After nearly two decades of on and off success, Los Angeles rock band Weezer has finally rediscovered its sound in what is, essentially, its best album since the band’s second studio album “Pinkerton.” Despite the album’s April Fool’s Day release, “The White Album” is far from a joke.
In 2014, Weezer released its ninth studio album, “Everything Will be Alright in the End,” promising fans that it was done with gimmicks and trying to write chart-topping pop hits. It was a huge promise, and many critics believed that the band could never revert back to their former glory. But the critics couldn’t have been any more wrong.
“The White Album” is the group’s fourth self-titled album, identifiable by the album artwork’s color, and it is undoubtedly one of the best in the series. It features the guitar-heavy sound of old-school Weezer and has no shortage of frontman Rivers Cuomo’s obscure, albeit sincere, lyrics. The entire album is nostalgic of what made Weezer famous in the first place, and they could not have executed a comeback album any better than this.
“The White Album” is meant to be a fun beach album, and a number of its tracks are destined to become summer anthems. The album kicks off with hit single “California Kids,” a light, beachy tune with an infectiously catchy chorus. “California Kids” sets the mood with the light sound of waves crashing and a dreamy percussion part as Weezer prepares to take listeners on a musical journey through their native California.
Though many of the allusions and lyrics on the album seem outright ridiculous and may be chalked up to be typical of Weezer, they all hold deeper personal meaning to Cuomo. Love and heartbreak were common topics in Weezer’s early works, and Cuomo has brought these themes back in full force for “The White Album.” The album’s lyrics feature references to magazine racks and airplane crashes and appear to be a sweet nod to Cuomo’s wife, Kyoko, and her phobia of airplanes. Cuomo offers himself as a shoulder for her to cry on as his sings his heart out in “King of the World.”
However, not every song on the album follows the same formula that ensured Weezer’s success back in the ‘90s. “Wind in Our Sail” and “Jacked Up” are a side of Weezer that we haven’t seen before, showing that, though the band is trying to return to its roots, they still aren’t afraid to explore new territory. Though both songs feature obscure literary references, typical of Cuomo’s lyrical style, they are strangely optimistic. These additions to the album show that Cuomo is finally back at his best and having fun with his craft.
The album closes with the mellow guitar riffs of “Endless Bummer,” which is reminiscent of the end of summer blues. Like the sunset marks the end of a perfect summer day, “Endless Bummer” marks the end of Weezer’s best album in decades.
“The White Album” is fun and youthful, and it’s guaranteed to make you feel like you’re back in the ‘90s when the band was just starting out. The album is a homerun and will make you wish you were one of the “California Kids,” too.
