Editing Weezer (section)

===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>