Only in Dreams Will This Pop Masterpiece Be Away From My CD Case

I describe my tastes in music as that that I can identify with. I discovered Weezer in the mid-90's when my music interest first peaked, and by the time the milennium hit Weezer had become my band, this "Blue Album" had become a favorite, "Pinkerton" had become the first record I cried to, (laugh if you will, but its an emotional diamond in the rough) and I immensely enjoyed the "Green Album", "Maladroit", and all of the band's great B-sides. Weezer is a band that doesn't boast anything groundbreaking or technically mindblowing, but lead singer/guitarist Rivers Cuomo's ability to write a perfect pop song makes Weezer one of the best bands of the decade, the sheer quality of their music is overwhelming, as is its wonderful simplicity.

Weezer surfaced in the time period where grunge had reached its popular peak, Soundgarden, Hole, and the Stone Temple Pilots were all big, as were Nirvana, even though Kurt Cobain had already taken his own life. However, Weezer played a blend of 60's garage pop, a bit of grunge swagger, and the melodic sensibility of the Pixies and mid-career Husker Du. Their alternative rock mixture was catchy and very radio friendly while possessing a grunge element that was unusually tight and anthemic.

The "Blue Album", which will henceforth be referred to as "Blue" is genius in its simplicity. Cuomo writes stunningly affecting and clever lyrics while crafting solos in every song that sing perfectly from the guitar, matching his vocal melody for the song dead on. He plays simple barre chords with almost no muting, creating powerful verses and strong choral hooks. Pat Wilson is a competent drummer, and while his drumwork isn't anything incredible, it along with Matt Sharp's noteworthy bass playing form a cohesive rhythm section that never really takes a complete back seat to Cuomo and second guitarist Brian Bell. While Cuomo is obviously the band's brainchild and driving force, the unit as a whole must not be overlooked.

"Blue", for the most part, is a young, positive, happy go lucky rock album, it is not exactly the band's signature effort, but they really do not have one anyway, "Blue" takes the title as the band's most recognizable. It possesses its share of angst and Cuomo's hapless, hopeless romanticism, but overall "Blue" is a toe-tapping, smiling, good time record.

Positivity is evident right away as the album comes to a quick start on "My Name is Jonas", the song is a work of childhood memories and reminiscent glory. "Come sit next to me, pour yourself some tea, just like Grandma did when we couldn't find sleep" You can't help but smile at Cuomo's cuteness, which never comes of as lame or cheesy because of his penchant for writing terrific lyrics.

The album rolls along, passing the gigantic hit "Buddy Holly" which doesn't need explaining, except for its definitely not one of the stronger tunes of the outing. "The World Has Turned And Left Me Here" is the first Cuomo heartbreak song to surface, the tempo is slowed down, and Cuomo's voice becomes almost a coo, the lyrics here are superb as well, Cuomo's gift of the word really becomes noticeable: "I talked for hours to your wallet photograph, and you just listened. You laughed enchanted by my intellect, or maybe you didnt."

The fascinatingly brilliant "Undone (The Sweater Song)" and "Say it Ain't So" make for some of the best songs on the album, and were popular rock hits although not with the magnitude of "Buddy Holly", they also represent Cuomo's soft, deeply emotional work. The surfer anthem "Surf Wax America" comes late in the album, its terrific, the lyrics here are very clever, but you have to buy the album and laugh with them yourself. "In the Garage" could be the definitive Weezer song of the band's positive, happy side, the guitars are wildly distorted, but the pop beat rounds them together, as do one of Cuomo's more ambitious (and perhaps self-mocking) guitar solos.

However, the true highlight of this already extremely strong album is the closing track, "Only in Dreams". Weezer always seems to save their best for last, just check out any of their other albums, the last song is always one of the most sonically beautiful and confessing numbers. "Only in Dreams" is an 8-minute long opera of 4 instruments, mostly bass driven, occasional vocals, and a ending of drums, bass, and faint guitar that takes two minutes to build up before breaking out in a frantic rush of heavy guitars and a lick-laden solo, about as sexual as music can get, at least at this point.

The Blue Album does not take names with its originality, or its technicality, but the music is so simple, yet so melodic and hook-laden that it is almost divine, Weezer does almost nothing wrong on this album, a hard feat to come by in modern rock. The album is not as moving or quite as strong as Weezer's next release, the dark and tear jerking "Pinkerton", but its damn near close. The band's first two records are arguably two of the best rock records of the decade. Undoubtedly there are few music fans who have yet to discover the Weez, but "Blue" is an excellent place to start. A landmark record.