Editing Weezer (section)

==History==

===Formation and first years (1986–1994)===
Lead vocalist and guitarist [[Rivers Cuomo]] moved to Los Angeles from [[Mansfield, Connecticut]], in 1989 with his high school metal band, Avant Garde, later renamed Zoom. After the group disbanded, Cuomo met drummer [[Patrick Wilson (drummer)|Patrick Wilson]], a native of [[Buffalo, New York]], and moved in with him and Wilson's friend [[Matt Sharp]].<ref name=":0" /> Cuomo moved away from metal and explored alternative rock influences such as [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]] and [[Sonic Youth]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Mikael|date=March 25, 2024|title=Weezer's Blue Album at 30: The inside story of the debut that launched L.A.'s nerdiest band|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-03-25/weezer-blue-album-oral-history-30th-anniversary-rivers-cuomo|access-date=March 27, 2024|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US}}</ref> He and Wilson formed a band, Fuzz, and enlisted [[Scottie Chapman]] on bass. Chapman quit after a few early shows; the band reformed as Sixty Wrong Sausages, with Cuomo's friend Pat Finn on bass and [[Jason Cropper]] on guitar, but soon disbanded.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|date=August 28, 2019|title=The Strange Birth and Near Death of Weezer|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/weezer-blue-album-25th-anniversary-877089/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|access-date=August 29, 2019}}</ref>

Cuomo moved to [[Santa Monica, California]], and recorded dozens of demos, including the future Weezer songs "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here" and "[[Undone – The Sweater Song]]". Sharp was enthusiastic about the demos, and became the group's bassist and de facto manager.<ref name=":0" />

Cuomo, Wilson, Sharp, and Cropper formed Weezer on February 14, 1992. Their first show was on March 19, 1992, closing for [[Keanu Reeves]]' band [[Dogstar (band)|Dogstar]].<ref name=":0" /> They took their name from a nickname Cuomo's father gave him,<ref name=":0" /> which was based on a character called "[[Bobby Hutchins|Wheezer]]" from the ''[[Our Gang]]'' short films.<ref>{{cite web|last1=O'Brien|first1=Conan|title=How Rivers Cuomo Met His Weezer Bandmates|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUBmG_BrweY|website=YouTube|date=October 12, 2022|access-date=May 7, 2024}}</ref> Cuomo gave Sharp one year to get the band a record deal before Cuomo accepted a scholarship at the [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref name=":0" /> In November, Weezer recorded a demo, ''[[The Kitchen Tape]]'', including a version of the future Weezer single "[[Say It Ain't So]]".<ref name=":0" /> The demo was heard by Todd Sullivan, an [[A&r|A&R]] man at [[Geffen Records]], who signed Weezer in June 1993.<ref name=":0" />

===The "Blue Album" (1994)===
{{Main|Weezer (Blue Album)}}

[[File:Brian Bell performing 2013.png|thumb|Current Weezer guitarist [[Brian Bell]], pictured in 2013, replaced [[Jason Cropper]] while recording the ''[[Weezer (Blue Album)|Blue Album]]''.]]

Weezer recorded their debut album with producer [[Ric Ocasek]] at [[Electric Lady Studios]] in New York City.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|pp=82, 87}} Cropper was fired during recording, as Cuomo and Sharp felt he was threatening the band chemistry. He was replaced by [[Brian Bell]].<ref name=":0" /> Weezer's [[Weezer (Blue Album)|self-titled debut album]]'','' also known as the "Blue Album", was released in May 1994.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Heisel|first1=Scott|title=20 Facts You May Not Know About Weezer's Blue Album|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/20_facts_you_may_not_know_about_weezers_blue_album|website=Alternative Press|access-date=February 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312051202/http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/20_facts_you_may_not_know_about_weezers_blue_album|archive-date=March 12, 2015|date=May 9, 2014}}</ref> Described by ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' as integrating "geeky humor, dense cultural references, and positively gargantuan hooks",<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mapes|first=Jillian|date=February 26, 2017|title=Weezer: Weezer (Blue Album)|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22858-weezer-blue-album/|access-date=May 30, 2021|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|language=en}}</ref> it combined [[alternative rock]], [[power pop]], polished production and what ''AllMusic'' critic [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] called an "'70s trash-rock predilection ... resulting in something quite distinctive".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thomas Erlewine|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Weezer - Blue Album|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/weezer-blue-album-mw0000329481|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>

Weezer's first single, "[[Undone – The Sweater Song]]", was backed by a music video directed by [[Spike Jonze]];<ref name="yahoo">"[https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019717/bio movies.yahoo.com Spike Jonze Biography]", ''Yahoo! Movies''. Retrieved on September 5, 2006</ref> filmed in an [[Long take|unbroken take]], it featured Weezer performing on a sound stage with little action, barring a pack of dogs swarming the set.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=120}} The video became an instant hit on [[MTV]].{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=121}} The song reached No. 57 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]].<ref name="Weezer">{{Cite magazine|title=Weezer|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/weezer/|access-date=November 7, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref> Jonze also directed Weezer's second video, "[[Buddy Holly (song)|Buddy Holly]]",<ref name="yahoo" /> splicing the band into footage from the 1970s television sitcom ''[[Happy Days]]''.<ref name="wanadoo.typepad">{{cite web|title=Pixelbox: Television 'Buddy Holly' Music Video Description|url=http://wanadoo.typepad.com/pixelbox/television/index.html|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130214036/http://wanadoo.typepad.com/pixelbox/television/index.html|archive-date=November 30, 2006}}</ref> The video achieved heavy rotation on MTV{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=132}} and won four [[MTV Video Music Award]]s, including Breakthrough Video and Best [[Alternative Music]] Video, and two ''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'' Music Video Awards.<ref name="latimes">''LA Times Past Winners Database-VMA's 1995 '' at [http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/ Theenvelope.latimes.com];retrieved on September 5, 2006</ref> "Buddy Holly" peaked at No. 18 on the [[Radio Songs (chart)|Hot 100 Airplay]] and No. 2 on the [[Alternative Airplay|Billboard Modern Rock]] chart.<ref name="Weezer"/> The song is included on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|Rolling Stone's 500 Best Songs Of All Time]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=September 15, 2021|title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/|access-date=November 6, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> A third single, "[[Say It Ain't So]]", followed. It was met with critical acclaim and later [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] ranked it #10 on the top 200 tracks of the 90s list.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 20-01 - Page 2|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7853-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-20-01/?page=2|access-date=November 6, 2022|website=Pitchfork|date=September 3, 2010|language=en}}</ref> The song reached No. 51 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and No. 7 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.<ref name="Weezer"/> Additionally, the track was included in Rolling Stone's list of "The Top 100 Guitar Songs of All Time".<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=May 31, 2008|title=The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time : Rolling Stone|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20947527/page/30|access-date=October 22, 2023|archive-date=May 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531001204/https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20947527/page/30|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Their debut album gained critical and commercial success. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked it number 294 on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=September 22, 2020|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|access-date=November 7, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Weezer'' is certified [[Certified platinum|quadruple platinum]] in the United States as well as Canada, making it Weezer's best-selling album.<ref name="riaasales">{{cite web|title=Gold & Platinum Search Results: Weezer|publisher=RIAA.com|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Weezer&format=ALBUM&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25|access-date=August 20, 2008|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152310/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Weezer&format=ALBUM&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Zach|last=Sweat|url=http://voidlive.com/retrospective-weezer-weezer-blue-album/|title=Retrospective: Weezer – Weezer (The Blue Album)|publisher=Coidlive|date=May 28, 2014|access-date=March 15, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316153426/http://voidlive.com/retrospective-weezer-weezer-blue-album/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===''Pinkerton'' (1995–1997)===
{{Main|Pinkerton (album)}}
[[File:Rivers Cuomo in Thailand.jpg|thumb|[[Rivers Cuomo]] in 1997]]
[[File:Matt Sharp The Rentals 2007.jpg|thumb|[[Matt Sharp]], pictured with [[the Rentals]] in 2007, co-founder of Weezer, left the band after the ''Pinkerton'' tour.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=257}}<ref name="mattsharp">{{cite web|date=April 24, 2002|title=Former Weezer Bassist Matt Sharp Sues Band Over Royalties|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453586/20020424/weezer.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003001309/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453586/20020424/weezer.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2003|access-date=June 26, 2009|publisher=[[MTV]]}}</ref>]]

In 1994, Weezer took a break from touring for the Christmas holidays.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=137}} Cuomo traveled to his home state of Connecticut and began recording demos for Weezer's next album. His original concept was a space-themed [[rock opera]], ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]'', that would express his mixed feelings about success.<ref name="weezerofficalpage">{{cite web|date=February 7, 2010|title=Weezer Recording History page 7|url=http://www.weezer.com/info/recording/WeezRecHist7.htm|access-date=July 26, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207151556/http://www.weezer.com/info/recording/WeezRecHist7.htm|archive-date=February 7, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Alone 2007">''[[Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo]]'' (liner notes). [[Rivers Cuomo]]. [[Geffen Records]]. 2007. B0010417-02</ref> Cuomo conceived the story as a metaphor for his conflicted feelings about touring in a successful rock band.<ref name="Alone 2007"/> Weezer developed the concept through intermittent recording sessions through 1995.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=139}} At the end of the year, Cuomo enrolled at [[Harvard University Press|Harvard University]], where his songwriting became "darker, more visceral and exposed, less playful", and he abandoned ''Songs from the Black Hole''.<ref name="PinkertonDeluxe">''Pinkerton Deluxe'' liner notes</ref>

While attending Harvard, Cuomo experienced loneliness and frustration while also undergoing an extensive surgery for his left leg. These experiences influenced his songwriting for the next record.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cuomo|first=Rivers|title=The Pinkerton Diaries|year=2011|pages=170}}</ref> The other members of Weezer decided to embark on their own side projects during this time. Sharp started [[The Rentals]], who released their debut album, ''[[Return of the Rentals]]'', in October 1995, also featuring Patrick Wilson on drums.

Weezer's second album, ''[[Pinkerton (album)|Pinkerton]]'', was released on September 24, 1996.<ref name="allmusic2">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pinkerton-mw0000646499|title=''Pinkerton'' – Weezer|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-date=May 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523190101/http://www.allmusic.com/album/pinkerton-mw0000646499|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>''Pinkerton Album Overview'' at [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r241030|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic]; retrieved on September 6, 2006</ref> ''Pinkerton'' is named after the character BF Pinkerton from ''[[Madama Butterfly]]'', who marries and then abandons a Japanese woman named Butterfly. Calling him an "asshole American sailor similar to a touring rock star", Cuomo felt the character was "the perfect symbol for the part of myself that I am trying to come to terms with on this album".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cuomo|first=Rivers|title=The Pinkerton Diaries|year=2011}}</ref> It produced three singles: "[[El Scorcho]]", "[[The Good Life (Weezer song)|The Good Life]]", and "[[Pink Triangle (song)|Pink Triangle]]".{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|pp=195–196, 222}}

With a darker, more abrasive sound,<ref name="allmusic2" /> ''Pinkerton'' sold poorly compared to the Blue Album<ref name="themichigandaily">''Anticipated return has Weezer in the ''Green'' '' at [https://web.archive.org/web/20070313132216/http://www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2001/05/14/Arts/Anticipated.Return.Has.Weezer.In.The.green-1408671.shtml Michigandaily.com]; retrieved on September 18, 2006</ref> and received mixed reviews; it was voted "one of the worst albums of 1996" in a ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reader poll.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=228}} However, the album eventually gained a cult following and came to be considered among Weezer's best work;<ref name="allmusic2" /><ref name="NudeAsTheNews">{{cite web|last=Donohue|first=Mark|title=Nude as the News: Weezer: Pinkerton|publisher=[[Nude as the News]]|url=http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/1220|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221161309/http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/1220|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2006|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> in 2002, ''Rolling Stone'' readers voted ''Pinkerton'' the 16th greatest album of all time.<ref name="Readers16">{{cite magazine|title=2002 Rolling Stone Readers' 100|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#Readers%20100|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-date=July 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718180414/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#Readers%20100|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' gave the album a new review, awarding it five out of five stars and adding it to the "''Rolling Stone'' Hall of Fame".<ref>{{Cite journal|date=June 1, 2006|title=Joseph Smith: rough stone rolling|journal=Choice Reviews Online|volume=43|issue=10|pages=43–5837–43-5837|doi=10.5860/choice.43-5837|doi-broken-date=February 1, 2025 |issn=0009-4978}}</ref> ''Pinkerton'' was  certified platinum in 2016.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=DiMeglio|first=Mary J.|date=September 22, 2016|title=Weezer's 'Pinkerton' Goes Platinum Days Before 20th Anniversary|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/weezer-pinkerton-platinum-20th-anniversary-7518089/|access-date=November 7, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref> It is credited for influencing a number of [[emo]] bands in the 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 27, 2021|title=The story of emo in 14 songs|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-story-of-emo-in-14-songs/|access-date=October 22, 2023|website=Kerrang!|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Bayer|first1=Jonah|last2=Burgess|first2=Aaron|last3=Exposito|first3=Suzy|last4=Galil|first4=Leor|last5=Montgomery|first5=James|last6=Spanos|first6=Brittany|date=September 4, 2019|title=40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/40-greatest-emo-albums-of-all-time-23526/|access-date=October 22, 2023|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Levinson|first=Alana|date=September 24, 2016|title=Weezer's Pinkerton and the invention of the manic pixie dream boys|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/sep/24/weezer-pinkerton-anniversary-rock-rivers-cuomo-emo|access-date=October 22, 2023|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In July 1997, the sisters Mykel, Carli, and Trysta Allan died in a car accident while driving home from a Weezer show in Denver, Colorado.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Runtagh |first=Jordan |date=May 10, 2019 |title=Weezer's Blue Album: 10 Things You Didn't Know |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/weezer-blue-album-rivers-cuomo-things-you-didnt-know-822881/ |access-date=March 21, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Mykel and Carli ran Weezer's fan club and helped manage publicity for several other Los Angeles bands, and had inspired the "Sweater Song" B-side "Mykel and Carli". Weezer canceled a show to attend their funeral.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archive-Clare-Kleinedler |title=Weezer Mourns Tragic Deaths Of Fan Club Leaders |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/677/weezer-mourns-tragic-deaths-of-fan-club-leaders/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328004516/http://www.mtv.com/news/677/weezer-mourns-tragic-deaths-of-fan-club-leaders/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 28, 2015 |access-date=March 21, 2021 |website=MTV News |language=en}}</ref> In August, Weezer and other bands held a benefit concert for the family in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Archive-Clare-Kleinedler|title=Hundreds Join Weezer In Tribute To Fanclub Leaders|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/958/hundreds-join-weezer-in-tribute-to-fanclub-leaders/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420094651/https://www.mtv.com/news/958/hundreds-join-weezer-in-tribute-to-fanclub-leaders/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2021|access-date=March 21, 2021|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref> A compilation album, ''Hear You Me! A Tribute to Mykel and Carli'', was dedicated to their memory. The album included "Mykel and Carli", as well as songs by [[Ozma (band)|Ozma]], [[That Dog]], and [[Maroon 5|Kara's Flowers]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Music We Trust - HEAR YOU ME!: A Tribute To Mykel and Carli|url=http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/15r27.html|access-date=November 7, 2022|website=www.inmusicwetrust.com}}</ref> In 2001, [[Jimmy Eat World]] released "Hear You Me", dedicated to Mykel and Carli.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mortensa|first=Mala|title=10 emo songs with lyrics that are even sadder than you thought|url=https://www.altpress.com/emo-song-lyrics-meanings/|access-date=November 7, 2022|website=Alternative Press Magazine|date=March 11, 2021|language=en}}</ref>

===Hiatus (1997–2000)===
[[File:MikeyWelshWinter2010.jpg|thumb|[[Mikey Welsh]], pictured in 2010, played bass for Weezer from 1998 until 2001.]]

Weezer completed the ''Pinkerton'' tour in mid-1997 and went on hiatus.<ref name=reunite>{{cite web|first=Andy|last=Greene|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-weezer-reunite-in-2000-after-three-year-hiatus-20140306|title=Flashback: Weezer Reunite In 2000 After Three-Year Hiatus|publisher=Rollingstone|date=March 6, 2014|access-date=March 15, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316151852/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-weezer-reunite-in-2000-after-three-year-hiatus-20140306|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=allm>{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Stephen|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/weezer-mn0000243008/biography|title=Weezer – Biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=September 26, 2010}}</ref> Wilson returned to his home in [[Portland, Oregon]] to work on his side project, [[the Special Goodness]], and Bell worked on his band [[Space Twins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weezers-patrick-wilson-returns-to-the-special-goodness-20120522|title=Weezer's Patrick Wilson Returns to The Special Goodness|first=Matthew|last=Perpetua|work=rollingstone.com|access-date=March 15, 2018|date=May 22, 2012|archive-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052417/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weezers-patrick-wilson-returns-to-the-special-goodness-20120522|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weezers-bell-bears-twins-20030718|title=Weezer's Bell Bears "Twins"|last=Luerssen|first=John D.|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 17, 2003|access-date=March 15, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316151850/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weezers-bell-bears-twins-20030718|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1998, Sharp left Weezer due to differences with the band members.<ref name="mattsharp" /> He said of his departure: "I certainly have my view of it, as I'm sure everybody else has their sort of foggy things. When you have a group that doesn't communicate, you're going to have a whole lot of different stories."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/how-weezers-pinkerton-went-from-embarrassing-to-essential-w441144|title=How Weezer's 'Pinkerton' Went From Embarrassing to Essential|newspaper=Rolling Stone|access-date=December 29, 2016|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230000711/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/how-weezers-pinkerton-went-from-embarrassing-to-essential-w441144|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Cuomo returned to Harvard but took a break to focus on songwriting.<ref name=allm/> He formed a new band composed of a changing lineup of Boston musicians, and performed new material.<ref name=reunite/> The songs were abandoned, but [[Bootleg recording|bootlegs]] of the Boston shows are traded on the internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://player.listenlive.co/33991/en/artist/13_6fe07aa5-fec0-4eca-a456-f29bff451b04/biography|title=KXTZ – Biography – Weezer|website=KXTZ|access-date=January 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904120954/http://player.listenlive.co/33991/en/artist/13_6fe07aa5-fec0-4eca-a456-f29bff451b04/biography|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wilson eventually flew to Boston to join [[Homie (band)|Homie]], another Cuomo side project.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} The members of the band were composed of [[Greg Brown (rock musician)|Greg Brown]] ([[Cake (band)|Cake]] and [[Deathray]]), Matt Sharp, [[Yuval Gabay]] ([[Soul Coughing]] and [[Sulfur (band)|Sulfur]]), Adam Orth (Shufflepuck), and future Weezer bassist [[Mikey Welsh]].{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=}}{{page needed|date=November 2022}} Although a Homie album was being recorded, they ended up only releasing one song, called "American Girls", for the 1998 film ''[[Meet the Deedles]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Various - Meet The Deedles (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|date=March 24, 1998|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2978286-Various-Meet-The-Deedles-The-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack|language=en|access-date=November 7, 2022}}</ref>

In February 1998, Cuomo, Bell and Wilson reunited in Los Angeles to start work on the next Weezer album.<ref name="mattsharp"/><ref name="mattsharp 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1455067/matt-sharp-talks-weezer-lawsuit.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130708123910/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1455067/matt-sharp-talks-weezer-lawsuit.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2013|title=Matt Sharp Talks Weezer Lawsuit|publisher=MTV|date=April 24, 2002|access-date=June 26, 2009}}</ref> The group hired [[Mikey Welsh]], who had played with Cuomo in Boston, as their new bassist.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=243}} Welsh was also previously a bassist for [[Juliana Hatfield]]. Weezer continued rehearsing and recording demos until late 1998. Frustration and creative disagreements led to a decline in rehearsals, and in late 1998, Wilson left for his home in Portland pending renewed productivity from Cuomo. In November 1998, the band played two club shows with a substitute drummer in California under the name Goat Punishment, consisting entirely of covers of [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] songs. In the months following, Cuomo entered a period of depression, unplugging his phone, painting the walls of his home black, and putting fiberglass insulation over his windows to prevent light from entering.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=266}} Eventually during this time, Cuomo started experimenting with his music and ended up writing 121 songs by 1999.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=}}{{page needed|date=November 2022}} In the meantime, Wilson continued to work with [[The Special Goodness]] while Bell again worked with [[Space Twins]]. Welsh continued to tour with Juliana Hatfield.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=}}{{page needed|date=November 2022}}

===Comeback and the "Green Album" (2000–2001)===
{{Main|Weezer (Green Album)}}
[[File:Weezer Scott Shriner Bethlehem 2019.jpg|thumb|[[Scott Shriner]], pictured in 2019, Weezer's bassist since 2001]]

Weezer reunited in April 2000, when they accepted a lucrative offer to perform at the [[Fuji Rock Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://events.thestarpress.com/noblesville/events/weezer-pixies-/E0-001-108266733-1|title=Weezer / Pixies|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> The festival served as a catalyst for Weezer's productivity, and from April to May 2000, they rehearsed and demoed new songs in Los Angeles. They returned to live shows in June 2000, playing small unpromoted concerts once again under the name Goat Punishment.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=286}} In June 2000, the band joined the American [[Warped Tour]] for nine dates.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=292}}<ref>{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Mancini|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1431310/no-doubt-lit-weezer-to-get-warped/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316214005/http://www.mtv.com/news/1431310/no-doubt-lit-weezer-to-get-warped/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 16, 2018|title=No Doubt, Lit, Weezer To Get Warped|publisher=MTV|date=June 16, 2000|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/warped-tour-lineup-best-years/|title=10 most memorable Warped Tour lineups|date=May 10, 2019|magazine=Alternative Press|language=en-US|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>

Eventually the band went back into the studio to produce a third album, the "[[Weezer (Green Album)|Green Album]]". Due to the mixed reception of ''Pinkerton,'' Cuomo wrote less personal lyrics for the Green Album.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Abe J.|last=Riesman|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/4/26/rivers-end-the-directors-cut-the/|title=Rivers' End: The Director's Cut {{!}} Arts {{!}} The Harvard Crimson|website=www.thecrimson.com|date=April 26, 2006|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> The band hired [[Ric Ocasek]], who had also produced the band's debut album.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=310}} Shortly after the release, Weezer went on another American tour.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=286}} The album was supported by the singles "[[Hash Pipe]]",<ref>{{cite web|date=May 15, 2001|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|title=Weezer: Weezer (The Green Album)|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/weezer-weezer-the-green-album|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> "[[Island in the Sun (Weezer song)|Island in the Sun]]",<ref>{{cite web|last=Koch|first=Karl|url=http://www.weezer.com/news/greenalbum/greenalbumBIGPAGE.html#islandl#island|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030323221459/http://www.weezer.com/news/greenalbum/greenalbumBIGPAGE.html#islandl#island|archive-date=March 23, 2003|title=Weezer The Green Album &ndash; Island in the Sun|publisher=Weezer.com|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> and "[[Photograph (Weezer song)|Photograph]]".{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=388}} Executives suggested that "Don't Let Go" should be chosen as the first single.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=325}} However, Cuomo continued to fight and "Hash Pipe" eventually became the album's first single.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=325}} "Hash Pipe" peaked at No. 2 on the [[Alternative Airplay|Billboard Modern Rock chart]] and No. 6 on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100]] chart.<ref name="Weezer"/> "Island In the Sun" was released as the second single and became a radio hit as well as one of their biggest overseas hits.<ref name="Weezer"/> The song peaked at No. 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. The song has gained increasing popularity over the years as it later joined the [[Digital Songs|digital song sales]] in 2008, only to peak at No. 18 in 2022.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite magazine|title=Weezer {{!}} Biography, Music & News|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/weezer/|access-date=October 22, 2023|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref>

The label tried to postpone the release date of ''Weezer'' further until June, but they ended up sticking to the album's original release date of May 15 release date.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=335}} The album debuted at number 4 on the [[Billboard 200]] and has since been certified platinum.<ref name="Weezer" />

After suffering a breakdown from the stress of touring, undiagnosed [[bipolar disorder]], and drug abuse, Welsh attempted suicide and left Weezer in 2001.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ex-weezer-bassist-mikey-welsh-dies-234721/|title=Ex-Weezer Bassist Mikey Welsh Dies|last=Eisen|first=Benjy|date=October 9, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rock Salt Plum Welcomes Artist Mikey Welsh|url=http://www.rocksaltplum.com/RSPSpring2007/ARTMikeyWelsh.html|access-date=November 7, 2022|website=archive.ph|archive-date=August 12, 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070812121105/http://www.rocksaltplum.com/RSPSpring2007/ARTMikeyWelsh.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> He later joined [[The Kickovers]] for a short stint before retiring from music. He was replaced by [[Scott Shriner]].{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=372}} During this time, [[Spike Jonze]] returned to film a music video for "Island In the Sun".<ref>{{Citation|title=Weezer: Island in the Sun, Version 2|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6810430/|type=Music|publisher=Satellite Films|access-date=November 7, 2022}}</ref> Matt Sharp was originally intended to appear in the video, but it did not end up happening.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=}}{{page needed|date=November 2022}}

===''Maladroit'' (2002)===
{{Main|Maladroit}}

Weezer took an experimental approach to the recording process of its fourth album by allowing fans to download in-progress mixes of new songs from its official website in return for feedback.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p=398}} After the release of the album, the band said that this process was something of a failure, as the fans did not supply the group with coherent, constructive advice. Cuomo eventually delegated song selection for the album to the band's original A&R rep, Todd Sullivan, saying that Weezer fans chose the "wackest songs". Only the song "Slob" was included on the album due to general fan advice.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://wma.weezernation.com/200205gw.html|title=Odder Than Hell|magazine=[[Guitar World]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103123917/http://wma.weezernation.com/200205gw.html|archive-date=November 3, 2007|access-date=July 9, 2005}}</ref>

The recording was also done without input from Weezer's record label, [[Interscope]]. Cuomo had what he then described as a "massive falling out" with the label. In early 2002, well before the official release of the album, the label sent out a letter to radio stations requesting the song be pulled until an official, sanctioned single was released. Interscope also briefly shut down Weezer's audio/video download webpage, removing all the MP3 demos.

In April 2002, former bassist Matt Sharp sued the band, alleging, among several accusations, that he was owed money for cowriting several Weezer songs. The suit was later settled out of court.<ref name="allm"/>

The fourth album, ''[[Maladroit]]'', was released on May 14, 2002, only one year after its predecessor.<ref>{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/maladroit-mw0000222105|title=Maladroit – Weezer|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 15, 2011}}</ref> The album served as a harder-edged version of the band's trademark catchy pop-influenced music, and was replete with busy 1980s-style guitar solos. Although met with generally positive critical reviews, its sales were not as strong as those for the Green Album. Two singles were released from the album. The music video for "[[Dope Nose]]" featured an obscure [[Bōsōzoku|Japanese motorcycle gang]], and was put into regular rotation. The song reached No. 8 on the [[Alternative Airplay|Billboard Modern Rock chart.]]<ref name="Weezer"/> The music video for "[[Keep Fishin']]" combined Weezer with [[the Muppets]], and had heavy rotation on MTV. Both videos were directed by Marcos Siega.

[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] reviewed it as the 6th best album of 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The 40 Best Albums of 2002|newspaper=Spin|date=December 31, 2002|url=https://www.spin.com/2002/12/40-best-albums-2002/}}</ref> A ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reader's poll also from that year voted it the 90th greatest album of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rocklist.net....Rolling Stone Lists - Main Page|url=https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#Readers%20100|access-date=November 7, 2022|website=www.rocklistmusic.co.uk|archive-date=May 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501132308/https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#Readers%20100|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Weezer released its much-delayed first DVD on March 23, 2004. The ''[[Weezer – Video Capture Device: Treasures from the Vault 1991–2002|Video Capture Device]]'' DVD chronicles the band from its beginnings through ''[[Maladroit]]'''s Enlightenment Tour. Compiled by the band’s assistant [[Karl Koch (Weezer assistant)|Karl Koch]], the DVD features home video footage, music videos, commercials, rehearsals, concert performances, television performances, and band commentary. The DVD was certified "gold" on November 8, 2004.

===''Make Believe'' (2003–2006)===
{{Main|Make Believe (Weezer album)}}
[[File:Weezer 2005.jpg|thumb|Weezer performing in 2005]]

Before working on new material, Cuomo discovered [[Samatha-vipassana|vipassana]] [[meditation]] which became a large influence to his songwriting.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Weezer's Rivers Cuomo on How Meditation Helped Him Find Music Inspiration|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/weezers-rivers-cuomo-meditation-helped-find-music-inspiration/story?id=37516442|access-date=November 7, 2022|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref> He decided to take a more personal approach to his writing once again. One song during this process, "The Other Way", was written for Cuomo's ex-girlfriend Jennifer Chiba after her then-boyfriend, singer-songwriter [[Elliott Smith]], presumably died by suicide. Cuomo said, "I wanted to console her, but I was confused and skeptical about my own motives for wanting to do so, so I wrote that song about that."<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 11, 2007|title=Weezer / Discography|url=http://weezer.com/discography/makebelieve.asp|access-date=November 7, 2022|archive-date=October 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011153000/http://weezer.com/discography/makebelieve.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Before recording material for their 4th album, Brian Bell and Patrick Wilson worked on their own projects. Bell's [[Space Twins]] released ''[[The End of Imagining]]'' which Rolling Stone critic, John D. Lueressen named the 7th best album of 2003.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=November 24, 2004|title=RollingStone.com: Outkast : Our Critics Top Albums of 2003 : News|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5935999|access-date=November 7, 2022|archive-date=August 25, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050825203219/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5935999|url-status=dead}}</ref> Meanwhile, Wilson's [[The Special Goodness]] released [[Land Air Sea]].

From December 2003 to the fall of 2004, Weezer recorded a large amount of material intended for a new album to be released in the spring of 2005 with producer [[Rick Rubin]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Vanessa|last=Grigoriadis|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/weezer_weird_world/page/3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716040125/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/weezer_weird_world/page/3|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2006|title=Weezer's Weird World|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=April 21, 2005|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> The band's early recording efforts became available to the public through the band's website. The demos were a big hit, but none of the songs recorded at this time were included on the finished album. That album, titled ''[[Make Believe (Weezer album)|Make Believe]],'' was released on May 10, 2005.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r738466|pure_url=yes}}|title=Make Believe: Review|access-date=May 30, 2007|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen|agency=AllMusic|publisher=AMG}}</ref> The album debuted at No. 2 on the [[Billboard 200]].<ref name="Weezer"/> Despite commercial success, ''Make Believe'' got a mixed reception from critics, receiving an average score of 52 on the review collator [[Metacritic]].<ref name="Metacritic MakeBelieve">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/weezer/makebelieve?q=Make%20Believe|title=Weezer: Make Believe|access-date=May 30, 2007|work=metacritic|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004951/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/weezer/makebelieve?q=Make%20Believe|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although some reviews, such as AMG's, compared it favorably to ''Pinkerton'',<ref name="AMG"/> others, among them ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', panned the album as predictable and lyrically poor.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mitchum|first=Rob|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8614-make-believe/|title=Weezer: Make Believe|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=May 8, 2005|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>

The album's first single, "[[Beverly Hills (Weezer song)|Beverly Hills]]",<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dolan|first=Jon|date=March 4, 2019|title=Review: Weezer's Latest Hunk of Cali-Rock Malaise, 'The Black Album'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-weezers-latest-hunk-of-cali-rock-malaise-the-black-album-801787/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|location=|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> became a hit in the U.S. and worldwide, staying on the charts for several months after its release. It became the first Weezer song to hit No. 1 on the [[Alternative Airplay|Billboard Modern Rock chart]] and No. 10 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]].<ref name="BMRC">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/weezer/chart-history/mrt/|title=Weezer Chart History (Alternative Airplay)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> "Beverly Hills" was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 48th Annual [[Grammy Awards]], the first ever Grammy nomination for the band.<ref name=Grammy2009>{{cite web|url=http://www2.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx#31|title=The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List|access-date=January 20, 2017|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704080423/http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/51st_Show/list.aspx|archive-date=July 4, 2010}}</ref> The video was also nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.<ref name="MTV 2005 BH">{{cite magazine|first=Tracey|last=Ford|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/green-day-top-vma-noms-95111/|title=Green Day Top VMA Noms|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 25, 2005|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> The second single released from ''Make Believe'' was "[[We Are All on Drugs]]" which peaked at No. 10 on the Alternative Airplay chart.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Law|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-weezer-songs-ranked|title=The 20 greatest Weezer songs – ranked|publisher=Kerrang!|date=August 9, 2021|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> MTV refused to play the song, so Weezer re-recorded the lyrics by replacing "on drugs" with "in love" and renaming the song "We Are All in Love".<ref>{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Kandell|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1837|title=Dear Superstar: Rivers Cuomo|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426222259/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1837|archive-date=April 26, 2006|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> In early 2006, it was announced that ''Make Believe'' was [[RIAA certification|certified platinum]], and "Beverly Hills" was the second most popular song download on [[iTunes]] for 2005, finishing just behind "[[Hollaback Girl]]" by [[Gwen Stefani]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Koch|first=Karl|title=breadfan, take it all away, never give an inch|date=January 18, 2006|url=http://www.weezer.com/community/news_comment.asp?ParentAssetID=1378551&ArtistID=479&Start=&FullStory=Y&type=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061129185644/http://www.weezer.com/community/news_comment.asp?ParentAssetID=1378551&ArtistID=479&Start=&FullStory=Y&type=|archive-date=November 29, 2006|access-date=November 3, 2006}}</ref> ''Make Believe'''s third single, "[[Perfect Situation]]",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1511678|title=Elisha Cuthbert Takes Over Weezer — But Rivers Won't Have Any of It|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=October 18, 2005|work=[[MTV]]|publisher=[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]|access-date=January 11, 2022}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> reached No. 1 U.S. Billboard Modern Rock chart and No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="BMRC"/> "[[This Is Such a Pity]]" was the band's fourth single from the album, but no music video was made for its release.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1528552/such-a-pity-youtube-pulls-homemade-weezer-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912071215/http://www.mtv.com/news/1528552/such-a-pity-youtube-pulls-homemade-weezer-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2014|title='Such a Pity': YouTube Pulls Homemade Weezer Video|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=April 12, 2006|first=James|last=Montgomery|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> The ''Make Believe'' tour also found the band using additional instruments onstage, adding piano, synthesizers, pseudophones, and guitarist Bobby Schneck.

===The "Red Album" (2006–2008)===
{{Main|Weezer (Red Album)}}
[[File:Weezer (Oct 2008) 040.jpg|thumb|Weezer performing in [[Arizona]] in October 2008]]

After the success of ''[[Make Believe (Weezer album)|Make Believe]],'' the band decided to take a break. Cuomo returned to [[Harvard University|Harvard]] where he ended up graduating [[cum laude]] and as a [[Phi Beta Kappa]] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Rivers Cuomo's Harvard Graduation|newspaper=Spin|date=June 9, 2006|url=https://www.spin.com/2006/06/rivers-cuomos-harvard-graduation/}}</ref> Cuomo also married Kyoko Ito on June 18, 2006, a woman he had known since March 1997. The wedding was attended by the current members of the band as well as [[Matt Sharp]] and [[Jason Cropper]]. During this break, [[Patrick Wilson (drummer)|Patrick Wilson]] and [[Brian Bell]] appeared in the 2006 film ''[[Factory Girl (2006 film)|Factory Girl]]'' playing [[John Cale]] and [[Lou Reed]] respectively and contributing a cover of the [[The Velvet Underground|Velvet Underground]] song "[[Heroin (The Velvet Underground song)|Heroin]]" for the film.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Weezer Covers Velvet Underground For Biopic Soundtrack|newspaper=Spin|date=January 25, 2006|url=https://www.spin.com/2006/01/weezer-covers-velvet-underground-biopic-soundtrack/}}</ref> Also during this time, Bell started a new project, [[The Relationship]].

''[[Weezer (Red Album)|Weezer]]'' (also known as the Red Album) was released in June 2008. [[Rick Rubin]] produced the album<ref>{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Paul|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/46465-rivers-cuomo-dishes-on-new-weezer-lp-ialonei-demos|title=Rivers Cuomo Dishes on New Weezer LP, Alone Demos|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=January 11, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218235104/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/46465-rivers-cuomo-dishes-on-new-weezer-lp-ialonei-demos|archive-date=December 18, 2007}}</ref> and [[Rich Costey]] mixed it. The record was described as "experimental", and according to Cuomo, who claimed it at the time to be Weezer's "boldest and bravest and showiest album",<ref>Scaggs, Austin. "Q & A: Rivers Cuomo." Rolling Stone June 26, 2008: 26.</ref> included longer and non-traditional songs, [[Roland TR-808|TR-808 drum machines]], synthesizers, [[Southern rap]], [[baroque music|baroque]] [[counterpoint]], and band members other than Cuomo writing, singing, and switching instruments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/48163-interview-rivers-cuomo|title=Pitchfork Feature: Interview: Rivers Cuomo|publisher=Pitchforkmedia.com|date=January 28, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131064154/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/48163-interview-rivers-cuomo|archive-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> Pat Wilson said the album cost about a million dollars to make, contrasting it with the {{USD|150,000|long=no}} budget of the Blue Album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twit.tv/mbw82|title=The TWiT Netcast Network with Leo Laporte|publisher=Twit.tv|date=March 26, 2008|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> The album was produced by [[Rick Rubin]] and [[Jacknife Lee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11568-weezer-the-red-album|title=Weezer: Weezer (The Red Album)|last=Hogan|first=Marc|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=June 2, 2008|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> The album debuted at No. 4 on the [[Billboard 200]] while receiving generally positive reviews.<ref name="Weezer"/>

Its lead single, "[[Pork and Beans (song)|Pork and Beans]]",<ref name="Spin.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2008/04/new-weezer-album-out-june-24/|title=New Weezer Album Out June 24|author=Goodman, William|newspaper=Spin|date=April 21, 2008|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> topped the ''Billboard'' [[Modern Rock Tracks]] charts for 11 weeks while also peaking at No. 64 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Katie|last=Hasty|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045471/leona-lewis-holds-onto-hot-100-no-1|title=Leona Lewis Holds Onto Hot 100 No. 1|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=May 8, 2008|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Weezer"/> Its music video won a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video|Best Short Form Music Video]].<ref name="Grammy2009" /> The second single, "[[Troublemaker (Weezer song)|Troublemaker]]", debuted at No. 39 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and peaked at No. 2. In October 2008, the group announced that the third single would be "[[The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)]]" which was met with critical praise.

On May 30, 2008, the [[Toledo Free Press]] revealed in an interview with Shriner that Weezer would be unveiling the "Hootenanny Tour", in which fans would be invited to bring their own instruments to play along with the band. Said Shriner: "They can bring whatever they want... oboes, keyboards, drums, violins, and play the songs with us as opposed to us performing for them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=7947|title=Toledoan still 'freaks out' over being in Weezer|publisher=Toledofreepress.com|access-date=September 26, 2010}}</ref>

The band performed five dates in Japan at the beginning of September and then embarked on what was dubbed the "Troublemaker" tour, consisting of 21 dates around North America, including two in Canada. [[Angels and Airwaves]] and [[Tokyo Police Club]] joined the band as support at each show, and Brian Bell's other band [[The Relationship]] also performed at a handful of dates. Shortly before the encore at each show, the band would bring on fans with various instruments and perform "[[Island in the Sun (Weezer)|Island in the Sun]]" and "[[Beverly Hills (Weezer song)|Beverly Hills]]" with the band. At a show in Austin, after Tokyo Police Club had played its set, Cuomo was wheeled out in a box and mimed to a recording of rare Weezer demo, "My Brain", dressed in pajamas and with puppets on his hands, before being wheeled off again. This bizarre event later surfaced as the climax to a promo video for Cuomo's second demo album, ''[[Alone 2]]''.

===''Raditude'' and ''Hurley'' (2009–2013)===
{{Main|Raditude|Hurley (album)}}
[[File:Weezer eastscene-no watermark.jpg|thumb|Cuomo performing in 2010]]

Weezer toured with [[Blink-182]] in 2009, including an August 30 stop at the [[Virgin Festival]] at [[Merriweather Post Pavilion]] in [[Columbia, Maryland]]. Drummer [[Josh Freese]] joined Weezer on a temporary basis to play drums on the tour, while Pat Wilson switched to guitar. Wilson said in an interview for Yahoo! Music that Cuomo wanted "to be active and more free on stage and him having guitar on was an impediment." Freese stated he was a Weezer fan and did not want to pass up the opportunity to play with the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/live/3112/weezer-guitar-hero-5-fridays-on-yahoo-music/|title=Weezer: Guitar Hero 5 Fridays on Yahoo! Music – Maximum Performance|publisher=New.music.yahoo.com|first=Lyndsey|last=Parker|date=September 25, 2009|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-date=September 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929021742/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/live/3112/weezer-guitar-hero-5-fridays-on-yahoo-music|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On August 18, 2009, Weezer released the first single for their upcoming album, "[[(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To|If You're Wondering If I Want You To]]". The song peaked at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="Weezer"/> The title of the album was called ''[[Raditude]]'' which was a suggestion from actor [[Rainn Wilson]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 24, 2009|title=Pitchfork: Weezer's Raditude Origin Explained|first=Tom |last=Breihan |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/36297-weezers-iraditudei-decoded/|access-date=November 7, 2022|archive-date=October 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024035044/http://pitchfork.com/news/36297-weezers-iraditudei-decoded/|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

''[[Raditude]]'''s album artwork was revealed on September 11, featuring a [[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]] contest-winning photograph of a jumping dog named Sidney.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lindsay|first=Andrew|url=http://stereokill.net/2009/09/11/weezer-unveil-album-cover/|title=Weezer unveil album cover|publisher=stereokill.net|access-date=September 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719043128/http://stereokill.net/2009/09/11/weezer-unveil-album-cover/|archive-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> The record's release was pushed to November 3, 2009, where it debuted as the seventh best-selling album of the week on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart. The band scheduled tour dates in December 2009 extending into early 2010 to coincide with the new album's release. On December 6, 2009, Cuomo was injured when his tour bus crashed in [[Glen, New York]] due to [[black ice]]. Cuomo suffered three broken ribs and internal bleeding, and his assistant broke two ribs. His wife, baby daughter, and their nanny were also on the bus, but they escaped injury. Weezer cancelled the remaining 2009 tour dates the following day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/weezer/48758 |title=Weezer cancel tour following 'severe' bus crash|work=[[NME]]|first=Adam |last=Bychawski|date=December 7, 2009|access-date=March 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194232/https://www.nme.com/news/weezer/48758|archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Weezer cancels tour after bus crash in upstate NY|url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/weezer-cancels-tour-after-bus-crash-in-upstate-ny/article_8471fc21-edab-5a3a-8fbf-14f6e257dc07.html|access-date=May 4, 2020|work=[[The Oakland Press]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 7, 2009|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123154307/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2009/12/07/weezer-cancels-tour-after-bus-crash-in-upstate-ny/|archive-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref> The band resumed touring on January 20, 2010.

In December 2009, it was revealed that the band was no longer with [[Geffen Records]]. The band stated that new material would still be released, but the band members were unsure of the means, whether it be self-released, released online, or getting signed by another label.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lindsay|first=Andrew|title=Weezer become free agents|publisher=Stereo Kill|date=December 17, 2009|url=http://stereokill.net/2009/12/weezer-become-free-agents/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127103943/http://stereokill.net/2009/12/weezer-become-free-agents/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 27, 2010|access-date=September 9, 2010}}</ref> Eventually, the band was signed to the independent label [[Epitaph Records|Epitaph]].<ref name="drive"/>

Weezer co-headlined [[The Bamboozle]] in May 2010,<ref>Lustig, Justin. (January 19, 2010). [http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2010/01/mgmt_added_to_bamboozle_festiv.html "MGMT added to Bamboozle Festival, as co-headliner"] nj.com. Retrieved 2010-03-09.</ref> and performed at the [[Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival]] in [[Manchester, Tennessee]] in June.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/02/09/bonnaroo-2010-lineup-rolls-out-weezer-jeff-beck-the-flaming-lips-and-more/|title=Bonnaroo 2010 Lineup Revealed: Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon and More|first=Daniel |last=Kreps|date=February 9, 2010|access-date=February 9, 2010|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413161217/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/02/09/bonnaroo-2010-lineup-rolls-out-weezer-jeff-beck-the-flaming-lips-and-more/ |archive-date=April 13, 2010}}</ref> In August 2010, Weezer performed at the [[Reading and Leeds Festival]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/music/s/2068490_2010_reading_festival_lineup_announced |title=2010 Reading Festival line-up announced|
date=March 29, 2010|access-date=March 29, 2010|work=[[Reading Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401065150/http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/music/s/2068490_2010_reading_festival_lineup_announced |archive-date=April 1, 2010}}</ref> and performed at the [[Voodoo Experience|Voodoo Experience festival]] in [[New Orleans, LA]] in October 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Spera|first=Keith|date=June 17, 2010|url=http://www.nola.com/voodoofest/index.ssf/2010/06/ozzy_osbourne_muse_mgmt_weezer.html |title=Ozzy Osbourne, Muse, MGMT, Drake coming to Voodoo Fest in New Orleans|work=[[The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate|The Times-Picayune]]|access-date=June 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205140659/https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/festivals/ozzy-osbourne-muse-mgmt-drake-coming-to-voodoo-fest-in-new-orleans/article_0531564a-9ac8-521b-b3c4-81734ff226c4.html|archive-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref>

The album ''[[Hurley (album)|Hurley]]'' was released in September 2010 through [[Epitaph Records]]. The name comes from the character [[Hugo "Hurley" Reyes]] from the television show ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]''. [[Jorge Garcia]], the actor who portrayed Hurley, stated that being featured on the album cover is "one of the biggest honors of [his] career."<ref name="drive">{{cite web|url=http://www.drivenfaroff.com/2010/08/04/weezer-signs-to-epitaph-new-album-in-september/|title=Weezer Signs To Epitaph, New Album in September|first=Bryce|last=Jacobson|publisher=Drivenfaroff.com|date=August 4, 2010|access-date=August 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826002653/http://www.drivenfaroff.com/2010/08/04/weezer-signs-to-epitaph-new-album-in-september/|archive-date=August 26, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1645570/20100811/weezer.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814132024/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1645570/20100811/weezer.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2010|title=What Does 'Lost' 's Hurley Think Of Weezer's Hurley? We Asked Him!|first=James |last=Montgomery|work=[[MTV News]]|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=August 11, 2010|access-date=September 26, 2010}}</ref> The first single, "[[Memories (Weezer song)|Memories]]", was chosen as part of the ''[[Jackass 3D]]'' soundtrack with the music video featuring members of the cast contributing backing vocals.<ref>{{Citation|title=Jackass 3D (2010) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1116184/soundtrack|access-date=November 7, 2022}}</ref>

Weezer used internet streaming service YouTube as a way to promote the album. Weezer loaned itself to 15 amateur online video producers, "going along with whatever plans the creator could execute in about 30 minutes." The band was promoted through popular channels such as [[Barely Political]], [[Ray William Johnson]] and [[Fred Figglehorn]]. [[The Gregory Brothers]] solicited musical and vocal contributions from the band on one of its compositions built around speeches by [[Charlie Rangel|Rep. Charles Rangel]] and [[Barack Obama|President Barack Obama]]. Weezer called the promotion "The YouTube Invasion".<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Ethan|date=September 13, 2010|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/13/weezer-the-youtube-infestation-begins/ |title=Weezer: The "YouTube Invasion" Begins|work=[[Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=September 14, 2010}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

In November 2010, Weezer released a compilation album composed of re-recorded versions of unused recordings spanning from 1993 to 2010, ''[[Death to False Metal]]''.<ref name="KROQhurley">{{cite web|url=http://kroq.radio.com/2010/10/12/weezer-set-to-release-hurley-follow-up-album-in-november/|title=Weezer Set To Release "Hurley" Follow-up Album In November|publisher=[[KROQ-FM]]|access-date=December 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111074637/http://kroq.radio.com/2010/10/12/weezer-set-to-release-hurley-follow-up-album-in-november/|archive-date=January 11, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} "'Together, they are the album that should logically follow Hurley,' says Weezer front-man Rivers Cuomo."</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/rivers-cuomo-1798221611|title=Rivers Cuomo Music Interview|first=Erik|last=Adams|date=September 14, 2010|access-date=December 6, 2010|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723032339/https://www.avclub.com/rivers-cuomo-1798221611|archive-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref> The lead track, "Turning Up the Radio",  was a collaborative effort with many fans on [[YouTube]]. On the same day a deluxe version of ''[[Pinkerton (album)|Pinkerton]]'', which includes "25 demos, outtakes and live tracks" was also released.<ref>{{cite news|last=Graff|first=Gary|date=October 30, 2010|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2010/10/30/entertainment/doc4ccae19243728608191628.txt?viewmode=fullstory |title=Weezer sets out to rewrite legacy of 'Pinkerton'|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302124944/http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2010/10/30/entertainment/doc4ccae19243728608191628.txt?viewmode=fullstory |archive-date=March 2, 2012|work=[[The Macomb Daily]]|access-date=November 2, 2010}}</ref> A third volume of Cuomo's solo ''[[Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo|Alone]]'' series, titled ''Alone III: The Pinkerton Years'', consisting of demos and outtakes from the ''Pinkerton'' sessions, was released on December 12, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2011/11/rivers-cuomo-details-pinkerton-diaries-and-alone-iii/|title=Rivers Cuomo details The Pinkerton Diaries and Alone III|first=Alex|last=Young|publisher=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence of Sound]]|date=November 10, 2011|access-date=September 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226163043/https://consequence.net/2011/11/rivers-cuomo-details-pinkerton-diaries-and-alone-iii/|archive-date=December 26, 2024}}</ref> The band also contributed a cover of [[The Cars (band)|the Cars]]' "[[You Might Think]]" for the [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]]-[[Pixar]] film ''[[Cars 2]]'' as well as a cover of [[The Monkees]]' "[[I'm a Believer]]" for ''[[Shrek Forever After]].''<ref>{{cite news|title=Weezer record song for Cars 2 soundtrack|url=http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2011/06/weezer_record_song_for_cars_2.html|work=Kerrang!|date=June 14, 2011|access-date=September 17, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819013015/http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2011/06/weezer_record_song_for_cars_2.html|archive-date=August 19, 2011}}</ref>

Weezer began working on their ninth studio album in September 2010 with the intent of a 2011 release,<ref name="ninthalbum">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/weezer/52975|title=Weezer start work on 'Hurley' follow-up|first=Adam|last=Bychawski|work=[[NME]]|date=September 14, 2010|access-date=July 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040942/https://www.nme.com/news/weezer/52975|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> but the year ended without seeing a release. On October 8, 2011, former Weezer bassist [[Mikey Welsh]] was found dead from a suspected heroin overdose in a Chicago hotel room.<ref name=Nickeas>{{cite news|last=Nickeas|first=Peter|date=October 9, 2011|title=Drug overdose suspected in death of former Weezer bass player|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-weezer-bass-player-dies-in-chicago-20111009,0,2187723.story|access-date=October 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103062413/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-weezer-bass-player-dies-in-chicago-20111009,0,2187723.story|archive-date=November 3, 2013}}</ref> Weezer performed in Chicago the next day and dedicated the concert to Welsh, who was expected to have attended.<ref name=Nickeas/> Welsh had previously joined Weezer on stage for a few performances between 2010 and 2011.

The band headlined a four-day rock-themed Carnival Cruise from Miami to Cozumel that set sail on January 19, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/8052293-421/weezer-still-sailing-own-way-including-cruise-concert.html|title=Weezer still sailing own way, including cruise concert|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|
date=October 5, 2011|access-date=January 14, 2012}}{{deadlink|date=April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/07/13/the-weezer-cruise-awkwardness-ahoy/|title=The Weezer Cruise Promises Awkwardness Ahoy|date=July 13, 2011|access-date=January 14, 2012|first=James |last=Montgomery|work=[[MTV News]]|publisher=[[MTV]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713041632/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/07/13/the-weezer-cruise-awkwardness-ahoy/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weezer-announce-caribbean-cruise-20110712|title=Weezer Announce Caribbean Cruise|first=Matthew |last=Perpetua |work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 12, 2011|access-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018072429/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weezer-announce-caribbean-cruise-20110712|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July, Weezer headlined the inaugural [[Bunbury Music Festival]] in Cincinnati, Ohio.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Death Cab, Weezer to headline Bunbury fest|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|date=February 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://verbicidemagazine.com/bunbury-music-festival-201-jane%E2%80%99s-addiction-weezer-death-cab-for-cutie/|title=Inaugural Bunbury Music Festival This Weekend Features Jane’s Addiction, Weezer, Death Cab for Cutie|date=July 9, 2012|access-date=April 26, 2025|work=verbicide}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2012/03/weezer-death-cab-for-cutie-guided-by-voices-to-play-inaugural-bunbury-music-festival/|title=Weezer, Death Cab For Cutie, Guided By Voices to play inaugural Bunbury Music Festival|first=Alex|last=Young|publisher=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence of Sound]]|date=March 29, 2012|access-date=April 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420170708/https://consequence.net/2012/03/weezer-death-cab-for-cutie-guided-by-voices-to-play-inaugural-bunbury-music-festival/|archive-date=April 20, 2021}}</ref> In early 2013 the band brought its Memories Tour to Australia—the band's first Australian tour since 1996. The band played its first two albums in full at several venues. The band also headlined the Punkspring 2013 tour in Japan and later in the year toured Canada and USA. They played multiple nights in cities around the U.S. The first night shows were dedicated to playing their hits, then the Blue album in full, front to back. The second night, they played ''Pinkerton'' in the same fashion. Koch did a "Memories" slide show at the Gibson amphitheater in Los Angeles. The slide show consisted of photos of gigs over the years and highlighted the loss of their fan club team members Mykel and Carli Allan in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weezer.com/profiles/blogs/2012-07-12-a-u-s-t-r-a-l-i-a|title=2012/07/12 Australia!|publisher=Weezer|date=July 12, 2012|access-date=September 4, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728000357/http://weezer.com/profiles/blogs/2012-07-12-a-u-s-t-r-a-l-i-a|archive-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref>

===''Everything Will Be Alright in the End'' and the "White Album" (2013–2016)===
{{main|Everything Will Be Alright in the End|Weezer (White Album)}}
[[File:Weezer, City Of Trees 2016.jpg|thumb|Weezer performing at the City of Trees Musical Festival 2016]]

Over 200 tracks were considered for their next album, but they were able to narrow it down to 13.<ref name=bf1>{{Citation|title=Back to the Future|date=2006|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9788132102786.n10|work=Brand Bollywood: A New Global Entertainment Order|pages=195–214|place=New Delhi, India|publisher=SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd|doi=10.4135/9788132102786.n10|isbn=9780761935346|access-date=November 7, 2022}}</ref> According to the album's official press release, the album is organized thematically around three groups of songs: "Belladonna", "The Panopticon Artist" and "Patriarchia". "Belladonna" includes the songs "Ain't Got Nobody", "[[Lonely Girl (Weezer song)|Lonely Girl]]", "[[Da Vinci (song)|Da Vinci]]", "[[Go Away (Weezer song)|Go Away]]", "Cleopatra" and "Return to Ithaka", all of which deal with Cuomo's relationships with women. Tracks under "The Panopticon Artist" include "[[Back to the Shack]]", "I've Had It Up To Here" and "The Waste Land" all deal with Cuomo's relationships with fans. The final group of songs, "Patriarchia", are "Eulogy for a Rock Band", "[[The British Are Coming (song)|The British Are Coming]]", "Foolish Father" and "Anonymous", which deal with relationships with father figures, "with a new spin".<ref name=bf1/>

In January 2014, Weezer began recording with producer Ric Ocasek, who had produced the "Blue Album" and the "Green Album".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/weezer_to_record_new_album_with_ric_ocasek_starting_in_january_greatest_hit|title=Weezer to record new album with Ric Ocasek starting in January; greatest hits album in the works – Alternative Press|publisher=Altpress.com|date=October 28, 2013|access-date=June 2, 2014}}</ref> A clip of a new song was posted on the band's official YouTube account on March 19, 2014, which confirmed previous rumors of the band being in the studio.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Jason|last=Newman|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weezer-teaser-band-returns-to-studio-in-cryptic-new-clip-20140319|title=Weezer Posted a 20-Second, In-the-Studio Teaser Ahead of Possible New Album &#124; Music News|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=April 10, 2014|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923065348/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weezer-teaser-band-returns-to-studio-in-cryptic-new-clip-20140319|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 12, 2014, it was revealed that the album title would be ''[[Everything Will Be Alright in the End]]''. It was released on October 7, 2014<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6228866/weezer-push-back-everything-will-be-alright-in-the-end-release-date|title=Weezer Pushes Back 'Everything Will Be Alright in the End' Release Date|date=August 21, 2014|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref> to generally favorable reviews, becoming the band's best-reviewed release since ''Pinkerton''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/everything-will-be-alright-in-the-end/weezer|title=Reviews for Everything Will Be Alright in the End by Weezer – Metacritic|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=October 8, 2014}}</ref> The first single, "[[Back to the Shack]]", reached No. 5 on the [[Alternative Airplay]] chart.<ref name="Weezer"/>

On October 26, 2015, the band released a new single, "[[Thank God for Girls (song)|Thank God for Girls]]", through [[Apple Music]] and to radio the same day. The following week, the band released a second single, "[[Do You Wanna Get High?]]". Cuomo claimed in an interview with [[Zane Lowe]], that the band was not working on a new album.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Young|first1=Alex|title=Weezer Return to their Roots on "Do You Wanna Get High?" — Listen|url=https://consequence.net/2015/11/weezer-return-to-their-roots-on-do-you-wanna-get-high-listen/|website=Consequence of Sound|access-date=February 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120140237/https://consequence.net/2015/11/weezer-return-to-their-roots-on-do-you-wanna-get-high-listen/|archive-date=November 20, 2015|date=November 3, 2015}}</ref> Later, on January 14, 2016, Weezer released a third single, "[[King of the World (Weezer song)|King of the World]]", and announced the "[[Weezer (White Album)|White Album]]", which continued the critical success of the band's previous release.<ref name="15 January 2016">{{cite news|last1=Biddulpt|first1=Andy|title=Weezer Have Announced An Album + Tour|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/weezer-have-announced-an-album-tour|newspaper=Rock Sound Magazine|publisher=Rocksound|access-date=January 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115184843/http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/weezer-have-announced-an-album-tour|archive-date=January 15, 2016|date=January 15, 2016}}</ref>

While writing the album, Cuomo joined Tinder to meet with people to get inspired for new songs.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Andy|date=February 24, 2016|title=Rivers Cuomo on Making New White Album, Joining Tinder|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/weezers-rivers-cuomo-on-reviving-the-spirit-of-the-nineties-joining-tinder-109111/|access-date=November 7, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> He also started to explore other songwriting techniques including a [[cut-up technique]], [[Stream of consciousness|stream-of-consciousness]], and writing melodies with a piano instead of guitar.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Rivers Cuomo Explains His 'Crazy Way To Write' Tracks On 'Song Exploder'|newspaper=Spin|date=April 18, 2016|url=https://www.spin.com/2016/04/rivers-cuomo-weezer-summer-elaine-drunk-dori-song-exploder-podcast-stream/|last1=Grebey|first1=James}}</ref>

''[[Weezer (White Album)|Weezer]]'' was officially released on April 1, 2016, and peaked at No. 4 on the [[Billboard 200]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Billboard Staff|date=February 25, 2016|title=Warner Music Group, Crush Music Launch New Label|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/warner-music-group-crush-music-launch-label-6889542/|access-date=November 7, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="billboard.com">{{Cite magazine|title=Weezer|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/weezer/|access-date=November 10, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref> The album is considered a [[concept album]] exploring the themes of gender dynamics, modern dating experiences and references to religious iconography.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Weezer: Weezer (White Album)|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21593-weezer-white-album/|access-date=November 7, 2022|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}}</ref> Musically, the album serves as a throwback to the band's first two albums, ''[[Weezer (Blue Album)|Weezer]]'' (1994) and ''[[Pinkerton (album)|Pinkerton]]'' (1996), while also serving as a tribute to [[the Beach Boys]].

The album received a [[Grammy Awards|grammy]] nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] for the [[59th Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 1, 2012|title=Nominees And Winners|newspaper=Grammy.com|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees|access-date=November 7, 2022|archive-date=February 9, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150209164541/http://www.grammy.com/nominees|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

In support of the album, the band performed on the [[Weezer & Panic! at the Disco Summer Tour 2016]] with [[Panic! at the Disco]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sharp|first1=Tyler|title=Panic! At The Disco, Weezer announce co-headlining tour|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/panic_at_the_disco_weezer_announce_co_headlining_tour|website=AltPress.com|publisher=Alternative Press|access-date=January 15, 2016|date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> The band later signed to Atlantic Records as part of a joint venture between Warner Music Group and [[Crush Management]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Weezer sign to Atlantic Records ahead of 10th studio album {{!}} White album coming in April|url=http://www.neverenoughnotes.co.uk/2016/02/weezer-sign-to-atlantic-records-ahead-of-10th-studio-album-white-album-coming-in-april/|website=Never Enough Notes|access-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226190121/http://www.neverenoughnotes.co.uk/2016/02/weezer-sign-to-atlantic-records-ahead-of-10th-studio-album-white-album-coming-in-april/|archive-date=February 26, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===''Pacific Daydream'' (2017–2018)===
{{main|Pacific Daydream}}
Soon after the release of the White Album, Cuomo discussed plans for Weezer's next album, provisionally titled the "Black Album'. Cuomo said the album would tackle "more mature topics" and be "less summer day and more winter night", and suggested the band could return to the recording studio as soon as October 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/weezer-4-1205507|title=Weezer's next album could sound like 'Beach Boys gone bad'|date=2016-04-20|newspaper=NME|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-20}}</ref> Weezer delayed recording after Cuomo felt his new material was more "like reveries from a beach at the end of the world [... as if] the Beach Boys and the Clash fell in love by the ocean and had one hell of an amazing baby".<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7933887/weezer-new-album-pacific-daydream|title=Weezer Announces New Album 'Pacific Daydream'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 28, 2017|date=August 17, 2017}}</ref>

To write the album, Cuomo utilized various musical and lyrical fragments he had collected over time. He kept an archive of song ideas and hired programmers to organize a spreadsheet of lyric snippets by [[beats per minute]], syllable, and [[Key (music)|key]] to call from whenever stuck. "Instead of trying to force myself to feel inspired, I can just go into the spreadsheet and search [...] I just try them out to see which ones work magically."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Vogel|first=Gretchen|date=September 14, 2016|title='Motherless babies!' How to create a tabloid science headline in five easy steps|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aah7300|journal=Science|doi=10.1126/science.aah7300|issn=0036-8075}}</ref>

On March 16, 2017, Weezer released a new song, "[[Feels Like Summer (Weezer song)|Feels Like Summer]]", the lead single of the upcoming album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efPWrIvzGgc|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/efPWrIvzGgc|archive-date=December 11, 2021|url-status=live|title=Weezer – Feels Like Summer|website=YouTube|date=March 15, 2017|language=en-US|access-date=March 16, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The song drew a mixed reaction from fans but became their biggest hit on Alternative radio in a decade (peaking at number 2 on the [[Alternative Airplay|Alternative Airplay chart]] ).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/weezer/chart-history/mrt/|title=Weezer Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref> On August 16, Weezer announced ''[[Pacific Daydream]],'' released on October 27.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/weezer-announce-new-album-pacific-daydream-2125359|title=Weezer's new album 'Pacific Daydream' is coming this year|date=August 16, 2017|website=Nme.com|access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> On August 17, the promotional single from the album, "[[Mexican Fender]]", was released.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Connick|first1=Tom|title=Weezer's new album 'Pacific Daydream' is coming this year|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/weezer-announce-new-album-pacific-daydream-2125359|website=[[NME]]|date=August 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/08/weezer-mexican-fender-stream/|title=Weezer – "Mexican Fender"|date=August 17, 2017|website=Spin.com|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2017/08/18/tracks-wolf-alice-dream-wife-weezer-and-more|title=Tracks: Wolf Alice, Dream Wife, Weezer and more|website=DIY|date=August 18, 2017|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref> The following month, "Beach Boys" was released, and the month after, they released "Weekend Woman" to positive reception.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Strauss|first1=Matthew|title=Weezer Share New "Beach Boys" Song: Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/weezer-share-new-beach-boys-song-listen/|website=[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]|date=September 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Leight|first1=Elias|title=Hear Weezer's Uplifting New Pop-Rock Song, 'Weekend Woman'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-weezers-uplifting-new-pop-rock-song-weekend-woman-123031/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=October 5, 2017}}</ref> "[[Happy Hour (Weezer song)|Happy Hour]]" was chosen as the second official single of the album, peaking at No. 9 on the Alternative Airplay chart.

The album received a Grammy nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] at the [[61st Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Lynch|first=Joe|date=December 7, 2018|title=Grammys 2019 Nominees: The Complete List|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2019-grammy-nominees-full-list-8489045/|access-date=November 7, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref>

===The "Teal Album" and the "Black Album" (2018–2019)===
{{main|Africa (Toto song)|Weezer (Teal Album)|Weezer (Black Album)}}
Following a persistent Twitter campaign by a fan, Weezer released a cover of [[Toto (band)|Toto]]'s song "[[Africa (Toto song)#Weezer cover|Africa]]" on May 29, 2018.<ref>{{Citation|last=weezer|title=Weezer – Africa|date=May 29, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4c7EE8_IX0|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/E4c7EE8_IX0|archive-date=December 11, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=May 29, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/hurry-its-waiting-there-for-you-weezer-covers-africa|title=Hurry, Boy, It's Waiting There for You: Weezer Covers "Africa"|first=Amanda|last=Petrusich|magazine=The New Yorker|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Prior to this, the band released a cover of "[[Rosanna (song)|Rosanna]]" to "[[Trolling|troll]]" their fans.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8jr-p0lQZo|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/J8jr-p0lQZo|archive-date=December 11, 2021|url-status=live|people=weezer|title=Weezer – Rosanna|date=May 24, 2018|access-date=June 2, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/weezer-cover-totos-rosanna-trolling-viral-campaign-for-africa-cover/|title=Weezer Cover Toto's "Rosanna," Trolling Viral Campaign for "Africa" Cover|last=Monroe|first=Jazz|website=Pitchfork|date=May 24, 2018|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en}}</ref> "Africa" reached [[List of Billboard number-one alternative singles of the 2010s#2018|number one]] on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Alternative Songs]] chart in August 2018, becoming the band's first number-one single since "[[Pork and Beans (song)|Pork and Beans]]" in 2008. Two days later, on August 10, Toto responded by releasing a cover of Weezer's single "[[Hash Pipe]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/toto-release-cover-of-weezers-hash-pipe-listen/|title=Toto Release Cover of Weezer's "Hash Pipe": Listen|last=Blais-Billie|first=Braudie|website=Pitchfork|date=August 10, 2018|access-date=August 17, 2018}}</ref> "Africa" eventually peaked at No. 51 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]].<ref name="Weezer"/> The success of the "Africa" cover led Weezer to record an album of covers, the [[Weezer (Teal Album)|''Teal Album'']], a [[surprise album]] released on January 24, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/weezer-surprise-release-new-covers-record-the-teal-album-listen/|title=Weezer Surprise Release New Covers Record The Teal Album: Listen|website=Pitchfork|date=January 24, 2019|language=en|access-date=January 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/weezer-covers-album-toto-africa-1203116485/|title=Weezer Surprise-Releases Covers Album|date=January 23, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2019|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The album was a commercial success as it peaked at No. 4 on the [[Billboard 200]]. In addition, all tracks charted on the [[Hot Rock & Alternative Songs|Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart.]]<ref name="billboard.com"/>

On September 20, 2018, Weezer released "[[California Snow]]" as a single for the 2018 film ''Spell''.<ref>{{Cite news|title="Weezer"- "California Snow"|newspaper=Spin|date=September 20, 2018|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/09/weezer-california-snow-listen/|last1=Cook-Wilson|first1=Winston}}</ref> It was chosen as the closing track for the "Black Album". On October 11, 2018, Weezer released "[[Can't Knock the Hustle (Weezer song)|Can't Knock the Hustle]]", the lead single from their upcoming album.<ref name="stereogum1">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2018295/weezer-cant-knock-the-hustle-video-feat-pete-wentz/video/|title=Weezer Announce 'The Black Album' & Tour With Pixies, Share "Can't Knock The Hustle" Video Starring Pete Wentz|publisher=Stereogum|date=October 11, 2018|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8479447/weezer-announces-the-black-album-cant-knock-the-hustle-video|title=Weezer Announces 'The Black Album' & Drops 'Can't Knock The Hustle' Video|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Moore|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/weezer-the-black-album-announcement-new-single-video-cant-knock-the-hustle-pete-wentz-starring-2389018|title=Weezer announce 'The Black Album' with single 'Can't Knock the Hustle'|publisher=Nme.com|date=October 11, 2018|access-date=November 17, 2018}}</ref> On November 21, they released the second single, "[[Zombie Bastards]]",<ref name="exclaim black album">{{cite magazine|first=Sarah|last=Murphy|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/weezer_announce_black_album_share_new_single_zombie_bastards|title=Weezer Announce "Black Album," Share New Single "Zombie Bastards"|magazine=Exclaim!|date=November 21, 2018|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name="upsetmagazine black album">{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Taylor|url=https://www.upsetmagazine.com/news/weezer-black-album-2019|title=Weezer have officially announced their Black album, and released a new track called 'Zombie Bastards'|work=Upset Magazine|date=November 21, 2018|access-date=November 21, 2018|archive-date=November 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121204018/https://www.upsetmagazine.com/news/weezer-black-album-2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> and announced the "Black Album", produced by [[Dave Sitek]] and scheduled for March 1, 2019. An arena tour of the U.S. with the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]] and supporting and international tour dates were also announced.<ref name="exclaim black album" /><ref name="upsetmagazine black album" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnewsnet.com/2018/11/its-finally-has-a-release-date-weezer-the-black-album-set-for-release-march-1-2019.html|title=It's Finally Has A Release Date!: Weezer (The Black Album) Set For Release March 1, 2019|publisher=Music News Net|date=November 21, 2018|access-date=November 21, 2018|archive-date=November 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122005627/https://www.musicnewsnet.com/2018/11/its-finally-has-a-release-date-weezer-the-black-album-set-for-release-march-1-2019.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On February 21, they released "[[High as a Kite (Weezer song)|High as a Kite]]" and "Living in LA" as the next singles.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Weezer – "High As A Kite" & "Living In L.A."|newspaper=Spin|date=February 21, 2019|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/02/weezer-high-as-a-kite-living-in-l-a/|last1=Gottsegen|first1=Will}}</ref> They would later play them on [[NPR Music]] to promote the album for their series of [[Tiny Desk Concerts]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hilton|first=Robin|date=April 1, 2019|title=Weezer: Tiny Desk Concert|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/26/706962997/weezer-tiny-desk-concert|access-date=November 10, 2022}}</ref>

=== ''OK Human'' and ''Van Weezer'' (2019–2021) ===
{{main|OK Human|Van Weezer}}
[[File:Weezer_Hella_Mega_Tour_Denver_2021.jpg|alt=Weezer Hella Mega Tour Denver 2021|thumb|Weezer during the Hella Mega Tour at [[Dick's Sporting Goods Park]] in [[Commerce City, Colorado]]]]
During a Beats 1 interview by [[Zane Lowe]] on Apple Music on January 24, 2019, Cuomo announced that Weezer had already recorded the "basic tracks" to the follow-up album to the "Black Album". The album, produced by [[Jake Sinclair (musician)|Jake Sinclair]] (who also produced the ''White Album''), would feature piano and strings-based songwriting and had already been recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios]]. For the recording process, Weezer departed from the modern "grid music" style (music recorded via modern software using grids to organize and manipulate the individual elements of recorded music) and did not perform to a "click" (i.e., [[metronome]]) for a more natural style.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hudson|first=Alex|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/weezer_have_already_recorded_most_of_the_follow-up_to_the_black_album|title=Weezer Have Already Recorded Most of the Follow-Up to The Black Album|work=Exclaim!|access-date=February 26, 2019}}</ref> Furthermore, Cuomo said he was currently working on an album with the working title ''[[Van Weezer]]'' that harkened back to their heavier rock sound after noticing how crowds enjoy epic guitar solos at Weezer shows.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Franich|first=Darren|url=https://ew.com/music/2019/02/27/rivers-cuomo-weezer-black-album-interview/|title=Rivers Cuomo on Weezer's Black Album and struggling with the success of covering Africa|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 27, 2019|access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=February 28, 2019|title=Rivers Cuomo: Weezer Will Go 'Back to Big Guitars'|url=http://loudwire.com/rivers-cuomo-weezer-big-guitars/|access-date=March 1, 2019|publisher=Loudwire.com}}</ref>

On September 10, 2019, the band announced the [[Hella Mega Tour]] with [[Green Day]] and [[Fall Out Boy]] as headliners alongside themselves, with [[The Interrupters (band)|the Interrupters]] as an opening act. They also released the opening single, "[[The End of the Game (song)|The End of the Game]]", off their upcoming fifteenth studio album, ''[[Van Weezer]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|title=Green Day, Weezer, Fall Out Boy Announce 2020 'Hella Mega' Stadium Tour|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/green-day-weezer-fall-out-boy-2020-hella-mega-tour-882156/|website=rollingstone.com|access-date=September 10, 2019|language=en|date=September 10, 2019}}</ref> The song reached No. 2 on the [[Alternative Airplay]] chart.<ref name="Weezer"/> Cuomo said that the band would return "back to big guitars". He remarked that when the band would perform "[[Beverly Hills (Weezer song)|Beverly Hills]]" live in concert, he would perform a guitar solo that was not present on the recorded version of the song. "We noticed that, recently, the crowd just goes crazy when I do that. So it feels like maybe the audience is ready for some shredding again."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schatz|first=Lake|date=September 10, 2019|title=Weezer announce new album Van Weezer, share "The End of the Game": Stream|url=https://consequence.net/2019/09/van-weezer-album-end-of-the-game-song-stream/|access-date=November 10, 2022|website=Consequence|language=en-US}}</ref>

The band recorded a version of "[[Lost in the Woods]]" for the 2019 film ''[[Frozen II]]'', which was included on the [[Frozen II (soundtrack)|soundtrack album]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Arcand|first1=Rob|title=Here's Weezer's New Song for the 'Frozen 2' Soundtrack|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/11/weezer-lost-in-the-woods-frozen-2-soundtrack/|access-date=November 24, 2019|work=Spin|date=November 16, 2019}}</ref> The music video featuring the band and the ''Frozen'' voice actress [[Kristen Bell]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/weezer-kristen-bell-frozen-2-video-lost-in-the-woods-923652/|title=Weezer Enlist Kristen Bell for Video for 'Frozen 2' Song|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 7, 2019|access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref>

On May 6, 2020, Weezer released the single and music video "[[Hero (Weezer song)|Hero]]" a tribute to essential workers during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Simultaneously, they announced the delay of ''Van Weezer'' for a time to be determined.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/weezer-delay-album-and-share-new-song-hero-listen/|title=Weezer Delay Album and Share New Song "Hero"|first=Madison|last=Bloom|website=Pitchfork.com|date=May 6, 2020|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> The song reached No. 1 on the Alternative Airplay chart.<ref name="Weezer"/> On May 10, Weezer guest-starred on an episode of [[The Simpsons]], "[[The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds|The Hateful Eight-Year Olds]]", where a snippet of their song "Blue Dream" from ''Van Weezer'' was played.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 11, 2020|title=Weezer debut new song Blue Dream on The Simpsons|url=https://www.datathistle.com/article/116203-weezer-debut-new-song-blue-dream-on-the-simpsons/|access-date=November 10, 2022|website=Data Thistle|language=en-GB}}</ref> On August 14, 2020, the band announced that the album had been delayed to May 2021 in order to coincide with the rescheduled Hella Mega Tour. That same day, the third single, "Beginning of the End", was released as a part of the soundtrack for ''[[Bill & Ted Face the Music]].''<ref>{{Cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/weezer/status/1294123815954534400|number=1294123815954534400|title=Quick update on Van Weezer,...|access-date=March 12, 2023|user=Weezer|language=en}}</ref>

On October 6, 2020, after [[Eddie Van Halen]] died, the album was dedicated to him.<ref>{{Cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/weezer/status/1313614683233038336|number=1313614683233038336|title=We're saddened to hear of Eddie Van Halen's untimely passing today.|access-date=March 12, 2023|user=Weezer|language=en}}</ref> In addition to Van Halen, the album is also dedicated to [[Ric Ocasek]], who produced the band's debut, ''[[Weezer (Blue Album)|The Blue Album]]'', ''[[Weezer (Green Album)|The Green Album]]'', and ''[[Everything Will Be Alright in the End]]'', as Ocasek had died in September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Try the TIDAL Web Player|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/181531972/credits|access-date=November 10, 2022|website=listen.tidal.com|date=May 7, 2021|language=en}}</ref>

On January 18, 2021, the band officially announced their fourteenth studio album, ''[[OK Human]]'' (a play on [[Radiohead]]'s ''[[OK Computer]]'').<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kaye|first=Ben|date=January 18, 2021|title=Weezer announce new album OK Human is coming next week|url=https://consequence.net/2021/01/weezer-ok-human-release-date-next-week/|access-date=November 10, 2022|website=Consequence|language=en-US}}</ref>'','' following cryptic promotional floppy discs and links sent to some members of the Weezer Fan Club a few days prior. The announcement came with a release date of January 29.<ref name="Stereogum OK Human">{{Cite web|last=Deville, Chris|date=January 18, 2021|title=Weezer Announce New Album OK Human Out Next Week|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2113421/weezer-announce-new-album-ok-human-out-next-week/news/|access-date=January 18, 2021|website=Stereogum}}</ref><ref name="Cos OK Human">{{cite news|last1=Kaye, Ben|title=Weezer Announce New Album OK Human Is Coming Next Week|url=https://consequence.net/2021/01/weezer-ok-human-release-date-next-week/|access-date=January 19, 2021|work=Consequence of Sound|date=January 18, 2021|quote=Frontman Rivers Cuomo previously described the album (a clear play on Radiohead’s classic OK Computer)...}}</ref> The album's opening track, "[[All My Favorite Songs]]", was released as a single with an alternate version featuring indie pop-rock band [[AJR]].<ref name="Stereogum OK Human" /> The song reached No.1 on the Alternative Airplay chart and was later nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] in the [[64th Annual Grammy Awards]]''.<ref name="Weezer" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Billboard Staff|date=November 23, 2021|title=2022 Grammy Nominees: The Complete List|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/grammy-nominations-2022-full-list-1235001871/|access-date=November 7, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref>''

The album was planned to be released following ''Van Weezer'', but when the album suffered a year-long delay following the [[COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Madison|date=May 6, 2020|title=Weezer Delay Album and Share New Song "Hero": Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/weezer-delay-album-and-share-new-song-hero-listen/|access-date=January 18, 2021|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> the band decided to shift their focus to completing ''OK Human'' first.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Emily|title=Rivers Cuomo explains why OK Human is being released before Van Weezer|url=https://www.kerrang.com/rivers-cuomo-explains-why-ok-human-is-being-released-before-van-weezer|website=Kerrang!|access-date=June 13, 2022|date=January 26, 2021}}</ref> Work on ''OK Human'' began as early as 2017, when the band decided to make an album that combined rock instrumentation with an orchestra.<ref name="NPR.org">{{Cite news|title=Rivers Cuomo On Weezer's Latest, 'OK Human,' And The Need To Riff (Or Not)|language=en|work=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/29/962124558/rivers-cuomo-on-weezers-latest-ok-human-and-the-need-to-riff-or-not|access-date=November 10, 2022}}</ref> The band hired a 38-piece-orchestra and recorded the album entirely with analog equipment to achieve their desired [[Baroque pop|baroque]] sound. The album was additionally inspired by [[The Beach Boys]]' ''[[Pet Sounds]]'' and [[Harry Nilsson]]'s ''[[Nilsson Sings Newman]]'' (1970).<ref name="NPR.org"/>

The fourth single, "I Need Some of That" was released on April 21, 2021.<ref>{{Cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/weezer/status/1384540735895130112|number=1384540735895130112|title=It's almost Van Weezer time.|access-date=March 12, 2023|user=Weezer|language=en}}</ref> ''Van Weezer'' was released on May 7, 2021, along with an animated music video for "All the Good Ones".<ref name="Cos OK Human" /> The album has been compared to their fourth studio album ''[[Maladroit]]'' (2002), and is inspired by 1970s and 1980s [[hard rock]] and [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] bands such as [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[Black Sabbath]], [[Metallica]] and [[Van Halen]] (the last of whom inspired the album's title).<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 10, 2019|title=Weezer Detail New Album ''Van Weezer'', Share New Song: Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/weezer-detail-new-album-van-weezer-share-new-song-listen/|access-date=November 10, 2022|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}}</ref>

===''SZNZ'', touring and 30th anniversary (2021–present)===
{{main|SZNZ: Spring|SZNZ: Summer|SZNZ: Autumn|SZNZ: Winter}}
After delays due to the pandemic, the American leg of the Hella Mega Tour began on July 24, 2021, in [[Arlington, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/green-day-weezer-hella-mega|title=Green Day, Weezer Return to Touring With First 'Hella Mega' Show/|last=Irwin|first=Corey|date=July 25, 2021|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=September 5, 2023}}</ref> The European leg saw Weezer, Green Day and Fall Out Boy performing in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Ireland, Scotland and France.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Andy|date=September 10, 2019|title=Green Day, Weezer, Fall Out Boy Announce 2020 'Hella Mega' Stadium Tour|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/green-day-weezer-fall-out-boy-2020-hella-mega-tour-882156/|access-date=June 19, 2024|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 11, 2022, Weezer announced ''SZNZ'', a series of four EPs based on the seasons. The first, ''[[SZNZ: Spring]]'', was released on March 20. The lead single, "[[A Little Bit of Love (Weezer song)|A Little Bit of Love]]", was released on March 16,<ref>{{cite web|first=Matthew|last=Strauss|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/weezer-announce-ep-share-new-song-a-little-bit-of-love-listen/|title=Weezer Announce EP, Share New Song "A Little Bit of Love"|website=Pitchfork|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref> and reached No. 1 on the [[Alternative Airplay]] chart.<ref name="Weezer" /> On June 20, 2022, Weezer appeared on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'', debuting "[[Records (song)|Records]]", the lead single from ''[[SZNZ: Summer]]'', which also reached No. 1 on the Alternative Airplay chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Weezer|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/weezer/|access-date=December 4, 2022|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref> In August, a [[Broadway Theatre (53rd Street)|Broadway Theater]] residency planned for September 2022 was cancelled due to high expenses and poor ticket sales.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Bouza|first=Kat|date=August 11, 2022|title=Weezer Cancels Broadway Residency, Citing "Low Ticket Sales" and "High Expenses"|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/weezer-sznz-broadway-residency-cancelled-1395657/|access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref>

On September 19, 2022, Weezer performed again under the name Goat Punishment at [[Troubadour (West Hollywood, California)|Troubadour]], Hollywood, where they played ''SZNZ: Winter'' for the first time. They also debuted the single "What Happens After You?" from ''[[SZNZ: Autumn]]'', which was released on September 22, 2022. "What Happens After You?" was later performed on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2022/09/weezer-sznz-autumn-ep-what-happens-after-you-kimmel-watch/|title=Weezer Ring in SZNZ: Autumn EP by Performing "What Happens After You" on Kimmel: Watch|first=Carys|last=Anderson|work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]|date=September 22, 2022|access-date=September 23, 2022}}</ref> On December 9, 2022, Weezer released "I Want a Dog", the lead single from the last EP in the ''SZNZ'' series, ''[[SZNZ: Winter]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=December 9, 2022|title=Weezer Pine for Canine Companionship on New Song 'I Want a Dog'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/weezer-new-song-i-want-a-dog-sznz-winter-1234644589/|access-date=December 9, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> ''SZNZ: Winter'' was released on December 21, 2022, alongside a music video for "Dark Enough To See The Stars".{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} In November 2023, Weezer appeared in the [[Netflix]] film ''[[Family Switch]]''.<ref name="epic tour">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/weezer-are-putting-ideas-together-for-blue-album-anniversary-release-and-epic-tour/|title=WEEZER ARE "PUTTING IDEAS TOGETHER" FOR BLUE ALBUM ANNIVERSARY RELEASE AND "EPIC TOUR"|website=Kerrang!|last=Carter|first=Emily|date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

In June 2024, Weezer began a tour of the UK and Ireland with [[The Smashing Pumpkins|Smashing Pumpkins]]. Reviewing their performance at [[the O2 Arena]], London, the ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' wrote: "Thirty years on, Weezer still dole out taut, punchy, witty powerpop with self-effacing elan ... They are patently still in love with music."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gittins|first=Ian|date=June 10, 2024|title=Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer review – mismatched 90s rockers bore and charm|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jun/10/smashing-pumpkins-and-weezer-review-02-arena-london|access-date=June 15, 2024|work=[[The Guardian]]|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In September, Weezer, along with opening acts [[Dinosaur Jr.]] and [[The Flaming Lips]], began their Voyage to the Blue Planet tour, in which they will perform the Blue Album in its entirety for its 30th anniversary.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mier|first=Tomás|date=March 11, 2024|title=Weezer Will Celebrate 30th Anniversary of the 'Blue Album' With an Arena Tour|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/weezer-blue-album-30th-anniversary-tour-1234985285/|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Minsker|first=Evan|date=September 5, 2024|title=Weezer's Blue Album Tour Turns Their Hits Into Glorious Sci-Fi Camp|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/weezer-blue-planet-blue-album-tour-review-1235090510/|access-date=September 5, 2024|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> On November 1, Weezer released a "Super Deluxe Edition" of the Blue Album.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rigotti|first=Alex|date=September 5, 2024|title=Weezer announces 30th anniversary reissue of 'The Blue Album' with 30 unreleased tracks|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/weezer-announces-30th-anniversary-reissue-of-the-blue-album-with-30-unreleased-tracks-3790842|access-date=September 5, 2024|website=NME|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 4, 2024|title=Weezer Announce 'Blue Album' Box Set Enclosed In A Sweater|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2278765/weezer-announce-blue-album-box-set-enclosed-in-a-sweater/news/|access-date=September 5, 2024|website=Stereogum|language=en}}</ref> In April 2025, ''[[NME]]'' reported that Weezer working on a [[mockumentary]] film depicting a rivalry between Weezer and [[Keanu Reeves]]' band [[Dogstar (band)|Dogstar]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pilley |first=Max |date=2025-04-19 |title=Keanu Reeves to star as villain in upcoming Weezer film |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/keanu-reeves-to-star-as-villain-in-upcoming-weezer-film-3856235 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> On October 18, 2025, Weezer are set to perform at the [[When We Were Young (festival)|When We Were Young]] festival in Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2285810/when-we-were-young-2025-lineup-features-blink-182-weezer-and-a-panic-at-the-disco-reunion/news/|title=When We Were Young 2025 Lineup Features Blink-182, Weezer, And A Panic! At The Disco Reunion|website=[[Stereogum]]|date=October 29, 2024|last=Jones|first=Abby}}</ref>