15 Reasons Why Weezer’s Blue Album Is One Of The Best Records Ever
Weezer have always been a band that divides opinion. From moustaches and ten gallon hats to round the world cruises, they’ve never been a band to do things by the book. Each time a new album comes out, there seems to be a buzz about it being a ‘return to form’, with ‘form’ being the brilliant ‘Blue Album’, ‘Pinkerton’ or, at a push, the ‘Green Album’. Whilst the latter two do hold up as great albums, (especially Pinkerton, ‘Tired of Sex’, anyone?) it’s Weezer’s first effort, 1994’s ‘Blue Album’ that still holds a special place in every Weezer fan’s heart. If you haven’t heard it, here’s why you should give it a spin. If you have heard it, here’s why you should stick in on right now.
1. They sang about Superheroes before it was cool.
These days, everyone from Eminem to Alkaline Trio are dropping superhero references into their lyrics. Hollywood are to blame, I tell ya. Rivers Cumo, however, was somewhat of a trendsetter. In geek-anthem ‘In the Garage’ Cumo sings,
‘I’ve got the Dungeon Master’s Guide/
I’ve got a 12-sided die/
I’ve got Kitty Pryde/
And Nightcrawler too/
Waiting there for me/
Yes I do, I do/’
It’s a fantastic ode to Geekery and unashamedly pursuing what you enjoy. Who gives a fuck about anything else when you’re holed up in your garage with Dungeons and Dragons and X-men comics?
2. The first 2 seconds of ‘Holiday’.
That first little intro riff bursts with energy, excitement and happiness. Weezer are brilliant at little superfluities like this, and they make the album shine with a vibrancy that still resonates almost a decade later.
3. The lyrics to ‘My Name Is Jonas’.
It might just be me, but I don’t really have a fucking clue what Cumo’s singing about here. Choo choo trains and builders? It’s also quite possibly the only song to make people scream about drinking tea made by their grandma. God bless.
4. The unashamed insecurity of it all.
‘Say it ain’t so’ is a song which kicks a thousand types of arse, but at the base of it all is one man’s insecurity. ‘Somebody’s heiney is crowding my icebox/somebody’s cold one, is giving me chills/guess I’ll just close my eyes.’ These fantastically understated verses erupt into one of the most powerful choruses to feature on any Weezer song, and it works fantastically.
5. The little trill in the first verse of ‘Buddy Holly’.
Again, this is one of those superfluities that elevate the album to the next level. It adds a new level of mystique to the verse, just who are these homies, and why are they fronting? Something’s brewing, and by the time we get to the ‘bang bang, knocking on the door’ middle eight, we feel like we’ve been expecting this violent outburst from the beginning. There’s really no need for that ‘de-du-du-du-du’ down on the 14th fret, but Cumo sticks it in and you instantly think ‘fuck, that’s cool.’
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