Music Review

Weezer came out with its new album, Hurley, on Sept. 14, 2010. Throughout the member’s 18 years together as a band, they’ve gone through many phases with each album they’ve put out. This album, though, seems to stick to the same sound that they started in their album Raditude. One of the things that is consistent throughout the albums, despite the instrumental changes, is some goofy song lyrics. I’m going to tell you now, this album is very goofy.One of the goofier songs on the album is “Where’s My Sex?” in which Rivers Cuomo sings about sex as if it were a tangible, physical object, like a dog or a ball that’s gone missing. Though the lyrics of this song are goofy, the instruments are definitely not. The guitars provide a steady background of harmonies and melodies that complement Cuomo’s singing style. When there’s about one minute left in the song, the entire landscape of the song changes. It sounds like it could be a completely different song, but the little breakdown only lasts for about 30 seconds before transitioning back into the chorus. It definitely catches you by surprise, but it adds a lot to the uniqueness of the song.

Another song that that is one of the more different songs on the album is Unspoken. It’s one of the softer, slower songs, but it builds. It’s not a song that’s ‘slow’ by normal standards, but it is slower for them. Another thing that makes this song interesting is the fact that Cuomo sings in a higher key than he normally does. The song starts off with a quickened acoustic guitar and Cuomo singing. That’s how it continues for most of the song, with the occasional wind instrument adding in a goofy little trill. However, it does build. With a little over a minute remaining, Cuomo’s voice gradually crescendos, and the soft chords of the acoustic guitar are replaced with the driving power chords of an electric guitar. Then at the end of the song, the guitars fade out, and the woodwind instrument plays a soft ending.

These are only two of the eleven songs on the album, but they’re definitely a good preview of what the rest of the album is like-a lot of goofiness. But somehow Weezer still manages to remain true to the sound established in Raditude. This is definitely an album worth giving a listen, whether you like Weezer or not.

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