Weezer has established its place in the rock and roll ethos, known for the group's quirky songs and sing-along choruses. When you hear a new Weezer song, you instantly know it is Weezer.
Rivers Cuomo, lead vocalist and primary song writer, has evolved quite a bit from the geek who gave us the sweater song in 1994. He earned a degree from Harvard, he got married and he released a solo project. All of this really helps to explain The Red Album. It's a complicated album, more mature and more self-assured than the other five releases. What I have always loved about Weezer is that they take chances and aren't afraid to be who they are.
In the song "Pork and Beans," the first single, they capture who they are perfectly. It is supposedly a song written as a response to the labels' pressure to record more commercial material. It is an ode to individuality, kind of a losers anthem. Rivers sings, "I'm doing the things that I wanna do, I ain't got a thing to prove to you" in the chorus, with a snotty "up yours" tone as the wall of sound overwhelms you with its overdubs.
They pay homage to their influences with the song "Heart Songs." They go through them name by name and apparently with no shame, there's a shout out to Debbie Gibson. A song this simple shouldn't be this great and yet it is. Weezer makes them great.
As good as those songs are, the coolest song on the album has to be "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived." It is a masterpiece, a musical journey from the nerdy rap in the intro to its punk-influenced end. Its like 10 remixes in one and yet completely cohesive.
The album falters a bit in the second half, with the other band members taking over for Rivers and singing lead. "Cold Dark World," features Scott Shriner on vocals. The first four songs and the last song, “The Angel and The One," are the standouts.
This album, the sixth album, is full of humor and angst. It is a memorable addition to the Weezer catalog. One should not try to overanalyze this album; take it for what it is and remember it was written by a Harvard graduate, so if you don't get it its probably just your own ignorance.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

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