Customer Reviews

Maladroit [Vinyl]

5 star:		(172)
4 star:		(107)
3 star:		(40)
2 star:		(28)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

A wise friend of mine, after listening to this latest effort by Weezer, noted that Maladroit is to Green as Pinkerton is to Blue - and I think I agree. After all, Green is fairly light and fluffy, while Maladroit is a bit harder-edged. (While Pinkerton isn't *hard*, it's raw and rough, and though Blue is quirky, it has a decidedly cleaner sound.) And of course, both color-themed albums are almost instantly accessible, while Pinkerton and Maladroit take a wee bit more time to grow.

Yet Maladroit is really nothing like the others. Of course, no Weezer album is like another - each has its own distinct sound, and Maladriot's sound is pure and simple guitar rock. (And for once, the guitar solos don't merely mimic the chorus!) My guess is that "Dope Nose" will be the equivalent of "Hash Pipe" or "Buddy Holly" - the radio-friendly hit that is likely to be almost played to death. But there are other great songs to hear as well. "Burndt Jamb" stands out from much of the album - it's pretty damn catchy, too. "Take Control" has an entirely different sound from any other Weezer song I've ever heard . . . but this is no bad thing. Most of the other songs are really good, too - there's nothing that makes me reach for the skip button as yet. So yeah, ok, this is a lot different - but it's a good thing.

But then, that's the best thing about Weezer. Each album so far is unique from the overall work, unlike albums that have a lot of variety on each CD. Weezer's varied, but they're mostly the same ambience (for lack of a better word) from song to song on each album. This makes for nice mood-setting: if you're depressed and/or lonely, listen to Pinkerton; if you're feeling beachy and bubblegum, try Green; for your geeky days, have a bit of Blue; and when you want simple-yet-clever, catchy guitar rock, go for Maladroit.

maladroit is definately weezers best CD, the vocals and guitar solos have never been better. This is my personal opinion on each of the songs

1.AMERICAN GIGOLO- when i stuck in the CD my first thought "this is weezer"? but after hearin this song a couple of times you start to appreciate the hooks, great song 9/10

2.DOPE NOSE- Their first single off this album, this song is perfect in every way and reminds me of the older weezer, the guitar solo makes the song. 10/10

3.KEEP FISHIN- Almost "island in the sun" by the beat but, it is still unique in the way it doesn't stay at one tempo throughout the song. 8/10

4.TAKE CONTROL- I didn't like this song at all when i first heard it, but like most songs on this album they improve ALOT if you listen to them again. This song again supplies very good lyrics. 8/10

5.DEATH AND DESTRUCTION- a nice change of pace, with the slow beat..it picks up a notch about half way through the song, Rivers Cuomo's vocals have matured for the better in my opinion. 9/10

6.SLOB- my personal favorite on the CD, weezers never done anything like this..Starts out soft but almost evil sounding, a very nice change of pace. The guitar solo is almost creepy. 11/10

7.BURNDT JAMB- the lyrics on this song make the 10/10 right there, but assisted by a catchy drum beat and back drop singing. definately a 10/10

8.SPACE ROCK- nothing to interesting here, the vocals in my opinion [are bad] in this song and the chorus gets really old..worst of the best right here. 6/10

9.SLAVE- another single thats played on the radio. Very good song that sums it up right there. 9/10

10.FALL TOGETHER- the drum solo in the beginning deserves a hand *claps* then when cuomo starts singing damn, (song sounds very familiar i just cant put my finger on it) 9/10

11.POSSIBILITIES- they were goin for a hash pipe type reaction here, and if you ask me it worked, even though i dont think theres to much special about this, its catchy enough to be the next single. 9/10

12.LOVE EXPLOSION- EXCELLENT...i cant get enough of the first 20 seconds of this song the lyrics just [rock] "take a listen, around you all the people, that crowd around..." 8/10

13.DECEMBER- a good song to end on, but thats about it, basically it gets old after a while. 7/10

Overall this was a typical weezer CD (GREAT) and i hope they keep comin out with stuff like this.

Forget all the "true fan" and other nonsense talk in other reviews.

The fact is that this is a great album by a great band. If you like light-crunchier power chord-driven emotional rock with great melodies and catchy riffs, then this is for you. If not, go elsewhere.

I don't think one song qualifies as "filler" on this album. Everything from start to finish is good. 'nuff said.

Maladroit, Weezer's 4th Studio album, is probably more appealing to major fans than to the general record-buying public. A great album. I picked it up today, being a big Weezer fan and all, but was dissapointed by the lack of depth like in the Blue Album and Pinkerton. While this is a decent album, make no mistake that it does rock, but it just seems like Rivers Cuomo (Weezer's Frontman & Songwriter) is writing songs just for the sake of saying so. The Blue Album was really fun, Pinkerton was so emotional, and The Green Album was rockin' at a radio friendly pace. But the blandness of Maladroit is only so compared to the last three albums. The Blue Album should not have been their first, because it was so good that nothing is going to or has yet compared to it. Maladroit is a definite buy for rock fans, but where has the geeky, frustrated and much more distorted Weezer that I used to love? I'd hate to say it, but it probably died when Matt Sharp left. A definite must have for hardcore Weezer fans, though. Standout tracks are: "Dope Nose", "American Gigolo", "Take Control" and "Burndt Jamb".

Following up 2001's self-titled "Green Album," Weezer waste no time and produce a better, more complete album less than a year later. Maladroit has it's own distinct sound, as is the case with each individual Weezer album. The Blue Album had it's ultra-nerd appeal, Pinkerton was the moodier, more emotional album and Green Album was feel-good pop-punk in short doses. Maladroit manages to steer itself away from all of the styles on those albums and creates a whole new Weezer style, with a sound more likely influenced by Van Halen than by The Pixies. Hard-rocking anthems like "Dope Nose" and "American Gigolo" are complemented nicely by more melodic tracks, like my personal favorite "Death and Destruction." Once again, Rivers proves himself to be the self-proclaimed song machine he is, effortlessly churning out 13 perfect, hook filled tracks, each of which could be the next hit single. His lyrics on Maladroit resemble the writing style on Pinkerton, which is emotional, but making sure not to take himself too seriously. It's amazing how great this album is, considering it was put together in less than a year. In a music world where some bands wait 5 years to put out an album that's subpar, it's really inspiring to hear a band like Weezer to put out extreme quality in album after album. Other bands could take a lesson from the W.

Thank God for this record. I don't know what was up with the green album (something about contractual obligations?) but MALADROIT is, in my humble opinion, the third Weezer album. Produced by the band, this album is way more raw, honest and original than the last one. I f you liked the the green album, and you let MTV dictate your taste in music, you might want to steer clear of this album. It might just be too thoughtful.

Ok, so I'm a snob. But, seriously, this album can be as poppy, at times, as the blue album ("Keep Fishin'") and as emotionally stressful as PINKERTON ("Slob") but there's a new influence behind Rivers' songwriting - listen to this album and tell me he hasn't been listening to a lot of classic rock. The first single, "Dope Nose," is a great example of MALADROIT's overall sound. A little bit of pop, with catchy hooks of "Whoa's" and "Yeah's" and enough rock and roll play big stadiums with a laser show and pyrotechnics.

If you love Weezer and were truly disappointed with the green album, do yourelf a big favor and grab this piece. It really rocks.

I must say that I am outraged that so many 'true' Weezer fans would blast this record so badly. Maladroit has crisp production, but the quality songs are definitely there too. Boy are they there. Songs like Dope Nose and burndt jam are really catchy, classic Weezer jams, while slob really just has this slow burn to it that makes you smile cause the interplay of all the sounds you are hearing sounds so damn cool. I really hate attacking people myself, seeing other reviewers accusing fans of this record of being 'overly intellectual' or similar shots like that is simply off the wall to me. And no, just because this album is heavy in places doesn't make it good, but the silliest thing that I've ever heard was someone saying that Rivers played too many notes too fast (or something like that) too often on this record, and that he should go back to being normal. Rivers has always been a talented guitarist, and there is nothing distasteful about his playing on this record. As far as I'm concerned, and I'm sure many would agree with me, his solos and lead lines are perfect additions to the songs that really have their place in each track they are in. I'm not going to make this an overlong review, but this record is a great addition to the Weezer catalog. Every song on here is excellent, although the CD doesn't have as many classic moments as Pinkerton, anyone who listens to this album just because it is great music and not because they are expecting something else (I HATE preconceived notions) will have a great time. The music is tight, expressive, and the musicianship in this band just keeps getting better. That is me speaking from my own point of view, any 'trends of thought' or fanboy tendencies completely ignored.

Maladroit is a great addition to any Weezer fan's collection. Maladroit is a cross between the the pure pop of the Green Album and the musical finese of Pinkerton. With hardly driven guitar riffs and catchy pop hooks, it'll please both new "Green Album" fans and old school "Blue Album" fans. With songs such as Take Control, Dope Nose, Keep Fishin', and Slave, Weezer brings the goods. The album as a whole isn't worth five stars, but it deserves better than four. The last couple songs of Maladroit do become a little bland, but their certainly not bad songs. Rivers definitely wanted to rock on this album, breaking out into crazy guitar solos almost every song. It's cool, and adds a nice touch to the album. Also, their live show is awesome, a little short, but awesome none the less. Both the album and their live show are worth a check out.

Why do Weezer fans hate this so much? I can't really answer that for you. I think most fans would really, really love to have "old" Weezer back - the Weezer of the Blue Album. I love all the Weezer albums, to different extents. I just think people are so caught up in the Blue Album sound they fear change to something new.

I'd give this a 3.5 if I could, I think. It's really not a bad album, and it happens to be the one I heard first... but anyway, the main problem most fans, including myself, have with it, is the completely unlike Weezer metal sound that it has. It was a radical change from the Blue Album, but closer to Pinkerton. Even so, it wasn't the Weezer I knew. I liked it less at first, then more as time went on.

Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer obviously, kind of lost it with the lyrics. To put it simply, they were just feelingless. Not that the songs themselves were bad, but think of it - Weezer starts out as a garage band singing songs about breakups, surfing, family trouble, Rivers' obsession with Japanese women I might add - feelings from the heart. Not things like "Possibilities" that it seems an amateur could write.

I'd say go for the early Weezer first.

If Rivers Cuomo told us to "rock with our (expletive) out" prior to Pinkerton's release, then we should be full fleged naked for Maladroit. It's an assult on your senses and everything a rock album should be-consider it Rivers' coming out party. He has a field day on Maladroit, shredding solos at every turn and letting himself loose lyrically once again. Songs like Slob, Possibilities, American Gigolo and December shows that he still hurts from love, while Keep Fishin and Burnt Jamb show that he's always willing to have fun. Backed by steady guitar from Brian Bell and an always-charging Pat Wilson behind the drums, Weezer always keeps moving forward. New bassist Scott Shriner adds a new element to the group with a growling bass sound that adds a ton of depth to the songs, something that was missing from Mickey Welsh on the Green Album. Weezer also shows that they're willing to expand in the future, with the (dare I say?) punk-rock-ish speed of the aforementioned Possiblities. The one weak link would be Death and Destruction, a song that turns good by the end of it all but starts out so horribly you might not get that far before skipping the track, thanks to some uncharacteristicly bad lyrics from Rivers-but give it a chance. Anyway, this is a definate top-5 of 2002, and with a small list of decent acts churning out new material this year, has a very decent shot at #1.
=W= FOREVER