A Gout Out for the Mix Tape Universe

Weezer * Make Believe* Geffen


For bearing labels such as “Rock’s most dysfunctional band,” Make Believe, Weezer’s fifth full length studio album, would make anyone want to stop payment on those shrink visits. This L.A, based four piece didn’t spend the last 13 years of their MTV rock anthem career at the mercy of the hermitic Harvard educated lead singer Rivers Cuomo without both repercussions and rewards. The climatic journey of law suits threatening the release of their second album Pinkerton to ego raged battles and success laden moves that ultimately yielded a three person bass lineup they live up to their rep. With such a tumultuous, past could the first two-word titled album Make Believe be the epitomized objective of the band? Make believe we hate our metal roots and The Blue Album came forward. Make believe Weezer is immune to the fickle opinions of the critics and the fans and Pinkerton spawned from Cuomo’s Svengali band leader ethics by pushing his Pixie-esque live recording ideals while bringing his emotional forlorn to the forefront Cuomo disregarded most input from his fellow band mates and label. Make believe we didn’t put forth an emotional heartfelt record and The Green Album came along chock full of formulaically constructed songs based on melody and generalized pop veneer lyrics. Make believe we never abandoned our heavy metal rock roots and Maladroit was born exploding with rock riffs and stadium tilted solos. Now with Make Believe, Cuomo, drummer Pat Wilson, guitarist Brian Bell and bassist Scott Shriner have released an anthology prototype of their legacy. This album is the fulcrum of their musical journey encompassing everything they have ever done before, nailing down those lose edges and smoothing out their estranged past. “We Are All On Drugs” is the album's catchiest song. The tune is reminiscent of Weezer’s “Hash Pipe” days while borrowing from the grade school rhyme/rhythms of the diarrhea song. The first verse opens “When you’re out with your friends in your new Mercedes-Benz.” Let us substitute lyrics for this exercise, “When you’re sliding into first and you’re feelin' something burst.” Now exchange “Diarrhea” the hook for the children’s song with “And you’re on drugs.” The emotion drenched “Haunt You Everyday” revisits the band's Pinkerton era. It is a dark song lamenting over a lost relationship and Cuomo’s inability to let go. This number is equipped with droning distortion and a dissonant solo that exemplifies the disappointing emotions by building disharmonized tension. “Perfect Situation” is a polished pop tune written in the vein of Green Album sensibilities with more mature lyrics hailing from Weezer’s progressed sound. “I don’t want to be lonely for the rest of my days on earth” this song confesses. As for smoothing out their estranged past, “Pardon Me” is an open apology letter for Weezer’s list of offenses. Cuomo belts out his cathartic scream “Pardon me my friend” convincing everyone of his genuine apology. The tune “Freak Me Out” pushes Weezer’s sonic palate. This is a slow ballad planted on Wilson’s simple looping drums and splashes of dreamy harmonics. Putting down the bombastic blasts of Cuomo’s rock leads, a fresher more experimental Weezer allows a harmonica to steal the song’s solo. This album shows Weezer at the pinnacle of a career winding down as Cuomo makes no promises of the future of the band and has only obligated them to a tour in support of the album. This is such a pity as Weezer has at last come to grips with their demons and made a record that not only revisits every sound they have ever represented emotional, dark, pop and metal, but has harnessed the reins to ride them further into a musical horizon encompassing an even more eclectic sound. No one knows, this just might be the last album but the fans want to make believe that their beloved band is going to play out through this glorious day.

Nick D May 29, 2005