Everything Will Be Alright in the End… thanks to Weezer! [Album Review]
A review by DJ Cat I was initially afraid to listen to Everything Will Be Alright in the End (or EWBAITE), fearing that I would be once again disappointed. Fervently praying, “not another Raditude not another Raditude,” I pressed play. I was shocked to feel a massive...
A review by DJ Cat
I was initially afraid to listen to Everything Will Be Alright in the End (or EWBAITE), fearing that I would be once again disappointed. Fervently praying, “not another Raditude not another Raditude,” I pressed play. I was shocked to feel a massive wave of emotion strike me—something I haven’t felt since listening to Pinkerton as a lovestruck 7th grader.
Right from the first chords of “Ain’t Got Nobody,” you know that EWBAITE is for real. There’s no messing around. Weezer puts out the chugging chords, catchy melodies, and raw guitar solos their fans fell in love with 15 years ago. The lyrics are sweet, simple, a little dorky, and blissfully free of flat pop culture references—just the way we like them. EWBAITE is self-referential at its core, filled with single-ready songs like “Back To The Shack” about getting older, falling out of popularity, and the desire to go back to the band’s roots. Every song on EWBAITE has its own distinct charm and beauty, making dull moments impossible. Deep into the album, “Da Vinci” is the most adorable love song since “El Scorcho.” “Foolish Father,” even further into the track list, brings some much-needed moodiness into an otherwise cheerful album. “Cleopatra” switches time signatures like crazy, going between common time and 5/4 like it’s nobody’s business. Rivers Cuomo is killing it on guitar on nearly every song. It’s astounding. And the end—oh God, the end. As the grand finale, Weezer throws in an almost-instrumental trilogy that will blow your damn socks off. If you can listen to any of the three final songs of EWBAITE without your jaw falling to the floor, I’d be amazed. They took big risks, and finally, this time, they paid off.
Weezer fans, it is okay to come out of the closet. Pretend that Raditude never happened. After too many years of, frankly, embarrassing behavior, Weezer is apologizing to us. There are not enough words to describe how much I love EWBAITE. Definitely enough words to cancel out all the bad things I’ve ever said about Weezer. They’re sorry. I’m sorry. Weezer is giving us the chance to love them again, and I am accepting the offer with an open heart and a smile.
Right from the first chords of “Ain’t Got Nobody,” you know that EWBAITE is for real. There’s no messing around. Weezer puts out the chugging chords, catchy melodies, and raw guitar solos their fans fell in love with 15 years ago. The lyrics are sweet, simple, a little dorky, and blissfully free of flat pop culture references—just the way we like them. EWBAITE is self-referential at its core, filled with single-ready songs like “Back To The Shack” about getting older, falling out of popularity, and the desire to go back to the band’s roots. Every song on EWBAITE has its own distinct charm and beauty, making dull moments impossible. Deep into the album, “Da Vinci” is the most adorable love song since “El Scorcho.” “Foolish Father,” even further into the track list, brings some much-needed moodiness into an otherwise cheerful album. “Cleopatra” switches time signatures like crazy, going between common time and 5/4 like it’s nobody’s business. Rivers Cuomo is killing it on guitar on nearly every song. It’s astounding. And the end—oh God, the end. As the grand finale, Weezer throws in an almost-instrumental trilogy that will blow your damn socks off. If you can listen to any of the three final songs of EWBAITE without your jaw falling to the floor, I’d be amazed. They took big risks, and finally, this time, they paid off.
Weezer fans, it is okay to come out of the closet. Pretend that Raditude never happened. After too many years of, frankly, embarrassing behavior, Weezer is apologizing to us. There are not enough words to describe how much I love EWBAITE. Definitely enough words to cancel out all the bad things I’ve ever said about Weezer. They’re sorry. I’m sorry. Weezer is giving us the chance to love them again, and I am accepting the offer with an open heart and a smile.