Oh, Weezer. The legendary, Rivers Cuomo-fronted rock band has one of the most scattered and divisive discographies in modern alternative rock. Though Weezer ruled the mid-to-late '90s with its nerdy, relatable lyrics and its hook-filled, catchy rock anthems. Later Weezer? Eh... not so much.
So, it's inevitable that some publication out there was bound to rank (nearly) every song in the Weezer discography. It's not us here at Music Times... it was done over at MySpace. The relatively newly re-launched publication ranked 159 songs by Weezer from worst ("Everybody Get Dangerous") to best ("Across The Sea"). Now, we're comparing notes. Six Music Times writers wrote about their favorite Weezer tracks and saw where they landed on MySpace's list to see who had the best taste.
Jon Niles, Sections Editor: "Getchoo" (No. 57)
How could Weezer follow Pinkerton's opener -- the awkward anthem "Tired of Sex?" Answer: an anxious condescension entitled "Getchoo." This aching track has Rivers Cuomo straining his voice with desperation and yearning. Loud and aggressive, Weezer's messiness is ever-present throughout the tune that still manages to remain catchy enough to pass for power pop. "Getchoo" really stands out amongst every other Weezer song with its ending. The opening line "This is beginning to hurt" repeats over and over again, accompanied by Rivers' broken voice moaning "uh huh" until he completely breaks.
Claire Setton, Editorial Intern: "Island In The Sun" (No. 56)
It's the ultimate beach anthem. It's an awesome feel good song, with catchy lyrics and a great beat. The title speaks for itself - "Island In The Sun" is a song that makes me nostalgic for summer. I like how it starts off with a light, chill sound, but still has the rock sound, which comes into play more towards the end of the song. Originally it wasn't supposed to be on their second album, but their producer pushed for it. It's also in Aquamarine, the best movie ever.
Joseph DeGroot, Staff Writer: "In The Garage" (No. 14)
There are definitely Weezer songs that I relate to an awful lot: "Why Bother", "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here", "Butterfly", but "In the Garage" isn't really one of them. I've never played Dungeons & Dragons, I don't read X-Men comics, and I'm not even a big KISS fan, but "In the Garage" is still my favorite Weezer song. Musically it's classic Weezer, with deliciously fuzzed guitars, a simple yet insistent drumbeat, a killer guitar solo, and an absolutely perfect chorus. Ironically, the geekiest song on The Blue Album (by far) is also the toughest and most badass, and I'm almost certain this juxtaposition is completely intentional.
Caitlin Carter, Sections Editor: "Undone (The Sweater Song)" (No. 7)
Weezer and early life nostalgia go hand in hand. Undone (The Sweater Song) was the first Weezer song I ever heard. Something about the pointless party banter at the beginning (a precursor, perhaps, to the airhead ramblings on "#Selfie?"), the Beach Boys vibe and the ringing guitar is classic Weezer to me. Despite the chord progression giving the song a happy feel, it's really a depressing song about losing control, which is kind of an awesome metaphor for instability often being masked by artificial happiness. Looks like I'll have this song stuck in my head the rest of the day.
Ryan Book, Sections Editor: "Only In Dreams" (No. 6)
Weezer's greatest successes have come thanks to the sympathies they inspire from my high school and college years (a.k.a "the years that Ryan now hates himself for"): Blue rings true with the high school loser, and Pinkerton echoes the jaded college asshole who was less cool than he realized. But I digress. "Only In Dreams" seizes upon the cruel reality that 75 percent of men face: You will never get that girl. You will never even speak to that girl. She was meant for bigger and better things than you. "Only In Dreams" unfolds an American tragedy as well as Arthur Miller ever could and does so on an epic scope that Weezer would never reach again.
Carolyn Menyes, Staff Writer: "El Scorcho" (No. 2)
The best thing about Weezer for all its fans, I think, is the amount of nostalgia that the band brings upon a single listen to its music. There are dozens of memories I have connected to dozens of Weezer songs, but I think my favorites have to be all the times that "El Scorcho" would come up on a party's playlist while I was in college. If you haven't yelled along to every line of this song after having just one too many PBRs stomping along on a questionable floor that may or may not be able to handle the energy... well, man, you just haven't lived. Beer-fueled memories aside, "El Scorcho" is a crowning achievement in Weezer's discography. Lyrically, Rivers Cuomo pines for those Japanese girls and redheads he just cannot attain (as always) but he does it in a plucky, awkward way that musically shows why he's just a little too uncool. I'm a lot like you, Rivers. We all are.
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