhymes real slow/I'll appear, slap you on the face, and enjoy the show," Cuomo writes in "Dope Nose." The lyrics wouldn't be as frustrating if they came from someone else, but there are high expectations for Cuomo, who has written touching anthems like "Only in Dreams" and "Butterfly." While some fans like Weezer's sophomoric and pessimistic vein, others long for the band to make a truly artistic statement that both camps believe Cuomo is capable of creating.
Songs such as "Death and Destruction" tap into such depth. "I can't say that you love me/so I cry and I'm hurting/So I learn to turn and look the other way," cries Cuomo over beautiful and unconventional chord progressions. Songs like this summon visions of Brian Wilson at his Pet Sounds peak.
Maladroit is a positive sign for Weezer fans, and rock fans in general. Rivers Cuomo is one of few rock stars with whom substance prevails over style. Weezer's Maladroit shows that the band's focus is back on great music and less on the frivolities of business and production.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis June 2002Reviewed by Matt ModrichIt's been a year since "The Green Album" was released on Geffen Records and now with the help of their fans, who selected the songs on the band's web site, Weezer is releasing their fourth album "Maladroit." This is a difficult album to review because when it comes to Weezer the only thing music critics can agree on is that "The Blue Album" is a gem. Surprisingly, solid albums like "Pinkerton"…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Matthew LuterWeezer fans the world over eagerly awaited the release of Maladroit, wondering if it would be another under-30-minute serving of punk-pop like the Green Album, another hard-edged future cult classic like Pinkerton, or another fun near-novelty record like the classic self-titled debut. Survey says: it's none of the above. Maladroit can't be immediately compared to any of its predecessors, but one…Similar sounding releases
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