Editing Weezer (section)

===''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.