Less Cheese Please

By: Eli Prysant

Raditude by Weezer

                The title is “Raditude”. The cover is of a jumping dog. Weezer set up their latest album to be as silly as it looks, and they definitely did not fail. Of course, being silly and cheesy has never stopped them before (Their famous video for “Buddy Holly” from their debut has clips of them performing cut in with Happy Days footage). Many of their fans, myself included, are drawn to the pure cheesiness of their lyrics and the willingness to make themselves the butt of the joke. However, on this album, the cheesiness is just too abundant and runs rampant throughout the record without a care as to the quality of the final product. The first single and opening track, “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” is all jangly-acoustic guitar in the verses, then erupts into a full-blown rocker for the chorus, and can easily be viewed as Classic Weezer, with Rivers Cuomo in full cheesy mode singing “The rest of the summer was the best we ever had/ We watched Titanic and it didn’t make us sad”(Hear it for yourself below the review). Unfortunately, the appealing nature of the tacky lyrics wears out on the following track “I’m Your Daddy”, a mundane buzz-rock song about going out on the town one night, meeting your dream girl, and taking her out for fondue. How appropriate the dish. The only songs noteworthy besides the opener are “The Girl Got Hot”, a wanna-be pub anthem about (what else) a girl; and “Let It All Hang Out”, in which Cuomo tackles how to just enjoy yourself in the recession. Don’t be fooled by the Lil’ Wayne cameo on “Can’t Stop Partying”, in which Wayne delivers an uninspired verse (at least it’s better than his recent outings into rock territory); this album is an unfortunate stain on Weezer’s career.