Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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310 of 364 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forget the naysayers, "Make Believe" is a masterpiece, May 11, 2005
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!
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best Weezer album since Pinkerton., May 11, 2005
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.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Weezer is back...almost!, May 11, 2005
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
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