Album Review: Weezer - Everything Will Be Alright In The End

Ten years makes a huge difference in most bands (except, say, AC/DC), but few bands had such a complete sound overhaul as Weezer between 1995 and 2005.

The mid 90's found Weezer as the breakout emo-rock band that scored massive hits in the wake of Kurt Cobain's and grunge's death. "Say It Ain't So" and "Undone (The Sweater Song)" both conjured up heart and soul in the mostly milquetoast genre of alternative radio rock.

The follow up album Pinkerton was released to a mostly disappointed public as it was louder, angrier and darker than the lovable debut album.

However, time would be very good to Pinkerton, as Weezer went on hiatus, the record gained a sort of cult status with millions of disconnected teens.

Rivers Cuomo and Weezer certainly didn't realize (or didn't want) the better-late-than-never adoration of Pinkerton and instead spent the new millennium crafting sugary, neutered, mall rat punk-pop that may have lost some original fans but also gained them millions of new ones. 2005's Make Believe scored the guys one of their biggest hits "Beverly Hills," a song I find quite irritating, especially the annoying talk box solo and cocky posturing about living the high life.

2009's Raditude was a low point: Music even more disposable and lifeless than the corny album title could ever imply.

When Lil Wayne is a guest on a Weezer record, you know the fat cats at the record label are having way too much pull.

2010's Hurley was a little better, but Rivers Cuomo co-writing songs with half a dozen outside songwriters rarely makes for a positive outcome.

So "Everything Will Be Alright In The End" is where Weezer starts to right it's course. Getting The Cars' Ric Ocasek back as a producer was a positive sign even though his "sound" is hard to detect on the album.

Sometimes a producer is important in simply guiding the ship (as Rick Rubin tends to do) and not put his stamp on every song.

The album hits hard and really contains no frilly, soft, ballad as the mood of the record seems to be upbeat without being saccharine.

This has always been Weezer's achilles heel; how does a band sound happy and confident without coming off as corny? The guys failed at this numerous times in the previous decade and it's a pleasure to hear them fully confident on Everything Will Be Alright In The End.

Opener "Ain't Got Nobody" is quintessential Weez, with Rivers sounding almost elated that he is free from his previous relationship. First single "Back To The Shack" comes on as throwaway pop, but then digs deep into your skull with an ear worm melody and self-referential lyrics discussing the story of the band. Lots of the album's highlights seem to be directly from Rivers' personal sagas, which harkens back to the music they released in the 90's. "Eulogy For A Rock Band" is a funny and catchy barn-burner with a chorus you will be humming for weeks. After this album, it is safe to say we can hold off on giving a eulogy for Weezer.

"Da Vinci" finds Weezer doing it's best nerd-in-love, complete with a chorus describing how the girl can't be painted by Da Vinci, explained by Stephen Hawking or translated by Rosetta Stone. It's weird, it's lovable and it fits the soul of this band perfectly. At the end of the chorus Rivers is "At a lost of words," capturing the butterflies associated with young love.

Rivers Cuomo and Weezer are hardly at a loss of words, songs and ideas on Everything Will Be Alright In The End. I give the album 4 Empty Lighthouses out of 5.