It took only one album for Weezer to become a huge hit. Their self-titled classic known as "The Blue Album" was filled with fun, catchy rock. They followed it up with Pinkerton, which was just as good as its predecessor but more out-there than catchy, giving it somewhat of a cult classic status.
After a five year hiatus, Weezer returned in 2001 and seemingly attempted to redo things. They released another self-titled album, "The Green Album," a solid piece of uber-catchy pop rock. The follow-up, Maladroit, turned out to be the Pinkerton of "The Green Album," a follow-up with less pop rock and more heaviness and sloppiness. Unfortunately, Maladroit was not the cult classic that Pinkerton was, but it was certainly a strong album regardless.
Interestingly, Maladroit does hold on to some of the Beatles-esque pop rock that Weezer is best known for. Singles Dope Nose and Keep Fishin' (the one with the Muppet-tastic video) keeps up the fun, bouncy, sing-along style that most Weezer hits are made of. Harking back to 2001's Island In the Sun, Burndt Jamb is another soft, feel-good tune giving off that laid-back vacation vibe, and Slave would have also easily fit on "The Green Album." Love Explosion turns up the catchiness several notches thanks mainly to a stirring chorus of encouragement: "So jump out, jump out/ Get your groove on."
But not every song is so radio-ready. Slob is a sloppy, angry attack on lazy people: "I don't like how you're living your life/ Get yourself a wife/ Get yourself a job/ You're living a dream/ Don't you be a slob." Fall Together plods along with a sludgy, sneering riff - not very poppy but a very cool song indeed. American Gigalo and Take Control have very cool riffs and lead into Weezer showing a slightly heavier side while still keeping the overall sound familiar. Possibilities is short and fast, sounding more like punk rock than anything Weezer's done to date.
And as usual, just because you're listening to peppy music, don't expect to get happy lyrics. Rivers Cuomo has not lost his flair for penning heartbreak songs and putting upbeat tunes behind them. The somber Death and Destruction, a bit reminiscent of the slower Pinkerton tracks, is pretty much the only track that has sorrowful music to match its lyrics. The other slow track, album closer December, is happier as it softly sings the praises of love: "Only trust can inspire/ Soggy lungs to breathe fire."
Sure, there's lots of fun, emotion, and talent here that we've come to expect from the Weez, but something is missing. I figured that out when the CD stopped and I turned on the radio, only to hear Say It Ain't So. While Maladroit is a great album, by Weezer standards, it's lacking that extra oomph, that quality they have that helps them produce classics. Still, no Weezer collection is complete without this one. And even if you're not just out to complete a collection, this is an enjoyable rock album, sure to deliver fun to any listener.
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