Weezer Album: “Raditude”

First, if you don't think Weezer is being tongue-in-cheek in naming an album "Raditude," you'll probably be in for a disappointment, as anyone who approaches this album with a straight face, so to speak, won't "get it" at all. Anybody who didn't get that the "boo-yah" in the song Everybody Get Dangerous (off the Red Album) was SUPPOSED to sound really feeble and cheesy because the characters in the song were just that (feeble and cheesy), won't get the songs on Raditude. Hey, song titles like "I'm Your Daddy" and "Girl Got Hot" are exactly what they suggest. Cheesy. Did I mention they're also extremely catchy?

Raditude sounds like an album based around Weezer's earlier hit song Beverly Hills, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because A) that song is really catchy, and B) we finally get album continuity. That song had no business being on Make Believe, and, though full of good songs, The Red Album doesn't really feel like an ALBUM. Raditude feels like a complete album though--almost a modern update of the Green Album. Just like the Green Album, Raditude starts off with the best song on the album, 'I Want You To.' I can already tell this song will be in my rotation for a long time. The whole first half of the album is some of the most listen-able, catchiest music Weezer has ever written.

Unfortunately, the album stumbles a bit in the latter half. "Love Is The Answer" doesn't really do it for me, and, even though it's not a serious song, I really don't care for "In the Mall" either. Small stumbles aside, Raditude is an album worthy of being added to your Weezer collection. Die hard fans who think that pre-Green Album Weezer is the only true Weezer and everything else is trash will NOT like this album. It's very possible to like both though. Hey, Pinkterton is still my favorite Weezer album, and one of my favorites of all time. It's a masterpiece. But to expect Rivers Cuomo to duplicate an album as personal and raw as that one isn't just completely ludicrous, it's selfish as well. The guy is approaching middle age now, do you expect him to still write the same songs he did 13 years ago? The Pinkerton Era of songs is gone and won't ever come back, and the sooner that Weezer fans accept that the better off we'll be.

Plus, it's not like Raditude is devoid of any heart. Just look at the standout opener. The song starts off optimistic enough, with the prospect of a budding relationship, but then toward the end we get the lines "So much pain may come our way / There may come a day when we have nothing left to say / When the conversation stops and we're facing our defeat / I'll be next to you and you'll be right there next to me." And a song like "Tripping Down The Freeway" may look like more juvenile pop at first glance, but it's yet another song about growing up with someone else as you're in a relationship. Raditude is an album written by a middle-aged man, but with the attitude of someone much younger who's just growing into adulthood. The result is a very pleasing record full of catchy, yet still heartfelt songs. It's a fun record. It was written that way. So leave any hang-ups you have at the door. Pop Raditude into your CD player, and just enjoy yourself.

First off I really liked the sound. Its good pop/rock music. The problem is that I'm 30 now and driving around in my car singing about high school will only cause problems. At some point between the marriage, mortgage or kid you have to let that stuff go. Yeah, someone will call me insecure or something to that affect but if you are married, have a mortgage and have a kid put these lyrics in front of your spouse and see how he/she looks at you. Probably the same way my mom looked at me the first time I was caught singing Weezer in junior high.

Weezer is back with a solid album. They are pushing forward with their style instead of staying in the past. The red album felt more of a experiment to find where they fit, with Raditude, I believe they have found where they want to be.

I'm tired of all the reviews on how the old Weezer (Blue album and Pinkerton) were better. A lot of these reviewers are kids that grew up in the 90s with Weezer's music who all seem to believe that they should just go back to their old style. I call this the nostalgia factor. Listening to the blue album and Pinkerton isn't just a great music experience, it also brings back memories of your childhood and what you felt at that time. Everyone gets older and it's always a great feeling to go back and re-experience something from your youth but most bands don't want to play the same songs over and over.

The only issue I have with this album is that you must get the deluxe edition. The standard edition feels incomplete with only 10 tracks, the extra songs in the deluxe edition really fit with the album.

The songs I would recommend from this album:

"(If You're Wonder If I Want You To) I Want You To"

"Can't Stop Partying"

"Tripping Down the Freeway"

"Let it All Hang Out" (closes thing to weezer's older style)

"I Don't Want to Let You Go"

"The Prettiest Girl in the Whole Wide World"

"Turn Me Round"

"Kid/Poker Face" (GREAT cover)

"I Woke Up in Love This Morning" (Another awesome cover, only with the Japanese edition)

Will someone please remind Rivers Cuomo that he is a 39 year old white rocker and not a 20-something hip-hop star! Seriously Weezer, you're breaking my heart here.

This album and it's faux-pop makes me long for the days of "Make Believe", at least those lyrics were honest (if a little whiny). Radidtude's not all bad, just mostly bad, and if I hadn't bought the deluxe edition I would really be angry.

"If You're Wondering..." is catchy, "I'm Your Daddy" scoots by on it's beat, but aside from Pat saving the day again with "In The Mall" and the trippy experimentation of "Love Is The Answer", the rest of the main album is just pop-filler nonsense that the Jonas Brother couldn't even be bothered with.

The extra disc is what the album should have sounded like if they wanted to do pop-rock right. "Get Me Some" shreds, "Run Over By A Truck" has the bass beats, "The Prettiest Girl..." is classic Weezer and "The Underdogs" is just solid.

My plea is that Rivers gets some heartache or at least some heartburn soon, so that he has something to sing about besides partying, cars and jewels.

Happy Weezer, is crappy Weezer. Kiss my angst!

No, it's not the Blue Album; no, it's not Pinkerton. Those albums are one-of-a-kind and Weezer will most likely not return to those sounds. Weezer has built a discography on sonic variation, with subtle alterations from album to album, and this album is no different. Is it catchy modern pop? Yes, but it's -good- catchy modern pop with the quirks Rivers brings to most of his records. Definitely beats the pants off the Red Album. I picked this up with one of Amazon's $5 MP3 credits, but after rotating through the tracks I would have paid for it anyway. It's solid modern pop-rock with a distinct Cuomo Rivers flavor to it. Recommend.