My first ever review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Weezer-Make Believe

As I sat upon my throne of awesomness known simply as the fabled "Throne of Awesomness" I was contemplating in my bespectacled noggin what album I would choose for my first ever review. I walked over to the fabled CD Corner of Awesomness to find a special album, one that I love, one that is not only "good" musically but also held a special meaning for me :) maybe it made me cwy when I was sad, or got me dancing around my room doing a very bad waltz with a very startled teddy when I was sooo happy and wanted to get up dance, and sing like a prat :D With this in mind the mighty hand of Jessica picked out a personal favvy album of mine; Make Believe by Weezer!

Now I am sure anybody who has glanced my blog page for more than a minute will have gathered that this Blog is pretty informal, I am not looking to go in to great detail about what day and time a certain solo was recorded on, no, I just want to express how happy these things makes me feel, how awesome I think a certain band is. With that in mind I suggest you get a nice cup of tea and maybe a biscuit or two and let me tell you just how great this very, very underrated album is :) kay?

Well, first of maybe a little background info would help. Weezer are most certainly one of those bands that polarizes their fanbase, though they do it a little better than most. Releasing their first album in 1994, most commonly known as the "Blue Album" due to its front cover being nothing more than the band members standing in front of a plain, blue backdrop (creative, eh?) it was an album of catchy guitar rock/pop with deep, troubled lyrics centered around the ups and downs of love as experienced by any awkward teenager looking for love. Though that is probably doing the album a disservice as it was so much more than that, it was confessional, candid, but without sounding like excerpts from some schoolkids diary where they rant about how all the pretty boys and girls won't ask to them dance because of their penchant for setting things on fire. No, it was something you could step in to and see you are not alone, see a reflection of your own failing grasps and love. In 1996 the band released their second album, Pinkerton, to almost universally bad reviews, it took the formula for "Blue" and ran with it, going much deeper with songs of alieniation, desperation and basically anything that could probably get Rivers a restraining order pretty damn sharpish. It was incredible, its an album I go back to time and time again and still find something new, still take some comfort in its candid lyrics that despite their extremities, then again, is love ever anything but? Are very relatable to so many who find relationships hard to cope with. These days though, despite early reaction, critics have done a complete 360 turn on Pinkerton and have universally claimed to be the God-like album it so obviously is. However the damage was done and for one reason or another Rivers resigned himself to never scraping so deep lyrically as he did back then. And this is where Weezer V-2 comes in. After a hiatus of a few years they came back with the "Green Album" guess where that name comes from? :) It was a good album, but had very little to express this was the same man who wrote "Only In Dreams" or "The Good Life" containing mostly pop/rock with very catchy hooks but only a glimmer that if fleshed out a little more it could be as deep or revelatory as anything that came before it. Now I have given you a little background info on all of this I can now move on YAY :) (feels like a teacher, so smart) Weezers fans are divided in to two groups; those that love "Blue" and Pinkerton" and would rather Weezer had died in a bus crash after those two albums, though to them, they did. And those that love Weezer's more pop orientated albums such as "Green" and its unfairly maligned follow up "Maladroit" Admit it, reading all that background info was worth it for that little tidbit :D
Welllllllllllll, Make Believe was the poor kid who had the unfortunate task of living up to his daddies expectations after his last two kids, well, they needed a hit, badly (Maladroit was good :( .) In another light Make Believe was in a pretty good vantage point really, by that point most fans were desperate to see some resemblance to their earlier works they would drug themselves if they started to question where River's screams had ran of to. And compared to the lackluster fan reaction they had been getting its not like they really had to try :D they didn't set themselves a high benchmark. Soooooooooooooooooooo on to the review timey time. Drum roll please! *Looks over at Teddy Drummer* No drums for me today? Jay Leno never has this trouble with his drummer....................... He does what he's told, bet he has to sleep in the studio just in case
Anyway, I personally love this album, some of you maybe sat there open mouthed going, "no Jessica, noooooo. It sucks, its awful, something about Pinkerton......" Yes that album was good, amazing in fact, though "Blue" is actually my least favorite of their albums, no idea why.... But that Weezer has come and gone, what we have is still good, their are moments of real lyrical/musical genius where we get at least a little bit of that old magic back, "Burndt Jam" from Maladroit was incredible, how can anyone not dig that solo? I know its a cliched and maybe its leaning a little too much in to "high school" diary territory here, but "Girlfriend" from "Green" hits me everytime. So thats just my opinion, take from it what you will, but I still love Weezer, for better or worse I have stuck by my boys through thick and thin and will always do so. Even if Raditude makes it kinda hard :(
Viewing Weezer in this light, as V-2, its easier to judge new albums by them when not constantly being compared to what came before. But if you ask me, Make Believe can easily K-O the early albums. Please refer below to my handy, dandy and YAY track by track reviews of this wonderful, little gem of a CD. :D

Track 1-Beverly Hills
When this song came out it was EVERYWHERE it got an amazing amount of airplay. I remember hearing people calling them a new band and saying how cool they were... In fact when I met my GF and introduced her to the audible joys of Weezer her response was simply she remembers them as the guys who sang "Beverly Hills." All of that aside it is a very fun, very catchy if throw away song. Lyrically it has the depth of a brick, but I defy anyone who says that after a few listens you are not bobbing your head and singing along. Maybe it was a bad choice for a first single from a band who had been called shallow by fans but Rivers himself said he wanted people to dicsover the much deeper material after buying the album rather than putting them on the radio.
Track 2-Perfect Situation
I loves this track!!!!!!! When I first heard this song I immediately thought back to the awkward love songs my Weezer do oh so well :) Starting with some awesome guitars that steadily build up then fizzle out as River's sings with an almost nervours tremor in his voice, for anyone who has experienced what he is singing about here it can almost make you cwy :) I can truly believe that he felt what he was singing here, not something I could do with the "Green Album" In my opinion this is where the album really starts. Breaking out of the more shallow pop/rock formula they let their guitars break loose and finish with a very catchy solo over River's pained vocals that upon first listen I expected to turn in to crying at any minute.
Track 3-This Is Such A Pity
This one is a little different to normal Weezer and all the better for it! Seemingly inspired by 80s New Wave and with very "clean" by River's who seems to have gained confidence in his vocals on this album. The lyrics some say are quite but simple but I thinks its a real mark of genius that he can express the most complex of emotions in such a simple way that we can all relate to. I really don't have much to say on this song musically, its awesome, I loves it but apart from how different it sounds to the usal crunchy guitars we expect from them it doesn't offer much to discuss musically. Actually I would love them to don 80s suit and do some Spandau Ballet type songs :) would make me smile.
Track 4-Hold Me
This song is so, so pretty. Starting off with some very understated guitar work and slow drumming, Rivers calming vocals seem to almost melt from the mix as he sings of self depreication before getting a little louder  for the chorus in a display of emotion that is almost painful to listen to. Definitely a highlight of the album for me and one where I can feel the shadow of their first two albums lurking in the shadows.
Track 5-Peace
When I first bought this album I had already heard of the fans negative reaction to it, and despite my love of them it was starting to get me and I was wondering if it was true. Had Weezer really got so bad? Could they make a bad album? :D I didn't thinks so, but I must admit I am not a big fan of this song. Half way through the album I genuiely could not see just what peoples problem with the album was. Then this song played and admittedly I was worried, yes the songs that came before it I thought were amazing, but perhaps the rest of the album would not stack up and were the reason for everyones hatred? All in all they have a lot better stack of B-Sides I think they could have chosen from to replace it. Has some nice moments but it seems too "polished" too simple and uninteresting lyrically.
Track 6-We Are All On Drugs
I am probably going to get death threats from Pinkerton Mafia for saying this, but I shall brave it as my castle has enough traps and early Weezer  memorabilia to keep them occupied long enough for me to esacape :) But I really like this song, I think its fun, catchy with some great vocal work from River's and the rest of the band have crafted an awesome riff for it. Maybe thats not what everyone wants from them, but even the "Blue Album" had a few throw away tunes on it, "Surf Wax America" always springs to mind when people call new Weezer "pop." Its a song that always gets me up dancing around my room like some mad woman, to me, that is the mark of a good song :D
Track 7-The Damage In Your Heart
By the time this song played my fears had been all but destroyed, no, this was a good album, I once again were questioning if people were listening to the same CD I was. The lyrics, the music, the vocals, everything on this track hit me right in the heart and made me tear up. Its beautiful, thats all I can say. Starting off with a catchy guitar tune that you hear and know it can be nothing but our Weezer :) then Rivers heart wrenching vocals kicks in and I am gone, melted away in to a world where nothing exists but me and the music. Songs like this become "your song" a song you truly believe was written for you, you wonder if the singer has somehow looked in to your heart and seen the pain and wanted to write a song only for you. Thats how this song makes me feel, very few bands have that effect on me.
Track 8-Pardon Me
Apparently written by River's after he went to a meditation retreat where you make peace with all those you have hurt through your actions. Now. I like these lyrics, I believe they are as deep as anything they have done before. Because it has a very real meaning behind it, maybe he is not hitting you over the head with his dictionary to get the message across, but did he ever? Its just him and the band getting a message across that a lot of people would do well to hear. Its another song that cuts me deeply, who has never hurt someone only to realize years down the line you do have it in you to not be the nicest person out there?
Track 9-My Best Friend
..................The only other song on this album I don't like :( I can't defend this song, lord knows I wish I could, but I don't have it in me. It was written for Shrek 2 but was scrapped when it didn't fit the timing of the movements, maybe thats why its so throw away. Then again, The Eels song; "I Need Some Sleep" was very well written, but that was intended for a different scene entirely. This was going to take the place of Counting Crows song, "Accidently In Love" so it can be forgiven, but I think it ruins the mood of the album. Maybe because it was left out of the film they still wanted to use it.
Track 10-The Other Way
This song more than makes up for the previous one :) YAY Quite similar to Pardon Me, another song detailing misguided emotions and actions born from River's use of meditation during and around the recording sessions. The lyrics on this track are, to me, a high point of the album and really relatable to anyone who has been in a similar situation with an EX and maybe wanting to comfort them but wonder how pure their intentions really are.
Track 11-Freak Me Out
My favvy track on this whole CD, very atmospheric, and almost creepy with its haunting guitar and River's vocals almost sounding like they are being sang to you across a foggy river at night :) Its ethereal and despite its menacing mood is one I can go to sleep to at night, but I do have weir dreams. A lot of people say the lyrics are stupid and "light" on this track, maybe they are. But I think the lyrics were the last thing on their mind, its a mood song, where the lyrics take a back seat to the atmosphere crafted by the music.
Track 12-Haunt You Every Day
WOW is all I can say, remember "Only In Dreams?" How it was an epic in every aspect? Well to me this song bests it in every aspect. Lyrics that induce images of a shadowy stalker chasing you through the night, screaming to you of love and devotion. The music builds to a "wall of sound" crescendo with a tear jointing falsetto by Rivers. The perfect way to end the album, once its done you are drained emotionally and know you have experienced something very special, a snapshot of Rivers mindset at the time.

This was all just my opinion of course, nothing more, nothing less. I know a lot of people disagree with me, but I love this album and cannot understand the hatred directed towards it. I believe its a very real, heartfelt album and one I return to time and time again. If Weezer did keep on releasing the "Blue Album" over and over again but people would get bored and they would forever be cursed to relive the early 90s for the rest of their lives. So they changed but people don't like that either. As I said, Weezer split their fanbase like few others can do. They have done something we can all agree on it seems :D