Since it is "Rock Week" 2007, I figured I might as well throw in at least one album review/recommendation for this week. Today I will be giving you a little insight on Weezer's second, most underrated album: Pinkerton.
Pinkerton was a departure from the band's first self titled debut album that had a more pop/rock sound due in no small part to it being produced by The Cars' Ric Ocasek. Pinkerton was darker and had a deep theme of wrenching teen angst mixed with a masterful alternative rock sound that brings together Weezer's distinct style with guitar work ripped right out of an old fashioned garage jam session.
Although a critical failure upon its initial release (Rolling Stone readers named the album the second worst of 1996, oddly enough in 2002 Rolling Stone readers voted it as the 16th greatest album of all-time). By the close of the century, word-of-mouth had considerably rehabilitated Pinkerton's standing and many Weezer fans consider it the band's best work. Some consider the band's more recent albums a conscious retreat from the sound and style of Pinkerton. In support of this, in 2001, Rivers Cuomo would frequently make claims to how much he hated Pinkerton. He told Entertainment Weekly:
"It's a hideous record... It was such a hugely painful mistake that happened in front of hundreds of thousands of people and continues to happen on a grander and grander scale and just won't go away. It's like getting really drunk at a party and spilling your guts in front of everyone and feeling incredibly great and cathartic about it, and then waking up the next morning and realizing what a complete fool you made of yourself."
For some time after regrouping, the band would play very few Pinkerton songs on tour. However, by late 2001, some of the songs were revived and many of Pinkerton's songs are now commonly heard at Weezer concerts. As of October 2005, Pinkerton had sold 784,655 copies, and it is certified gold.
But, without a doubt, the aforementioned use of "spilling your guts in front of everyone" is the lyrical energy that makes Pinkerton one of the greatest underrated albums in music history.
Some tracks of note are:
"El Scorcho"- Written about feelings of traditional teen angst with reference to Green Day, Public Enemy, Cio-Cio San, and a red-headed half Japanese girl. Speeds up in the middle with heightened guitar work.
"Pink Triangle"- Written about frontman Rivers Cuomo falling in love with a girl and them going out for a period of time.....until one day she breaks the news to him that she is a lesbian. It's funny, sad, and has some catchy vocals and guitar work. In my opinion it's one of their most underrated singles.
"Getchoo"- Featuring high distortion and feedback, it is undoubtedly the hardest song off of Pinkerton. "Getchoo" is also a clear and blatant track from their unreleased album/rock opera: "Songs from the Black Hole". Making this particular track all the more special, as it provides us with a taste of what might have been.
Well. Haven't I given you reason enough to go buy and/or illegally download this most underrated of rock masterpieces? Now go! Rock out, enjoy, and remember kids: EMO FUCKING SUCKS!(I just had to throw that in there somehow)
