Customer Reviews

Make Believe (Dig)

5 star:		(78)
4 star:		(56)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(27)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

I almost have to laugh when reading some of these reviews. Weezer has more fair-weather fans than the Minnesota Vikings (and that's a lot). How could some Weezer "fans" be so close minded. I keep reading things like "I was expecting another blue album," or "This album isn't even listenable". I have to wonder, are they listening to the same album that I'm listening to? From the reviews, you would think that people would want Weezer to make the same album, over and over and over. Yeah, because that would be interesting [sarcasm]. Sometimes I just get disgusted at the fact that people don't demand more from their music. So many people are afraid of maturity. Well guess what; Weezer isn't the same band that they were back in 1994, and you aren't the same snot-nose teenager you were either. Smart bands change up their albums with every release, which is exactly what Weezer has done, and done brilliantly throughout their career. But no, some people are still looking for another "Hash Pipe" or a "Buddy Holly". If you are a true Weezer fan, you will absolutely love this record. This is by far the most important record they've ever released.

Each Weezer record has defining characteristics. Whether it be a change in sound, lyrical delivery, emotionally, or thematically, they're are always creating original pieces of work that stand apart from each other. Rivers Cuomo has a very articulate and emotional delivery. I read in a Rolling Stone that Rivers Cuomo has been practicing several forms of meditation. He spent 20 days in a closet, alone, without any form of media. He was only given breaks for food, but not for conversing. To many, it seems like torture, but Cuomo thought "It was great". Things like that, are what makes Cuomo such a strong songwriter. The lyrics on this album are just incredible, regardless of what "fans" may tell you. You can tell that Cuomo beats himself up lyrically, conveying a need for self deprecation. In fact, the very things that "old-school fans" of Weezer hate about this record, are the things that make this album so brilliant. "Beverly Hills," "Perfect Situation," and "We Are All on Drugs," are among their best songs they've ever recorded. These songs are constructed beautifully. Rivers is never overbearing or irritating. And with the help from veteran producer Rick Ruben, this is one of the best sets of songs Weezer has ever recorded. I also love "Hold Me," "Peace," and "Pardon Me". Actually, the album works so well as a whole, that it seems pointless to pick out standout tracks. Weezer has also grown musically. I would say that this album has the best guitar work, and by far the most variety.

Well, if you are a fair-weather Weezer fan, like the bulk of them on this page, you have probably already clicked "no" below. But I implore you to change the way you think. Try listening to the album with an open mind for once. Have you ever dove into an album head first without any expectations? Well, that's the way I listen to every album, with an unbiased attitude. How do you expect to enjoy an album when you keep thinking, "this isn't the same as the other album I like". What you call "different," I call good. I'll be honest; if this album sounded just like any of their other records, I would have been far less impressed with the album. 5 stars for sure!

I don't usually write reviews, but after seeing how bad this album was being trashed, I felt like I should step up and defend it.

Let's get one thing straight--it's not the new Pinkerton, as some of you have been lead to believe. It's not like any of Weezer's previous releases, and it should be admired for that. The band has matured and evolved, which takes much more skill than releasing the same record over and over again. The other reviews here seem to be from people who want "their Weezer" back, and are not taking into acount that Weezer is their own entity and they are entitled to some well-deserved artistic growth. They have achieved that with Make Believe. Rivers has really put alot of thoughtfulness into the lyrics, and the band has explored new avenues musically. I especially like the synth-layden "This Is Such A Pity." The closing track, "Haunt You Every Day," is also striking. It's probably the creepiest Weezer song ever, surpassing the obsessive "Across the Sea" and album five demo "Queen of Pain." I'm not going to recommend this album, however. It's obviously not accessible for those who expect to hear what they want to from Weezer. But I will say that I love it. Approach it with an open mind, and you might, too.

Ok, so it seems that there are many types of weezer fans, with many feelings about what constitutes a good weezer album. They all love the first two; but after that it really becomes a whole bunch of gray. As for me, I found both the green album and maladroit to be subpar. Each had a few good songs, with green being the better album, but were rather thin musically, having little replay value. I defy someone to listen to hash pipe two times in a row! heh

Now onto the album at hand. I can easily rate this album higher than either of weezer's previous two efforts. While Make Believe is still far too inconsistent to live up to the great Weezer of ole, there are moments of beauty. Perfect Situation is easily the best Weezer song written in the last decade. Songs like This Is Such A Pity and the trippy Freak Me Out are grade A tunes as well. Most of the lyrics are pretty wishywashy overall, especially in songs like Hold Me. The songs that are good and fun work pretty well with the lyrics given. The real treat on the album, are River's great vocal melodies. Even in the songs I find to be lacking musically, he has never sounded so good.

Now for the downside. Sadly Weezer still have this problem with making bad novelty songs that have hindered them for quite some time now. The first single Beverly Hills is no different. While I have grown to accept it, it is indeed a skipped track nine times out of ten. The lowest point of the album in every sense is without a doubt We Are All On Drugs. Very weak satire, if it can be even considered one. Somehow I sense a trace of sincerity in the lyrics that make them all the more disgusting. The music is nothing to cheer for, and there is just nothing redeemable about this song. Just thinking about this song makes me want to knock another star off of the album's score. Thankfully, The Damage In Your Heart is a pretty good ballad-type song.

Anything compared to the first two weezer albums is hard to give above a C grade, but I am optimistic about Weezer now like I haven't been in years. The songs that are on, have the amazing replay value that makes you play them two or three times in a row and hum them all day. If they could remove the song We Are All On Drugs, this album would get a better review from me. As it stands, I would day it's about a 3.5

even though this album deserves more like 3.5 or 4 stars, im giving it a 5 to counteract some of the other ridiculous reviews i have seen. sure, the album isnt as good as the first two, doesnt mean that it deserves 1 star! the album is actually not that bad, it'll grow on you. when i first listened to pinkerton, i thought it was very average, but the cd eventually became one of my all time favorites. make believe is an awesome cd once you get used to it. you'll find yourself singing along to every song.

I was watching a documentary on the making of Platoon recently and Tom Berenger stated that performing in a great movie when you are young can be both a blessing and curse, because it's quite possible that you can never attain that level of perfection again. I think the same can be said for Weezer, while everyone agrees that their first two albums, Blue and Pinkerton were excellent, many are still waiting for them to be recreated in a new form.

That is the problem with this band, if your expectations are too high you are going to get burned. Blue and Pinkerton can never be recreated, they came at the right time musically and were unique in their own right. Green and Maladroit are very listenable, but are both really missing a theme, they songs while addictive are really just empty shells created by formula.

I'm happy to say that after listeneing to Make Believe for two weeks now this album definately breaks from that process. Most of the songs do have some soul to them, some remind you of the first two albums, some are new and unique, and most are good enough to be differentiated from one another (the problem with Green).

Beverly Hills - The first single, a good, steady chill-out song that was primed from radio from the get-go, really the only one on the album.
Perfect Situation - Marked by a screeching, sprawling guitar intro and piano accompaniment on the verses, this song will remind you of Blue or Pinkerton. The lyrics deal with awkwardness and the chorus is a simple 'oh oh'.
This is Such a Pity - Sounds like The Killer, with an 80s electronic feel. I originally didn't like this one but it really grew on me, the drum work is excellent.
Hold Me - Not a bad song, follows the 'quiet-loud' formula. The lyrics are little soft and wimpy, even for Weezer.
Peace - A good song, marked by a repetitive guitar lick and another classic Rivers chorus.
We Are All on Drugs - There is no excuse for this song, it is without a question the worst song on the album. I can't believe reading reviews that call this the 'album high point'. It is a lyrical nightmare, it is not catchy or humourous, perhaps Nancy Reagan would approve, but I don't.
The Damage in Your Heart - Another throwback to the old days, this is a really solid song that you would expect from Weezer.
Pardon Me - Rivers apologizing for four straight minutes. Not bad, but not really memorable.
My Best Friend - Song is a little sappy for my tastes, will remind you of The Green Album.
The Other Way - Reminds me of one of the better songs you would hear on Green.
Freak Me Out - Seems like new territory for the band, slow and quiet for the whole song, very little guitar noise. This song is pretty original.
Haunt You Every Day - Probably the best all-around track on Make Believe, and an excellent closer. Haunting, is in fact, a good way to describe this track. Leaves you with a melancholy taste after listening.

In all I would say that Make Believe is a definate third in line for Weezer's best album. It improves on some of the things that were missing in Green and Maladroit. Fans of Weezer should like it, those who only know 'Say it Ain't So, Undone, El Scorcho' would probably be better of buying the Beverly Hills single.

It seems like the reviewers for "Make Believe" can be split into two sections: those who believe while "Make Believe" is not the best Weezer album, it is still good, and those who abhor it.

I fall into the first category, but before you scroll down and ignore my review, please just read on a bit. A lot of these reviewers are long time Weezer fans, there since the beginning. I really found Weezer in the last two years, and have bought all four albums since then. I actually heard them first in an odd order - first the Green Album, then Pinkerton, then the Blue Album, and finally Maladroit. But repeated listening, in semi-chronological order, showed me the lyrical and musical progression of the band.

The truth is, there will never be another Pinkerton. Rivers isn't in the same place, nor is the rest of the band - it's been ten years. Frankly, there will never be another Blue Album, or Green Album, or Maladroit, either. Weezer has matured - they've moved from young adults to full grown men, changed members, and experienced love and loss on their own. So why do so many fans expect the same type of album? Weezer isn't going to follow a formula - they're all about being on the outside and being different.

Now I will admit, on the first listen, I was a bit skeptical of "Make Believe." I thought the songs were hollow, and I was disappointed. But my second listen was a different experience. I found myself actually singing along, and I realized something - Rivers Cuomo may be older, and may be looking back on life from a different perspective, but he still writes damn catchy songs. If you're a "purist" and can't stand the addition of synths or a talk-box solo, then you'll probably be irritated by this album. But if you're willing to watch Weezer grow up a little bit more, then please don't write "Make Believe" off.

Before typing my review, it would probably be helpful to list my favorite Weezer albums in order, first being the "best" (ie that I like it most and listen to the songs most frequently) to the "worst" (ie that I like it least and listen to the songs least frequently):

1. Blue
2. Make Believe
3. Pinkerton
4. Green
5. Maladroit

Most rabid =w= fans will do a double take when they see where Pinkerton is placed on the list. I recognize that Pinkerton is probably the best album, technically speaking, of the five. If I was listing the albums by "most innovative" or "wittiest" Pinkerton would probably be first. However, my list is the ones that I most enjoy listening to. And while there's several classic songs on Pinkerton, there's also quite a few that I've never liked, even if I apprecaite their artistic merit.

Now, onto Make Believe. This album is in my opinion a success. I cringed when I first heard "Beverly Hills", but it really is a catchy song, despite its simplicity. Make Beleive combines some of the best elements of the previous albums and comes up with something fun, catchy and very listenable. I enjoy most of the songs on this CD, but favorites are "Perfect Situation", "This Is Such a Pity", "Damage in Your Heart", "The Other Way", "Freak Me Out" and "Haunt You Every Day". In particular, "Freak Me Out" is worth mentioning just because its very different from what we've heard from =w= on their last 2 CDs but still sounds very good, it has sort of an eerie vibe to it. The other songs are very well done and sound great too.

Yes, I do agree that the lyrics sometimes seem rather uninspired. But Rivers is no longer the same person he was so many years ago during Blue and Pinkerton; it's hardly a surprise that the lyrics have changed. Tho I admit that I too wish they were a bit deeper.

Overall, if Pinkerton is your favorite Weezer CD, and you cried and cursed Weezer, Rivers, and the world when you heard Green, well you probably won't like Make Believe either. Those who are waiting for another Pinkerton will always be disappointed, because no CD Weezer ever puts out will live up to the inflated image of Pinkerton that exists in those fan's own minds.

Just buy this CD and enjoy it! If you don't like it, fine, but don't say it sucks just because it's not as artsy as Pinkerton. Yeesh.

It's hard to review this album briefly because, as a fan who has followed Weezer for a long time, it is actually very difficult to express my opinion of the record without first attempting to educate on exactly what went into the writing and recording of this disc in the Great Weezer Timeline. Despite this, I will try to be succinct.

First and foremost, in case you had any lingering questions, these songs are certainly a better collection than those on the last two albums, and I am one who appreciated those albums for what they were. Make Believe manages to combine the best aspects of those pop-rock songs from Green and the pseudo-metal songs from Maladroit and infuse them with a sense of importance and emotional relevance, even if it is not as overt as Pinkerton.

No, this album is not Pinkerton in any way shape or form, and that is a good thing. And Pinkerton, before you throw a fit, is my favorite album of all time. Fact is, the band and Rivers have matured beyond that point and the current state of their songwriting reflects an era in which Rivers is coming to terms with himself and existence and girls and who knows what else. While the album still has its emotional ballads, such as Haunt You Every Day, Hold Me, and Damage in Your Heart, they are not as focused on girls as one might expect.

Instead, you get great tunes that are more uplifting and have a sense of closure, such as My Best Friend and Peace; ballads that tackle Rivers new outlook on life, such as Pardon Me and Freak Me Out; classic and horribly addictive pop riffs on being shy around girls, album standouts Perfect Situation and The Other Way; and total, but welcome, surprises, best illustrated by the new wave vibe of This Is Such a Pity. This album marks Weezer's return to their great non-robotic songwriting, and, with varied instrumentation, irresistably catchy melodies, and simple but pure lyrics, a step toward a new sound while maintaining many elements of what made them great.

The only reason this album loses a star is due to its occasionally over-simplified lyrics, single-fodder songs like Beverly Hills and We Are All On Drugs, and its reliance on stretching songs out with repeated choruses. However, songs like Peace, Perfect Situtation, The Other Way, and My Best Friend are well worth the price of admission.

Make Believe is one of the top-quality albums thats come out this year. Throughout the entire album, there is a certain catchiness, or subtlety to each song. There are quite a few hard-rocking songs, which are irresistable in that you just can't help but tap your foot, nod your head, or even get up and dance.

The first single, "Beverly Hills" is the first song on the album. Its catchy and funny with its quirky lyrics, a signature of Weezer. "I didn't go to boarding schools/ Preppy girls never looked at me" is a prime example of that. Also, it has an exciting guitar solo that adds a certain flavor to the song while keeping it upbeat.

"Perfect Situation" is the next song, a tale about lost love: "In this perfect situation/ I let love down the drain". The intro on this song could be my favorite on the album; it builds up and sets the pace for the song. It has really heartfelt lyrics, and the chorus really shows the range of vocals Weezer has.

#3 is "This Is Such A Pity". The intro of this song has a certain 80's feel, and it is overall a really cool song.

#4, "Hold Me", is a really soft song. It is sweet and it shows lead singer Rivers' ability to quickly change from light vocals to an angst-y yell of "Hold me, hold me/ Take me with you 'cause I'm lonely." The song switches between airy moments of guitar and bass to the entire band, which gives the song a very powerful feel that is sure to please.

Next comes "Peace", a song which seems to show an inner struggle in Rivers' life, "I need to find some peace". It is one of my favorite songs on the album.

"We Are All On Drugs" has been speculated by many Weezer fans as a second single, and with good reason. The song is very high-energy and you can feel it straight from the band on the album. The chorus is catchy, the riffs are hard, and its a safe bet that this song is going to be a favorite.

"The Damage In Your Heart" is another song which captures your attention. It's both soft AND rocking, which many bands these days can't seem to capture like Weezer can. It demands a listen.

"Pardon Me", a song which rings out apologies in its chorus, is another one of my favs. The lyrics remind me of Pinkerton, just because you can sense the truth from the song. "So I apologize to you/ And to anyone else that I hurt too."

"My Best Friend", the next track, is another sweet and truthful song. The lyrics are simple ("You're my best friend/ And I love you/ And I love you/ Yes, I do"), but they instantly convey the meaning of this song: cherishing friends. It's an anthem to everyone and their best friend, and I really enjoyed this track.

"The Other Way" is my new favorite Weezer song. It's a tale of someone confused over how to console (Rivers Cuomo to Jennifer Chiba over the late Elliott Smith), and it comes off beautifully on this cd. The lyrics are straight-forward but sincere, and the overall vocals on this song are amazing.

The next track is "Freak Me Out", is supposedly about a spider. It's sort of a story-within-a-song: "You came out of nowhere/ Man, you really freak me out/ I'm so afraid of you" to "Did I hurt you?/ Are you ok?/ Can I buy you a drink?" to "I'm going to try and improve my manners/ Everyone, yes, everyone is my friend" I really enjoyed this song, and it has a certain eerie feel to it that compliments the lyrics nicely.

"Haunt You Everyday" is the first song Rivers had ever written on a piano. It starts out soft, then switches to loud pretty quickly, with a repetative piano chord in the background that gives the song a certain spine. It fits well as the ending track to an incredible album, and I think the lyrics will definately stay with some people.


All in all, I sincerely suggest you buy this album. It has a new, different flavor of songs that everyone I know really seems to enjoy, and I'm certain that anyone reading this would enjoy it too.

I was skeptical about buying this album at first, however i am extremely glad i did. As many have said before me, there will never be another pinkerton....bands only try to improve on their previous work. With "Make Believe" i believe Weezer is just showing us the begining of their expanding potential. Beverly hills is a good single, but dont judge the album by just this song. Songs like "Perfect situation" and "peace" show us just how melodic river's voice can be. This albums sound is phenomenal. "This is such a Pity" has a unique sound style that is reminescent of 80's material. All i can say is buy this album and judge it for yourself. You wont be dissapointed.