Earlier this summer Rivers Cuomo, of Weezer, and Rainn Wilson, known as Dwight Schrute to some, were working on some stuff, and Rainn suggested names for Weezer’s new album. Of all the suggestions he gave, Raditude stuck the best with Rivers.
Rivers is 39- I know! - I still think he’s 28, and he looks it. Despite his age and looks, Rivers and company have managed to craft an album of pop hooks and party nods. Gone are the days of true longing and morose feelings, Rivers is married and has a daughter now, you can’t keep writing depressing ballads forever. Unless you’re Robert Smith, you have to get over it at some point in time.
Raditude opens with new single “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” and blasts into “I’m Your Daddy”, “The Girl Got Hot”. The latter songs are pretty catchy and have sports anthem sounds to them. “Can’t Stop Partying” has a surprise guest: Lil’ Wayne, yes the Carter himself utters the only swear on any Weezer album.
The rest of the album seems to drag a bit and doesn’t hold my interest as much as I hoped it would. I even bought the special edition with the four bonus tracks, and those are kind of disappointing, too. What is cool is that drummer Josh Freese of Nine Inch Nails plays a bit on a few songs, and you can tell when he makes a stop.
How does this stack with the rest of Weezer? Not their worst, not their best. Most true blue fans will want Rivers to reveal more than he does, and most new fans will want the pop sense to shine. Well, the pop shines, and Rivers does reveal a bit but just enough to keep us wanting more.
