Weezer

“Maladroit”

4 stars (out of 5)

Weezer has been here before.

Hot off the heels of a self-titled album, Rivers Cuomo and the gang are set to drop an eagerly anticipated follow-up that promises more introspective lyrics than gripping hooks. What followed the first time in 1996 was “Pinkerton,” a tortured record featuring melodic tunes about lesbians and half-Japanese girls which quickly became a cult favorite amongst die-hard Weezer fans.

It also happened to suck commercially… big time.

Mainstream fans and critics who were swayed by the uber-catchy “Buddy Holly” and “Undone (The Sweater Song)” found the lyrical switch too jarring. It subsequently tanked on the charts, garnering several negative reviews including a “worst album of the year” nod from SPIN magazine.

Enter “Maladroit,” the latest album since “Pinkerton” sent the band on a hiatus that ended with last year’s neon-green “Weezer.” Although it was refreshing hearing the green LP share radio rotation with Nickelback and Train, you couldn’t help but feel the charm that made the band so memorable had been deliberately underplayed to make way for easy likability.

But if the green album was the first contact with a long lost friend, then “Maladroit” is the first great conversation.

The emo all-stars pound out “American Giggalo” with a bite that did not surface on their last outing. Mellow tracks like “Burnt Jamb” play with a calm assurance that seem almost forced on the radio-friendly “Island in the Sun.” Although it is by far not the best track on the album, “Slob” marks the return of personalized and meaningful lyrics MIA since Pinkerton. .

It seems for the first time since the band’s return, and possibly since they emerged on our pop culture radar screen in 1994, the band is making music they are comfortable with.

Seeing as the band is currently in the studio working on album number five, it’s safe to say no matter how “Maladroit” fares on Billboard or in SPIN, we should be seeing more of everyone’s favorite geek-rock super quartet. And if this record is any indication, this is a very, very good thing.

Published on April 22, 2002 at 12:00 pm