The Weez...

My favorite band, since I got their first album on a burned CD my junior year of highschool, has been Weezer. I feel in love with Jimmy Eat World and Ben Folds in college, but my first love in the music world has always been Weezer. The great thing about Weezer, is every time I graduate from something, they have been kind enough to release an album to congratulate me.

In 2001 I graduated highschool, and they gave me the Green Album (which is highly criticized for being too poppy, but I like it quite a bit anyway.)

In 2005 as I was graduating college, Weezer again gave me the gift of releasing an album, this time "Make Believe." This is considered by some to be their worst album, but I love it still.

And now in 2008 as I graduate seminary, they have released the Red Album. Every review I have read online hates it, but I just can't help but like all things Weezer, so of course I like it.

Every album they release is compared unfavorably to one of two albums. If you are a hardcore Weezer fan, you compare their new album unfavorably to "Pinkerton." If you are only a casual Weezer fan, you compare their new album unfavorably to Blue. This has happened to every album since Green. "Well, its good, but not quite as good as the Blue album." "Oh, you must be a casual Weezer fan." That is pretty much the dialogue.

I am always curious about these types of reactions. George Lucas has gotten a lot of crap for his newest Star Wars movies and his newest Indiana Jones movies. I don't entirely know why this is. If something is too similar to an old great, it is too similar for fanboys. If it is very different, its too different and they "sold out." I just think people don't appreciate how hard it is to continually put out greatness, and I think that they cannot just come to new offerings with an open mind. They want what they loved about the old work, without being the same. WELL WHICH IS IT?!!!
I realize that I am fiercely loyal to things I love, like the Weez and George Lucas (and episode I truly was crap) but I also think we should let these people put out their art, and if we like it, great, if not, don't buy it. I have written a lot without saying anything, but I will say, right now I like the Red Album. Not a whole lot, but I really grew to like "Make Believe" so I expect that will happen here too. I will sure as crap memorize every song, and learn them by heart. And I will buy a new Weez t-shirt soon too...