Weezer

Has Weezer changed for the better?

I'd rather take comments from people who have been fans for longer than the Make Believe Album, this questions is really directed towards people that have been long time Weezer fans. I just got back from the Show in St. Paul and me and my wife came away so dissappointed. We were so hyped, and we have both been Weezer fans since 1994 and our last concert was in 2005 and it really rocked. It was so different this time, the crowd was so young and you know most of them were in diapers when I was rockin out to the blue album...plus they were just so rude to the opening acts..but besides that...Weezer's new music just doesn't do it for me and it doesn't sound like Weezer to be honest. I mean, I guess they are trying to market to a really young audience and by doing this alienating the fan base that supported them from the beginning and help make them who they are today. I just wish they knew this, and mabye they do and don't care, I mean, I guess I don't expect them to care...Even when the played the "few" and I mean "few" hits from previous albums, half of them were sung by other members! I like all the other guys, but when your a Weezer fan, who do you go to see and hear......RIVERS. Rivers makes Weezer sound like Weezer....otherwise it sounds like a cover band. They also didn't play with the same intensity...it was so surreal...I was dumbfounded....It's not the passion I saw in 1995 or in 1997 or in 2000 or in 2005...Maybe it's just me...I still love the guys, but I guess I don't get it anymore.

Quote Report 

Re: Definitely not the same

I've been a fan since 1995... I was a diehard fan back in the day. Weezer really doesn't do it for me any more. There is definitely a sense of lost passion. The lyrics are cheesey and it really does seem like they're written with the sole intention of appealing to 13 year olds.

Maybe Rivers has settled down now... gone zen and found his way. I'm glad that he's a better person now, but the music definitely suffers.

I would have to disagree about the other members singing. I've always felt that the other members are very talented and it's nice to see that they can be recognized as such. Rivers always had too big of an ego to let the other members have much say. So it was good to see.

Quote Report 

Re: ...

Strange, I've been hearing nothing but great things about the tour so far. In fact, the general consensus seems to be that they are playing with more energy than in previous years. I agree that Rivers needs to be singing all of the songs though. This whole business of Scott doing Perfect Situation and Brian doing Susanne or El Scorcho or whatever has gone way too far.

Beyond the live shows, obviously the music isn't as good. Still, I think Make Believe and TRA have some redeemable qualities to them. Maladroit was a piece of shit though.

Quote Report 

Re: yarrrrr

It will probably remain a fact that nothing weezer has done since 1997 will be as good as anything from before that year.

However, they have definitely had some great tracks since then; I think "I do," "Miss Sweeney," "The christmas song," "Pig," "Don't let go," "Death and Destruction," "Keep Fishin," and a number of others are fine and worthy additions to the canon. I even think those first three I mentioned stand up well to their earlier work.

But truly, they've put out some crap too; Beverly Hills, Drugs, EGD are definitely pretty bad.

As for the tour, it sounds like the guys are playing with tons of energy and having a great time rocking out. I do like the idea of the other guys getting to sing their own songs, but wouldn't want to hear them sing on tracks like "Susanne," or "my name is jonas," even though the other guys are great.

I will say though that recent tracks like Troublemaker, Pork n beans, and miss sweeney sound more like "old weezer" than anything else post pinkerton. And with tracks like Sweeney around, I'm looking forward to what the guys will do in the future.

Quote Report 

Re: Hmm,

Although I agree that their music isn't quite what it used to be, I do find it odd when people call their lyrics cheesy and say that their target audience are 13 year-olds. I was 12 or 13 when I got into weezer (Blue Album) so has anything really changed?

Also I have always defined Weezer by their grungy sound coupled with slightly cheesy lyrics (cheesy doesn't automatically mean shallow and senceless in my opinion.)

Just listen to Rivers in the Lets Write a Sawng step 15 (chill) in his reply to someone commenting on the "let the mowhawks grow..." line.

Quote Report 

Re: =w=

I feel the music is still pretty cool, but this tour is the worst...all I have to say is Charlie Watts doesn't sing "Start Me Up" for a reason...and its not that Charlie is a bad guy or we dont like him. I was so disappointed that its made me think twice about going to see Oasis in Dec...will the bass player be singing "Live Forever?"

Quote Report 

Re: Re: Has Weezer changed for the better?

 twclark wrote:

I'd rather take comments from people who have been fans for longer than the Make Believe Album, this questions is really directed towards people that have been long time Weezer fans. I just got back from the Show in St. Paul and me and my wife came away so dissappointed. We were so hyped, and we have both been Weezer fans since 1994 and our last concert was in 2005 and it really rocked. It was so different this time, the crowd was so young and you know most of them were in diapers when I was rockin out to the blue album...plus they were just so rude to the opening acts..but besides that...Weezer's new music just doesn't do it for me and it doesn't sound like Weezer to be honest. I mean, I guess they are trying to market to a really young audience and by doing this alienating the fan base that supported them from the beginning and help make them who they are today. I just wish they knew this, and mabye they do and don't care, I mean, I guess I don't expect them to care...Even when the played the "few" and I mean "few" hits from previous albums, half of them were sung by other members! I like all the other guys, but when your a Weezer fan, who do you go to see and hear......RIVERS. Rivers makes Weezer sound like Weezer....otherwise it sounds like a cover band. They also didn't play with the same intensity...it was so surreal...I was dumbfounded....It's not the passion I saw in 1995 or in 1997 or in 2000 or in 2005...Maybe it's just me...I still love the guys, but I guess I don't get it anymore.

Quote Report 

Re: Weezer

I knew I'd piss a lot people off with this topic and It really wasn't my point...I mean, heck I'm still a die hard fan, big time. And yes, when you think about it, they have changed, and maybe that isn't a bad thing, maybe they will come full cirlcle and end up with something amazing beyong my comprehension...I still like them more than any other band out there and I don't think a little criticism is a bad thing although I'm sure people will disagree with me but that's ok. I just aimed this question at older fans that might have more of the same feelings I do to see if it was just me...probably is. The fact is that I still love Weezer man....

Quote Report 

Re: Re: Weezer

 twclark wrote:

I just aimed this question at older fans that might have more of the same feelings I do to see if it was just me...probably is. The fact is that I still love Weezer man....

Quote Report 

Re: in their defense..

...it is easy to write songs that have 3 chords like the Blue album or Green album and make pop songs that sound great. They did this on their first few albums and it worked flawlessly. On the last 2 to 3 albums, they (or I should say Rivers) is trying to take some chances on new stuff. With that you will get a few bombs, but then you will get some winners too. I agree completely that Rivers should sing every song on the next album...his voice makes Weezer what they are. At the show, I wish he would sing all the songs, but I guess I will be fine that others share the load. It would be nice if the other sang 1 song each, instead of half the set, but I guess all I care about is that the next album has RC sing all the songs. I am in my 30's and was following this band since the 90's and they are the best band out there by far. Best songwriters, best sounding, and best hit-band by far.

There has been only one band in the last 10 years or so that I think will be able to be great and that band is My Chemical Romance. The first time I heard them, I said to myself that this band has "it". If any of you like Weezer for what they are as far as songwriters/muscians, give this band a chance. Their lead singer has a great voice and they are so young and every album is getting better. Just my 2 cents.

Back to Weezer though....have they changed for better? I say "yes". Every band evolves and they have done so. I hear people saying this album or that album is bad...and i really dont know why? I mean I think they are all great. I think Red is my least fav of all of them, but I still think it has a few gems on there and I still enjoy listening to it. Its not like it is a 1 from a scale of 1-10....In fact, if the tracks from the other memebers singing were off of it and replaced by new songs, I am sure i would think it was a lot better. So, they are a "better" band and they have a long way to go.

Quote Report 

Re: Re: Re: Weezer

 christofski wrote:

 twclark wrote:

I just aimed this question at older fans that might have more of the same feelings I do to see if it was just me...probably is. The fact is that I still love Weezer man....

But you see, my point is, the newer fans, or certainly some of us do feel the same way as you. The fact is old Weezer is better, and you dont have to be an old fan to know that. I was annoyed because I did feel the same way as you, but you wanted to exclude me because I am a realatively "new fan".

Quote Report 

Re: For the better? eh

I really enjoy Weezer. I have the =w= tattooed on my arm. But the show that I went to this year just didn't do it for me the way it did in the past. Maybe I'm just getting old. I was rather young when I first heard the blue album.
I remember seeing them in 2001 and the show just seemed to have so much more energy. I was not very happy that Mr. I'm-in-love-with-myself former lead singer of blink182 sang the sweater song either.
I found it to be a major letdown to me :(

Quote Report 

Re: Re: For the better? eh

 VentrueGal wrote:

I really enjoy Weezer. I have the =w= tattooed on my arm. But the show that I went to this year just didn't do it for me the way it did in the past. Maybe I'm just getting old. I was rather young when I first heard the blue album.
I remember seeing them in 2001 and the show just seemed to have so much more energy. I was not very happy that Mr. I'm-in-love-with-myself former lead singer of blink182 sang the sweater song either.
I found it to be a major letdown to me :(

Quote Report 

Re: ...

ive been a passionate fan since 1994.
blue and pinkerton are two of my favorites of all time.
green was just exciting cuz it was summer and weezer were back! i still dont mind the album.
maladroit was an interesting attempt at incorperating the fans, and maybe making more of a raw album.
make believe was glossy, but tolerable.
my passion, sadly died greatly with red album.
this album was exciting the first few listens/days. it was new weezer so i was pumped. but these songs have aged poorly already. i dont feel any need for repeated listens on it. it just doesnt sound like the weezer i fell in love with anymore. and their probably not those guys anymore, which is fine...im just saying, whatever it is they've turned into, its not what im interested in. scott and brian singing...absolutely no interest in that.

Quote Report 

Re: Re: ...

 Baby Britain wrote:

ive been a passionate fan since 1994.
blue and pinkerton are two of my favorites of all time.
green was just exciting cuz it was summer and weezer were back! i still dont mind the album.
maladroit was an interesting attempt at incorperating the fans, and maybe making more of a raw album.
make believe was glossy, but tolerable.
my passion, sadly died greatly with red album.
this album was exciting the first few listens/days. it was new weezer so i was pumped. but these songs have aged poorly already. i dont feel any need for repeated listens on it. it just doesnt sound like the weezer i fell in love with anymore. and their probably not those guys anymore, which is fine...im just saying, whatever it is they've turned into, its not what im interested in. scott and brian singing...absolutely no interest in that.

Quote Report 

Re: It has gotten better

I think Weezer has gotten better because they are a LOT better than when they did Make Believe. Make believe was definitely there low point. Sure Red album isn't as good as the old days but its 10 times better than any of the crap all the other bands out there pump out.

Quote Report 

Re: weezer rocks in a different way

Let think about something, I saw Weezer back in 1994 at Acoustic Christmas concert at MSG. I was a Soph in high school and that still was the best concert I ever expereinced. Weezer rocked then and still rocks now, just in a different way.

Almost 14 years later, Weezer is still rocking. People hate change and Weezer has changed in a great way beacsue there still around and I'm so happy they are.

The Red album has TGMTEL, Miss Sweeny, King, Troublemaker, Heart Songs, which all rock in some way or another.

TGMTEL rocks because its so different and crisp

Miss Sweeny is classic Weezer but in 08' form

King is just an awesome song

Heat songs and Trouble maker are great cuz Rivers is looking back on his life in music and is letting us fans into his head, very personal, I still have hope one day these song swill be more appreciated......

Last note, no matte waht you think of Weezers mucic today one word still comes up in my brain, thats happy. Pink was there lowest darkest, album. Thats ok, it just shows how awesome they really are!

Quote Report 

Re: Re: It has gotten better

 WeezerezeeW wrote:

I think Weezer has gotten better because they are a LOT better than when they did Make Believe. Make believe was definitely there low point. Sure Red album isn't as good as the old days but its 10 times better than any of the crap all the other bands out there pump out.

Quote Report 

Re: Re: weezer rocks in a different way

{q a=[[2004weezerfan]]

King is just an awesome song




{/q}

king was the first weezer song ever, i stopped listening to before it was over upon first listen.
i think it is by far their worst song to date, and im including demoes.
the song is not listenable for me.
i cant help but feel im listening to 3 doors down hillbilly trash.

Quote Report 

Re: Agree to disagree

I've been a die hard Weezer fan since 1996 and I feel like they've definitely had their ups and downs. I was soooo disappointed with Maladroit and Make Believe and really missed the sound and lyrics from Blue and Pinkerton. However, although the sound is definitely nowhere near the awesomeness of 'classic Weezer,' I feel like they did better with Red. I think it's good for a band to grow and change and evolve, but it's hard when you like the old sound better.

As for the concert, I could be mistaken but I know that part of the reason other band members sang was because Rivers was having some sinus problems or something. That aside I thought the other members held their own, though I would have liked to have heard Rivers sing more.

It was honestly the best concert I've ever been to, but that isn't saying much. This was the first =W= concert I was able to see, so I don't have much to compare it to.

I guess everyone just has different tastes and different takes on how Weezer has changed.

Quote Report 

Re: Re: in their defense..

 david052874 wrote:

...it is easy to write songs that have 3 chords like the Blue album or Green album and make pop songs that sound great. They did this on their first few albums and it worked flawlessly. On the last 2 to 3 albums, they (or I should say Rivers) is trying to take some chances on new stuff. With that you will get a few bombs, but then you will get some winners too. I agree completely that Rivers should sing every song on the next album...his voice makes Weezer what they are. At the show, I wish he would sing all the songs, but I guess I will be fine that others share the load. It would be nice if the other sang 1 song each, instead of half the set, but I guess all I care about is that the next album has RC sing all the songs. I am in my 30's and was following this band since the 90's and they are the best band out there by far. Best songwriters, best sounding, and best hit-band by far.

There has been only one band in the last 10 years or so that I think will be able to be great and that band is My Chemical Romance. The first time I heard them, I said to myself that this band has "it". If any of you like Weezer for what they are as far as songwriters/muscians, give this band a chance. Their lead singer has a great voice and they are so young and every album is getting better. Just my 2 cents.

Back to Weezer though....have they changed for better? I say "yes". Every band evolves and they have done so. I hear people saying this album or that album is bad...and i really dont know why? I mean I think they are all great. I think Red is my least fav of all of them, but I still think it has a few gems on there and I still enjoy listening to it. Its not like it is a 1 from a scale of 1-10....In fact, if the tracks from the other memebers singing were off of it and replaced by new songs, I am sure i would think it was a lot better. So, they are a "better" band and they have a long way to go.

Quote Report 

Re: just you

Been a fan since 1994, still plenty to love in the band. Rivers sense of humor on stage is just hilarious, and he really is just being himself. I think the reason you saw more energy in 2005 (i went to that show too) was because they were playing with Foo Fighters, who are fk crazy.

There was plenty of energy when I saw them on Saturday, and TGMTEL was just as awesome as I thought it would be.

=w=

Quote Report 

Re: Re: For the better? eh

 VentrueGal wrote:

I was not very happy that Mr. I'm-in-love-with-myself former lead singer of blink182 sang the sweater song either.
I found it to be a major letdown to me :(

Quote Report 

Re: Re: Re: Has Weezer changed for the better?

 christofski wrote:

 twclark wrote:

I'd rather take comments from people who have been fans for longer than the Make Believe Album, this questions is really directed towards people that have been long time Weezer fans. I just got back from the Show in St. Paul and me and my wife came away so dissappointed. We were so hyped, and we have both been Weezer fans since 1994 and our last concert was in 2005 and it really rocked. It was so different this time, the crowd was so young and you know most of them were in diapers when I was rockin out to the blue album...plus they were just so rude to the opening acts..but besides that...Weezer's new music just doesn't do it for me and it doesn't sound like Weezer to be honest. I mean, I guess they are trying to market to a really young audience and by doing this alienating the fan base that supported them from the beginning and help make them who they are today. I just wish they knew this, and mabye they do and don't care, I mean, I guess I don't expect them to care...Even when the played the "few" and I mean "few" hits from previous albums, half of them were sung by other members! I like all the other guys, but when your a Weezer fan, who do you go to see and hear......RIVERS. Rivers makes Weezer sound like Weezer....otherwise it sounds like a cover band. They also didn't play with the same intensity...it was so surreal...I was dumbfounded....It's not the passion I saw in 1995 or in 1997 or in 2000 or in 2005...Maybe it's just me...I still love the guys, but I guess I don't get it anymore.

I think your question is a little unfair. I know its directed at people older than me who have been fans for longer, but I cant help how old I am, or when I first got into Weezer. I am 18, and because i live in England, I never had much exposure to them until fairly recently (probably because they barely ever come over here). Despite the fact it wasnt until recently that I discovered Weezer, I dont think my opinion should count for any less. Im still completely addcicted to them, have over 200 Weezer songs on my iTunes, and am well aware that anything they have released post 96 has not been as good as Old Weezer. The fact is, I would give my right arm to see Weezer live, having never had the chance to, and its a bit annoying when I see fans who have already been lucky enough to see them before complain about the most recent gig they attended. I'm never going to get the chance to see Weezer in their prime, but if I'm lucky I could still have a chance to see them one day, and thats better than not seeing them at all. So, I would rather you didnt complain about them, even though you are probably right. I'm trying my best to be optimistic and tell myself I still have the chance to see a good Weezer show one day, and you are telling me thats not likely to happen. I also think its a bit unfair that you would value someones opinion less because of their age. A lot of the people you said were too young at the show you went to are probably only the same age as the average Weezer fan back in 94. Some teenagers might be claiming that the gig was great apart from this Old dude who was watching for all you know. Anyway, I understand your point, but Im trying to stay positive and I hope you can appreciate that, so far I've heard pretty much nothing but good things about the current tour, and I had my hopes up until I read your post.

Quote Report 

Re: Re: Re: in their defense..

 Aaron13 wrote:

 david052874 wrote:

...it is easy to write songs that have 3 chords like the Blue album or Green album and make pop songs that sound great. They did this on their first few albums and it worked flawlessly. On the last 2 to 3 albums, they (or I should say Rivers) is trying to take some chances on new stuff. With that you will get a few bombs, but then you will get some winners too. I agree completely that Rivers should sing every song on the next album...his voice makes Weezer what they are. At the show, I wish he would sing all the songs, but I guess I will be fine that others share the load. It would be nice if the other sang 1 song each, instead of half the set, but I guess all I care about is that the next album has RC sing all the songs. I am in my 30's and was following this band since the 90's and they are the best band out there by far. Best songwriters, best sounding, and best hit-band by far.

There has been only one band in the last 10 years or so that I think will be able to be great and that band is My Chemical Romance. The first time I heard them, I said to myself that this band has "it". If any of you like Weezer for what they are as far as songwriters/muscians, give this band a chance. Their lead singer has a great voice and they are so young and every album is getting better. Just my 2 cents.

Back to Weezer though....have they changed for better? I say "yes". Every band evolves and they have done so. I hear people saying this album or that album is bad...and i really dont know why? I mean I think they are all great. I think Red is my least fav of all of them, but I still think it has a few gems on there and I still enjoy listening to it. Its not like it is a 1 from a scale of 1-10....In fact, if the tracks from the other memebers singing were off of it and replaced by new songs, I am sure i would think it was a lot better. So, they are a "better" band and they have a long way to go.

I stopped reading after you mentioned My Chemical Romance. They fail so badly.

Quote Report 

Re: well

Someone asked me why The Greatest Man That Ever Lived had such horrible lyrics and why they would put such a song out.

I told him it was a tongue-in-cheek type of song. to make those kind of lyrics sound so epic, and like theyre doing it for fun to show how all these types of songs (measures) sound like.

I hope thats what Weezer is still doing....you know....funny songs that relate to the inner nerd rocker that all of us are?

He smirked and just looked away.

I think after Dreamin', the album progresses into a much more mature sound of the teenage ansgt the first three albums brought.

It's actually, for me making them a much, much better band.

Quote Report