Weezer (Green Album): Difference between revisions

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Weezer (also known as the Green Album) is the third studio album by American rock band Weezer. It was released on May 15, 2001, by Geffen Records. It was the second Weezer album produced by Ric Ocasek, who produced their debut album, and it is the only studio album to feature bassist Mikey Welsh (who replaced Matt Sharp), as he left the band a few months after the album's release.

After the mixed critical reception and underwhelming sales of their second album, Pinkerton (1996), Weezer went on hiatus and the band members worked on side projects. During this time, their fanbase grew online and Pinkerton's standing improved. After a comeback performance at the Japanese Summer Sonic Festival, Weezer began rehearsing and recording new material. Following the ambitious compositions and confessional themes of Pinkerton, songwriter Rivers Cuomo wrote simpler songs with less personal lyrics.

Three singles were released from the album: "Hash Pipe", "Island in the Sun", and "Photograph". "Hash Pipe" was a worldwide hit, charting on seven different charts. Weezer received generally favorable reviews. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, where it has since sold over 1.6 million copies.

Background

File:Rivers Weezer third.jpg

Rivers Cuomo (pictured in 2010) desired a back-to-basics approach in creating the album.

Weezer's second album, Pinkerton, was released on September 24, 1996.<ref name="allmusic22">Pinkerton Album Overview at [[[:Template:AllMusic]] Allmusic.com]; retrieved on September 6, 2006</ref> With a darker, more abrasive sound, it received mixed reviews and sold poorly compared to Weezer's 1994 debut.<ref name="allmusic22" /><ref name="themichigandaily">Anticipated return has Weezer in the Green at Michigandaily.com; retrieved on September 18, 2006</ref> Following the Pinkerton tour, Weezer went on hiatus.<ref name="page 241" /> Frontman Rivers Cuomo returned to Harvard University to finish his studies, but dropped out to focus on songwriting.<ref name="page 241">Luerssen (2004), p. 241.</ref> During this time, he formed a new band, Homie.<ref name="page 242">Luerssen (2004), p. 242.</ref>

By February 1998, Cuomo had disbanded Homie and headed to Los Angeles to begin work on Weezer demos with guitarist Brian Bell and drummer Patrick Wilson.<ref name="page 245">Luerssen (2004), p. 245.</ref> Bassist Matt Sharp was absent from rehearsals and became estranged from the band.<ref name="page 255">Luerssen (2004), p. 255.</ref><ref name="page 256">Luerssen (2004), p. 256.</ref> On April 8, 1998, Sharp announced his exit from Weezer to devote his energy to his band The Rentals.<ref name="page 257">Luerssen (2004), p. 257.</ref> It was quickly announced that former Homie bassist Mikey Welsh would take over on bass for Weezer.<ref name="page 265">Luerssen (2004), p. 265.</ref><ref name="page 259">Luerssen (2004), p. 259.</ref>

Frustration and creative disagreements led to a decline in rehearsals. In late 1998, Wilson left for his home in Portland pending renewed productivity from Cuomo.<ref name="page 266">Luerssen (2004), p. 266.</ref> Cuomo became depressed;<ref name="page 267">Luerssen (2004), p. 267.</ref> he painted the walls of his home black and put "fiberglass insulation all over the windows and then black sheets of fiberglass so that no light could get through".<ref name="page 266" /> During this time, he isolated himself and abstained from contact with the outside world.<ref name="page 270">Luerssen (2004), p. 270.</ref><ref name="page 272">Luerssen (2004), p. 272.</ref> He also had braces put on his teeth, further damaging his self-esteem.<ref name="page 280">Luerssen (2004), p. 280.</ref>

By 1999, the members of Weezer had again gone their separate ways; Wilson resumed work with his band the Special Goodness, Bell worked on his band Space Twins and Welsh toured with Juliana Hatfield.<ref name="page 269">Luerssen (2004), p. 269.</ref> Meanwhile, Cuomo wrote 121 songs, nearly half of which would become demos.<ref name="page 269" /> Bell would occasionally visit Cuomo and play songs with him.<ref name="page 272" />

Unbeknownst to the band, their fanbase was connecting and growing on the internet,<ref name="page 280" /><ref name="page 307">Luerssen (2004), p. 307.</ref> and Pinkerton's critical and commercial standing was improving.<ref name="page 281">Luerssen (2004), p. 281.</ref><ref name="page 307" /><ref name="college rock">Template:Cite web</ref> Weezer accepted a lucrative offer to perform in Japan in August 2000 for the Summer Sonic Festival;<ref name="page 285">Luerssen (2004), p. 285.</ref> rehearsals for the show reinvigorated the band.<ref name="page 286">Luerssen (2004), p. 286.</ref> They returned to performing in June 2000, playing low-key shows around Los Angeles under the pseudonym Goat Punishment, ensuring that Weezer would only perform for longtime fans who would recognize the name.<ref name="page 286" />

Eventually, Weezer performed higher-profile gigs such as the Warped Tour.<ref>Luerssen (2004), p. 292.</ref> Cuomo said: "We went in there fully expecting to be booed and to have things thrown at us. But it was exactly the opposite, people were singing along to all the songs and just going crazy, giving us the best support. And I think that gave us the confidence we needed."<ref name="page 293">Luerssen (2004), p. 293.</ref> The response led to further shows.<ref name="page 295">Luerssen (2004), p. 295.</ref><ref name="page 304">Luerssen (2004), p. 304.</ref> MP3 demos captured live on the band's mobile unit and soundchecks surfaced on file-sharing services and eventually were released as downloads on the Weezer website.<ref name="page 307" /> These songs are often referred to as "Summer Songs of 2000".<ref name="page 307" />

Recording

On October 23, 2000, Cuomo announced that Weezer would start recording material "with or without" a producer.<ref name="page 308">Luerssen (2004), p. 308.</ref> However, the band's record label decided to have the band employ a record producer due to the commercial failure of their self-produced album Pinkerton.<ref name="page 308" /> The band began rehearsing and arranging both the Summer Songs of 2000 and newer material Cuomo had written at his home with engineer Chad Bamford.<ref name="page 308" /> The band eventually decided to hire Ric Ocasek—who had also produced their debut album—as producer,<ref name="page 304" /><ref name="page 310">Luerssen (2004), p. 310.</ref> and began sending demos to Ocasek during the summer of 2000.<ref name="page 309">Luerssen (2004), p. 309.</ref> There was much debate among the band members as to whether they should record in Los Angeles or Ocasek's New York home, with the band eventually deciding to record in Los Angeles at Cello Studios.<ref name="page 310" /> The band continued to demo new music daily and started to work through more than seventy-five demos, eventually homing in on twenty-five potential album tracks in anticipation of Ocasek's arrival.<ref name="page 311">Luerssen (2004), p. 311.</ref> Ocasek worked with the band to trim these down further to eighteen songs.<ref name="page 313">Luerssen (2004), p. 313.</ref>

After the mixed reception to Pinkerton, Cuomo wrote simpler songs with less personal lyrics; he stated the songs "very intentionally not about me. Not about what was going on in my life, at least in a conscious way."<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Recording sessions began in early December, with Ocasek providing feedback by telephone.<ref name="page 310" /> On December 27, the band embarked on what would be close to six weeks of studio work by playing songs repetitively in order to track the bass and drums parts.<ref name="page 314" /> They also did "scratch takes" of the vocals and guitar, designed to get accurate rhythm tracks before being redone more efficiently later in the recording process.<ref name="page 314" /> While recording the album, the band continued to perform gigs under the pseudonym Goat Punishment.<ref name="page 314">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 314</ref><ref name="page 312">Luerssen (2004), p. 312.</ref>

During the recording sessions, an executive at the band's label, Geffen Records, visited to observe the band's progress and expressed dissatisfaction with several tracks.<ref name="page 315" /> This feedback eventually forced the band to discard a few of the album's possible songs.<ref name="page 315">Luerssen (2004), p. 315.</ref> The band relocated for three weeks to a smaller studio in another part of Cello Studios where Cuomo and Bell worked on guitar takes while the entire band recorded vocal tracks.<ref name="page 316">Luerssen (2004), p. 316.</ref> Ocasek said: "Rivers always does his guitar parts in one take."<ref name="page 316" /> Mixing began on January 31 by Tom Lord-Alge at South Beach Studios inside the Marlin Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida.<ref name="page 318">Luerssen (2004), p. 318.</ref><ref name="page 321">Luerssen (2004), p. 321.</ref>

Packaging

Template:Quote box Art direction was handled by Chris Bilheimer with photography from Marina Chavez and Karl Koch.<ref name="booklet">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> It is similar to the cover art of Weezer's debut album.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref>

The album cover was shot between band practices and featured Welsh, Cuomo, Bell and Wilson standing left to right in front of a plain, lime-green backdrop in a manner similar to the band's debut album. This was done as a tribute to Ric Ocasek, who had also produced their first album,<ref name="page 326">Luerssen (2004), p. 326.</ref> and also to symbolize the band's back-to-basics approach they took while recording the album.<ref name="page 326" /> This approach is alluded to in a quote in the liner notes of the album: "Torniamo all'antico e sarà un progresso",<ref name="booklet" /><ref name="harv">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="page 343">Luerssen (2004), p. 343.</ref> from Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi that means "Let us return to old times and that will be progress."<ref name="Torniamo">Template:Cite web</ref>

The picture inside of the CD booklet is a photo of Weezer playing live, featuring (in the lower right hand corner) an overlay of the silhouettes of Mike Nelson, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot from the television show Mystery Science Theater 3000. (Hence the liner note citation "MST3K silhouette appears courtesy of Best Brains, Inc.")<ref name="booklet" />

This was Weezer's first album to feature a transparent CD tray. Under the CD tray of the album, the word "No" can be found on the back of the spine.<ref name="bookletline">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Some fans speculate that this is a response to the inside tray of Radiohead's album OK Computer which contains the text "I like you. I like you. You are a wonderful person. I'm full of enthusiasm. I'm going places. I'll be happy to help you. I am an important person, would you like to come home with me?"<ref name="bookletok">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Weezer's explanation was vague, with webmaster Karl Koch stating "No means no."<ref name="FAQ">Template:Cite web</ref>

The album contains the dedication "In loving memory of Mykel and Carli." Mykel and Carli Allan were sisters devoted to developing fan clubs for up-and-coming bands.<ref name="central">Template:Cite web</ref> The sisters had been influential in starting and developing Weezer's official fan club in the 1990s and, along with their younger sister Trysta, died in a car crash in 1997.<ref name="MykelCarli">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Promotion

The album was met with enthusiasm from the record label;<ref name="page 324">Luerssen (2004), p. 324.</ref> according to Weezer collaborator Karl Koch, "They had nothing but supportive and excited things to say about it."<ref name="page 324" /> However, the album's original release date of April 17 was postponed due to executives not liking Cuomo's choice of "Hash Pipe" as the first single. Citing the song's lurid content about a transvestite prostitute as inappropriate, they suggested that "Don't Let Go" be chosen as the first single.<ref name="page 325">Luerssen (2004), p. 325.</ref> However, Cuomo continued to fight and "Hash Pipe" eventually became the album's first single.<ref name="page 325" /> The label tried to postpone the release date further until June, but the band convinced them to adhere to the May 15 release date.<ref name="page 335">Luerssen (2004), p. 335.</ref>

The video for "Hash Pipe" was directed by Marcos Siega and was the first of many Weezer videos directed by Siega.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> In the video, Weezer performs in an arena while a group of sumo wrestlers are fighting in the background.<ref name="page 335" /> The song title was often censored as "H*** Pipe" (the title employed on the music video's title card) or "Half Pipe".<ref name="page 335" /><ref name="page 338">Luerssen (2004), p. 338.</ref> The song became a hit on the MTV show Total Request Live<ref name="page 339">Luerssen (2004), p. 339.</ref> and also received heavy rotation on radio,<ref name="page 343" /> peaking at number two on the US Modern Rock Charts.<ref name="billboardsinglesweez">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The song was nominated for High Times magazine's "Pot Song of the Year".<ref name="Neal">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="page 375">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 375</ref>

The next single, "Island in the Sun", was a radio hit and became one of Weezer's biggest overseas hits.<ref name="islandheap">Template:Cite web</ref> It peaked at number 11 on the US Modern Rock Charts<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and at number 31 on the UK Top 40.<ref name="officialcharts">Template:Cite web</ref> Two music videos were created for the song: the first video, directed by Marcos Siega, shows Weezer playing the song at a Mexican couple's wedding reception and features all four band members.<ref name="page 356">Luerssen (2004), p. 356.</ref> The executives at MTV disliked Siega's video, prompting the band to film a second video.<ref name="page 363">Luerssen (2004), p. 363.</ref>

After suffering a breakdown from the stress of touring, undiagnosed bipolar disorder, and drug abuse, Welsh attempted suicide and left Weezer in 2001.<ref name="nerv2">Template:Cite web</ref> Without him,<ref name="page 363" /> the band filmed a second video for "Island in the Sun", directed by Spike Jonze and featured the band playing with wild animals.<ref name="page 362">Luerssen (2004), p. 362.</ref><ref name="page 365">Luerssen (2004), p. 365.</ref> Sharp may have been approached to be in the video.<ref name="page 423">Luerssen (2004), p. 523.</ref> Scott Shriner, who was filling in for Welsh and later became a permanent member of Weezer, stated in the commentary for "Video Capture Device" that he almost asked the band to let him appear in the video.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The second video received much wider airplay than the original and has become the standard video for the song.<ref name="page 363" />

The third and final single from the album was "Photograph", which was released to radio in early November.<ref name="page 388">Luerssen (2004), p. 388.</ref> The single peaked at number 17 on the US Modern Rock Charts.<ref name="billboardsinglesweez" /> In Japan it was released as the first single instead of "Hash Pipe."<ref name="gar">Template:Cite web</ref> The band felt the song didn't have the staying power of the previous singles,<ref name="page 392">Luerssen (2004), p. 392.</ref> and thus decided to pass on a big-name director for the music video, opting instead to have Karl Koch shoot and edit a video from on-the-road footage.<ref name="page 392" /> It was the band's first music video featuring Shriner.

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Weezer received generally favorable reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 73 out of 100.<ref name="Metacritic" /> Reviewing the album for Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield wrote that the band had made "a totally crunk geek-punk record, buzzing through ten excellent tunes in less than half an hour with zero filler".<ref name="rs" /> AllMusic senior writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that while Weezer is essentially "just punk-pop, delivered without much dynamic range but with a whole lot of hooks", "nobody else" excels at the style as successfully as Weezer does on the album, which he felt ranked among the best rock records of 2001.<ref name="allmusic" /> Rolling Stone described the Green Album as the "anti-Pinkerton", with album art and "squeaky-clean" production that recalled Weezer's debut.<ref name=":22">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album was compared to the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace by Rob Mitchum of Pitchfork, who stated "Both sci-fi epic and alt-rock record were long-awaited events that had even the most jaded hipster hopping around like a small child with a full bladder."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Neva Chonin of the Houston Chronicle called it "a sublime selection of power-pop songs with enough lyrical ballast to keep them from floating away on their own euphoria".<ref name="hc" /> PopMatters critic Jason Thompson credited the band for their decision to have Ric Ocasek return as producer,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as did Entertainment WeeklyTemplate:'s Evan Serpick, who viewed the album as "a return to their winning formula of sugary power pop and smart-assed rants".<ref name="ew" /> Russell Bailie of The New Zealand Herald remarked that "the self-conscious nerd-factor of old seems largely and happily absent" on an album that "sounds like a revitalisation with a hint of maturity".<ref name="nz" />

Writing in The A.V. Club, Stephen Thompson found that Weezer "feels a bit repetitive and perfunctory the first time through", but "nonetheless finds Weezer sounding revitalized in every way."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Slant MagazineTemplate:'s Sal Cinquemani described it as "fillerless" and without "much to complain about", despite the lack of songs that "hit the spot" like the singles from Weezer's debut.<ref name="slant" /> Pitchfork critic Spencer Owen was more critical, finding the album "average from beginning to end" and lacking in the "sense of dynamics and intricacy that Pinkerton – and especially their debut – held in spades".<ref name="pitchfork" /> Sarah Dempster from NME was similarly disappointed: "The most irritating aspect of the Green Album is... the maddening itch of wasted opportunity."<ref name="nme" />

Weezer placed at number 21 on The Village VoiceTemplate:'s year-end Pazz & Jop critics' poll for 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album ranked at number 3 in Drowned in SoundTemplate:'s list of the best albums of 2001,<ref name="Drowned In Sound">Template:Cite web</ref> while Spin named it the year's ninth best album.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Q and Rolling Stone both listed it as one of the best albums of the year.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Rolling StoneTemplate:'s Laura Marie Braun wrote in 2016 that the success of Weezer helped give Rivers Cuomo an "ego boost" after the initial lukewarm critical reception to Pinkerton, which in turn helped him reconcile his own conflicted feelings about that album.<ref name=":2" />

Sales

In the United States, Weezer debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 on the week of May 15, 2001, selling 215,000 copies.<ref name="BB200" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 13, 2001.<ref name=RIAA /> As of August 2009, the album has sold 1,600,000 copies in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In Canada, the album debuted at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart.<ref name="Canada" /> The album has been certified Platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for 100,000 shipments.<ref name=musiccanada />

The album debuted at number thirty-one on the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="OOC" /> In Australia, the album peaked at number twenty-five.<ref name="Australia" /> Weezer also peaked in the Top Ten in Norway at number eight.<ref name="Norway" />