Articles → Weezer (The Red Album) - First impressions based on the first 8 songs.

Okay, so, only the first 8 songs from Weezer's The Red Album have leaked so far (I'm gonna buy it anyway, so shove that anti-downloading crap up your ass). Here's each track and my reaction after a few listens...

1. Troublemaker - This song sounds sooo cool. The lyrics, however, are a complete turn off. It sounds like Rivers didn't even try. Some of the lines are painfully bad. "Marrying a bi-atch. Having seven ki-ads." He actually tries to rhyme bitch with kids. God, this song could be one of the best on the album, but the lyrics just kill it for me. I love the sound of it. Overall, kinda sucks. 3/5 stars.

2. The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn) - Definitely one of the strangest Weezer songs ever. But I love it a lot. On the first listen, the opening rap is really stupid, but after a few listens it's not so bad. Anyway, this song changes styles every 30 seconds. Seriously. It's just really cool. The harmonies are just incredible. And overall it's just a very very solid song. 5/5 stars.

3. Pork and Beans - Incredible. It's got such a cool sound, and the background vocals every so often are just awesome. The chorus sounds really really reminiscent of Blue. And that's awesome. And the way the verse goes into the chorus is incredible. Just that little squeal of the guitar. Ugh. So cool. Overall, really really awesome. 5/5 stars.

4. Heart Songs - Very good. I love the style and lyrics. It does remind me of a slow Red Hot Chili Peppers song like Scar Tissue or Californication. That's really not a problem with me, because I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers and it's really not too far of a deviation from Weezer's style. My only problem is that I don't have a clue what "Heart songs" is. I don't know what that means, but that doesn't really affect my opinion of the song very much. Overall a very solid, relaxing song. 5/5 stars.

5. Everybody Get Dangerous - The first two lines are painfully bad. I won't post them here, because I just can't bring myself to do it, and I want you to be surprised if you haven't already heard the song. As with Troublemaker, I love the sound and how it's sung, I just don't like the lyrics. I really like the chorus, though. I also really like the bridge. So, overall, I would really like the song if it weren't for the atrocious lyrics at the beginning. So, overall, this is a mediocre song, saved only by the music and the chorus/bridge. 4/5 stars.

6. Dreamin' - I love this song. I just such a happy song, and with simple lyrics that you can sing along to and aren't bad at all. The only line I don't like is this forced rhyme: "Daddy says I gotta pay some bills so I can learn to be responsible." That's pretty bad. However, about 95% of the rest of the song is amazing, so it redeems itself many times over. Overall, a great song that just gives you a warm, happy feeling. 5/5 stars.

7. Thought I Knew - I really love this song. My only problem is that it shouldn't be on a Weezer album. It sounds like a Sister Hazel and Fastball bastard love child. It really should've been done in Pat Wilson's OTHER BAND. Yes, he has one. And it sounds similar to this song. Why does he have that band? So they can make songs like this. It has no place on a Weezer album. And that about sums it up. 5/5 stars.

8. Cold Dark World - I couldn't care less about the lyrics. I LOVE the way this song sounds. I love the chorus, and the way the verses are sung. Overall, minus a star for the lyrics, but still a very solid song. 5/5 stars.


Right now, overall, I give the 8 songs that I have so far a 4.5/5 stars. I suppose I like it better than Green and Maladroit, just because it changes so much throughout. Green and Maladroit just pretty much sound the same the whole time, whereas The Red Album takes so many different turns with styles and such that it feels like you get more out of it.

I'll be honest, at first listen, I was a little disappointed. But, after a few listens, I'm okay with it. It has some great tracks, and some mediocre tracks. I would've preferred that Rivers not let bad lyrics get onto this album, but I realize that after writing as many hundreds of songs as he has, we can't expect him to pull gems out of his ass all the time.

I realize that it is a little unfair to review it before I have all the tracks, so I will make a fuller review once I receive the rest of the album. Including the bonus songs.

End of Transaction.