Artist: Weezer | Album: Pinkerton Deluxe Edition | Released: 2010 | Genre: Alternative Rock

A hit single can be a bit of a mixed blessing for new bands, especially if said
song gets you firmly lumped into the “novelty band” category. Such was the
case with Weezer, whose runaway hit “Buddy Holly” touched a global nerve
upon its release, then got on everyone’s nerves after months of radio
saturation. However, it did ensure that they sold millions of copies of their
self-titled debut. Which is why it’s so strange that their second album,
Pinkerton, was soundly ignored. Perhaps it was down to that album’s wilfully
non-commercial first single, “El Scorcho”, which crashed and burned out of
the charts at a rate of speed usually reserved for the likes of Gary Barlow.
Whatever the reason, Pinkerton soon disappeared without a trace, which is a
shame because it’s actually a great album. Whereas Weezer had the band
revelling in their geek rock image, Pinkerton saw singer / songwriter Rivers
Cuomo maturing as a lyricist: From opening track “Tired Of Sex”, which rants
about the frustrating easiness of groupies, to the New Wave pop of
“Getchoo”, to the sheer, unadulterated epic genius of “The Good Life”, the
songs are much more diverse than the Pixies-influenced bouncey grunge of
their debut. With the closing solo acoustic lament of “Butterfly”, Rivers
Cuomo hints at his mastery of the pop song as an art form, suggesting great
things from this reformed geek in the future.

Few albums in rock history have enjoyed as complete a critical and popular
turnaround as Weezer

Category:Alternative rock
Main catalog

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