15 Second Record Review - Raditude by Weezer

Pinkerton it ain't, but as one of the few non-eponymous Weezer releases (and even among the self-titled albums), this is the band's strongest release since that 1996 masterpiece .  Although the album cover has got to be considered one of the all-time best (the photo was a National Geographic user-submission contest winner ), its connotations somewhat belie the music within. Certain tracks manage to combine the creative faux-party aesthetic with the "I'm a big loser nerd" vibe that occasionally makes Weezer brilliant. However, as with much of the recent Weezer albums, arena-rock anthems are still too prevalent. And there are moments where the band tries to step out from its routine which fall flat, such as the Indian-style droning vocals in "Love Is the Answer." And there are moments where absurdity comes in such as the, admittedly amusing, cameo by Lil Wayne on "Can't Stop Partying" that make this record seem like a cast-away without any longevity. Nevertheless, I fear that much of the hype and accolades this album is receiving is simply a celebration of a return to form of sorts to "old" Weezer. But "old" Weezer was an occasionally over-reaching alternative grunge band that somehow managed to produce one timeless classic: Pinkerton. Taking this album as a stand-alone release would inevitably reduce its reception. In context, this is an A- record. If this were the band's debut, it's a C. Let's split the difference and give it the benefit of the doubt for being something other than complete garbage, as most people were fearing. B