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55 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Effort From Weezer, November 3, 2009
First, if you don't think Weezer is being tongue-in-cheek in naming an album "Raditude," you'll probably be in for a disappointment, as anyone who approaches this album with a straight face, so to speak, won't "get it" at all. Anybody who didn't get that the "boo-yah" in the song Everybody Get Dangerous (off the Red Album) was SUPPOSED to sound really feeble and cheesy because the characters in the song were just that (feeble and cheesy), won't get the songs on Raditude. Hey, song titles like "I'm Your Daddy" and "Girl Got Hot" are exactly what they suggest. Cheesy. Did I mention they're also extremely catchy?
Raditude sounds like an album based around Weezer's earlier hit song Beverly Hills, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because A) that song is really catchy, and B) we finally get album continuity. That song had no business being on Make Believe, and, though full of good songs, The Red Album doesn't really feel like an ALBUM. Raditude feels like a complete album though--almost a modern update of the Green Album. Just like the Green Album, Raditude starts off with the best song on the album, 'I Want You To.' I can already tell this song will be in my rotation for a long time. The whole first half of the album is some of the most listen-able, catchiest music Weezer has ever written.
Unfortunately, the album stumbles a bit in the latter half. "Love Is The Answer" doesn't really do it for me, and, even though it's not a serious song, I really don't care for "In the Mall" either. Small stumbles aside, Raditude is an album worthy of being added to your Weezer collection. Die hard fans who think that pre-Green Album Weezer is the only true Weezer and everything else is trash will NOT like this album. It's very possible to like both though. Hey, Pinkterton is still my favorite Weezer album, and one of my favorites of all time. It's a masterpiece. But to expect Rivers Cuomo to duplicate an album as personal and raw as that one isn't just completely ludicrous, it's selfish as well. The guy is approaching middle age now, do you expect him to still write the same songs he did 13 years ago? The Pinkerton Era of songs is gone and won't ever come back, and the sooner that Weezer fans accept that the better off we'll be.
Plus, it's not like Raditude is devoid of any heart. Just look at the standout opener. The song starts off optimistic enough, with the prospect of a budding relationship, but then toward the end we get the lines "So much pain may come our way / There may come a day when we have nothing left to say / When the conversation stops and we're facing our defeat / I'll be next to you and you'll be right there next to me." And a song like "Tripping Down The Freeway" may look like more juvenile pop at first glance, but it's yet another song about growing up with someone else as you're in a relationship. Raditude is an album written by a middle-aged man, but with the attitude of someone much younger who's just growing into adulthood. The result is a very pleasing record full of catchy, yet still heartfelt songs. It's a fun record. It was written that way. So leave any hang-ups you have at the door. Pop Raditude into your CD player, and just enjoy yourself.
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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pork and Beans fears come true?, November 5, 2009
The single "Pork and Beans" from their previous album, Red, was written as a response to a meeting Rivers Cuomo had with the record company, in which pressure was applied on making a more commercial sound. He responds to these requests (such as working with trendy musicians to top the charts) by saying, "Imma do the things that I wanna do / I ain't got a thing to prove to you"
Unfortunately, it appears this resistance has worn away. Only three of the ten tracks were written soley by the band. The rest were co-written by folks such as Jermaine Dupre, Dr. Luke, Butch Walker, and the All American Rejects. Depending upon whether or not one considers drummer Josh Freese part of the band, six of the ten tracks feature outside musicians.
Lead single and first track "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" is quintessential Weezer - an upbeat, accoustic guitar driven rock song with quirky lyrics. After that, though, the album in my opinion starts a free fall, with quite a few generic, seemingly soulless over-produced pop songs. Two late-album tracks try to maintain some artistic integrity with the far east influenced Love Is The Answer and Beach Boys inspired Don't Want To Let You Go.
Having heard many shelved Cuomo demos over the years, it's always unfortunate to hear releases that feature bland songs. There are probably three albums worth of demos that are, in my opinion, vastly superior to a majority of the material released on the last two Weezer releases.
Instead, over-produced generic pop songs seem to be the norm.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Weezer Letting It All Hang Out., November 3, 2009
If Weezer have spent the past decade working their hardest to pump out as many albums and hits as possible, than "Raditude," the band's seventh studio offering, is the after-party. True to typical Weezer fashion, it's a polarizing album that will no doubt leave the band's fanbase scratching their heads while simultaneously spawning several radio hits.
While the quality and consistency of the album may not have you jumping for joy like the dog that graces the album cover, there is certainly something here for everyone. Longtime fans will appreciate the somewhat true-to-form "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" and "Put Me Back Together." The latter, co-written by Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler of pop-punk outfit The All-American Rejects is the same kind of heart-on-the-sleeve rocker that made the band such a cult success way back when.
Elsewhere, though, the band takes twists and turns never heard before. Collaborating with Lil' Wayne for "Can't Stop Partying" is an idea that sounds terrible on paper but surprisingly makes for one of the most inspired moments on the album. While on the surface it comes off as a synth-laden party anthem, what is revealed upon closer inspection is a hint of irony that makes the song seem, well, sad.
Likewise, the sleaze-rock of "The Girl Got Hot" and the good-time feel of "I'm Your Daddy" seem superficial on the surface until Rivers reveals himself to be slyly mocking and somewhat paying tribute to sounds and styles not normally embraced. Afterall, this is the man who once confessed his love of nu-metallers Drowning Pool and Limp Bizkit and who wrote a song for Crazy Town. To say his tongue is planted firmly in cheek throughout most of these songs is an understatement, but at the same time, it's done in an affectionate way.
Conversely, the album reaches for epic proportions on "Love is the Answer," a feel-good ballad drenched in sitar and the back-up vocals of Indian singer Amrita Sen. For the most part it works, even if it comes across as a bit obvious and heavy-handed. And what Weezer album would be complete without a heartfelt closer? "I Don't Want To Let You Go" is just that and leaves things on a high note.
For the most part, "Raditude" is a solid effort. The production by Jacknife Lee and Butch Walker allows the band ample room to expand on a wealth of sounds while Cuomo seems up to the task of challenging himself. There are a few duds amidst the genius, but such has been par for the course for the band since the turn of the century. The fact of the matter is that the men that make up Weezer are full-grown adults having fun with their music, and with an open mind, you'll appreciate it.
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