![]() That said-I did go to see Weezer when they came to play an outdoor show in Noblesville, Indiana in 2002. One only has to look at the Billboard charts since Weezer’s comeback to see if that binder was useful or not. Further Internet research revealed that Cuomo possessed a binder of extensive information that would give him formulas to create perfect pop songs. Eliot’s words in his famous essay “Tradition and the Individual Talent” and made them reality: “ progress of an artist is a continual self-sacrifice, a continual extinction of personality.” This new album seemed empty, formulated, too much like science and not enough like rock ‘n’ roll. I could tell something was off and not just because my mom said she liked the song “Hash Pipe.” Weezer had a new bass player and their new album didn’t echo anything found in the dark tone of Pinkerton, nor was it quite like the sad lyrics and hook-laden music combo of their first album. I was a sophomore in high school and slightly less melodramatic. And when they came back in 2001 with “The Green Album,” neither of us were the same. After the release of Pinkerton, Weezer disappeared. And soon the CDs were stacking up in my room. Though Weezer was the only band I could think about for a long time, soon there were more bands. I wanted to be as close to the band as I could. I saw all sorts of Weezer paraphernalia on eBay that I wanted to buy because Weezer would never come to play in Indianapolis-bands only came through my town to get to Chicago or Detroit or Cincinnati or Louisville. I found the Weezer symbol: =w= and learned to make it with my hands. I found the “rebel weezer alliance.” I found more than one Cuomo fan page made in Geocities. I scoured the Internet at dial-up speed to find lyrics to the song (I needed to know what Cuomo was singing at the end) as well as to try to find any and all other information on Weezer that I could. I sorted out Cuomo’s vocals from guitarist Brian Bell’s and Sharp’s in the chorus and would eventually only sing his vocal when I sang by myself in my room or in the car. Hold this thread as I walk away (As I walk away)ĭespite this, I loved the song. ![]() If you want to destroy my sweater (Woah-ah-woah-ah-woah) The song’s elements are delivered in a cheery package though-the song doesn’t sad. I like this video and the song more than “Buddy Holly” because the song seems more intricate (the speaking intro, multiple voices in the chorus) and, as a teenager, was more in line with my general feelings. It’s a seemingly simple performance video, with elements of humor (Patrick Wilson running around his drum set) and oddness thrown in (a wide angle shot shows a small pack of dogs galloping past the band). This song’s video, also directed by Jonze, has the band performing in front of the same blue screen as on the album’s cover. Of all the songs, it’s “Undone-The Sweater Song” that I love most. And as I did this, I’d often be standing in my room by my bed, imitating Cuomo’s moves from the “Buddy Holly” or “Undone-The Sweater Song” music videos and singing along. ![]() I always popped the CD player after the penultimate song, “Holiday,” or I skipped back to the beginning. Still, I could really never listen to this song. Cuomo’s predicament made me feel better about myself-I felt like I wasn’t the only loser in the world. Matt Sharp’s bass trudges along as more and more instruments come in and Rivers Cuomo’s singing changes from wispy to desperate as the band hits the chorus:Īs lame as it sounds, this chorus is how I felt in junior high. My only hang-up was the closing track, “Only in Dreams,” because it was just so sad for a lovelorn boy from the Midwest like me. I was surprised that I could listen to it all the way through. This want solidified upon listening to the album in full. I didn’t know about The Velvet Underground then. ![]() ![]() Jonze places the band in an episode of Happy Days where they play “Buddy Holly” and get adoring glances from girls, a stern look from Richie Cunningham before he runs into a bathroom, and The Fonz busts out in a jumping jack-like dance. All I had to go off of was “Buddy Holly” and its music video.ĭirected by Spike Jonze, the music video for “Buddy Holly” is a classic and marvel to watch. The minimalist cover, the band standing in front of a blue screen, gave no hint as to what the music would sound like. A DJ must have said “Weezer” at some point though, that’s the only way I could find the album. It seemed too complicated to find out the band behind the song “Buddy Holly.” X103, Indy’s “alternative” station, was pretty loose on giving the names of bands they played, often cutting songs short or talking over their final seconds. ![]()
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