Rank: 4.5/5
With “The White Album,” the listener is being welcomed back into the steadfast alt rock arms of Weezer. The album is endearing, catchy and simple, and doesn’t try to be anything but. If nothing in life is dependable, Weezer is.
The group released its 10th studio album on April 1.
“The White Album” is classic Weezer. The group isn’t making a comeback, because they never left. After 24 years together, it still finds ways to expand its trademark style without losing what made them so popular in the first place.
One needs to hear only the first few lyrics from frontman Rivers Cuomo to know exactly what’s playing. Easygoing riffs, garage grunge and nerd rockability make the fourth self-titled album a killer release.
The record follows the pattern of self-titled EPs known by the color of the album, like “The Blue Album,” “The Green Album” and “The Red Album.”
“The White Album” is a nod to the early ‘90s Weezer days, with rocking single “Thank God For Girls,” and softer tunes like “(Girl We Got A) Good Thing,” and “Jacked Up.” The best tracks on the album are probably “California Kids” and “King Of The World.” Every song has that appealing beat or chorus that will continue to play on repeat in the listener’s head.
Lyrically, the album is an assortment of whatever Cuomo was feeling at the time, with strange phrasing that doesn’t necessarily make sense, but it works.
Critics accuse Weezer of failing to recapture their glory days or the interest of today’s youth, but they couldn’t be more wrong. The proof is in the pudding, or the album more like it; Weezer is still capable of reaching audiences today by putting out hits that sound like its first singles over two decades ago.
The record feels distinctly summertime, carefree and youthful. It’s evergreen in the sense that it doesn’t get old.
The band still has its happy-go-lucky pop-rock vibe that it became so well loved for and “The White Album” is one of their best yet.