Weezer: Raditude
Rivers Cuomo is still hurt by the failure of Pinkerton. Weezer’s second record was a raw, emotional affair that put all of his insecurities on display. Although the album has become a beloved classic, its initial lukewarm reception caused Cuomo to retreat from the public eye for several years. When he emerged in 2001 with The Green Album, Weezer had returned to the geek rock that made them stars in the first place. They became one of the biggest bands in the world, and as a result, Cuomo was much less adventurous. He was still capable of writing a great song (“Dope Nose,” “Perfect Situation”), but the albums were increasingly uneven, culminating in last year’s half cooked Red Album.
Raditude isn’t as disappointing as Red, but it’s their most mainstream record to date. Weezer has always had pop sensibility, but Raditude is their first fully fledged pop album. “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” is a cumbersome title, but it follows a conventional arena rock structure; a friendly acoustic verse followed by a bombastic chorus. There is even a “GIRL!” at the end of the verse so the audience knows when to put their fists in the air.
Cuomo is in full rock star mode. He hits on hot chicks, he does shots of Patron with Lil Wayne and has an affinity for the sitar. It feels like he’s writing from a character’s point of view rather than a personal one. When you write from another point of view, you have to inhabit that person. When Cuomo sings that he needs the Patron in “Can’t Stop Partying”, his awkwardness slips through the mask of overconfidence. This gives the lyric a thick coat of irony. Irony is on every Weezer album, but it was used to offset the pain of Cuomo’s anxiety. The delicate balance between gentle wink and a cynical front isn’t there. Cuomo sounds fake.
“I Can’t Stop Partying” is getting a lot of attention because of the Lil Wayne cameo. The cameo is one of the most telling moments of the record. Cuomo comes in and out with his tales of lurid nights on the town, and then Wayne comes in. He only raps for a few bars, but his laid back flow is a welcome reprieve from Cuomo’s posing. Plus, he manages to pair “Weezy” with Weezer. Lil Wayne is awesome.
Cuomo drops his guard on “Put Me Back Together,” and it’s the only time he sounds like himself. He sings about his insecurity and being uncool. He sounds sincere, which is the reason Weezer connected so many people. Rivers Cuomo was relatable and honest. When he acts like a rock god, he sounds even more insecure than he does when singing about his sweater.
