Weezer's "Raditude" CD Review

Weezer is a very polarizing band. There are legions of music fans that either idolize or detest the alt rock quartet fronted by the enigmatic Rivers Cuomo. And after listening to some of the songs on the group’s seventh and latest studio album, “Raditude,” it’s safe to say Weezer isn’t doing anything to please those haters.
That’s because “Raditude” is definitely the most pop-rock oriented album in the band’s discography, especially when compared to its first two breakthrough albums, 1994’s self-titled debut (aka the Blue Album) and 1996’s “Pinkerton.” This is an album that leans more towards the pop side than the rock side.
It isn’t surprising when you consider the production background of “Raditude.” Dr. Luke and Butch Walker co-produced the album along with Cuomo, while Jermaine Dupri and members of the All-American Rejects (Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler) contributed to the songwriting process.
All of these heavyweights combine for one dream team when it comes to composing pop music. However, this album has proven it’s more of a nightmare team.
That being said, it’s not like every song on “Raditude” will have you running for the earplugs. The opening song and first single, “(If You’re Wondering if I Want You to) I Want You to,” definitely has a name quirky and random enough to be a Weezer song.
Sure, the opening two-chord acoustic guitar riff is ripped off from the Jam’s “A Town Called Malice.” But make no mistake; this song oozes hit single. The acoustic riff is very catchy and is layered perfectly with a subtle electric guitar melody.
The song’s up tempo percussion is springing with high energy, a perfect match with its pleasant theme of boy meets girl. And the corny lyrics fit Weezer to a tee, with Cuomo singing lines like “Your mom cooked meat loaf, even though I don’t eat meat/ I dug you so much, I took some for the team.”
“I’m Your Daddy,” the second single, is arguably the album’s strongest piece. It’s another simple and upbeat instrumental, with a power chord-laden melody. And a pleasing curve ball is thrown via a synthesizer riff delivered during the song’s interlude.
Once again, Cuomo keeps the lyrics witty, declaring “I would like to give a demonstration of what it is I do/ I’ll take you out to dinner at Palermo’s, we’ll split a cheese fondue.”
But for every quality pop rock “I Want You to,” and “I’m Your Daddy,” there seems to be twice as many horrid works, like the dreadful “Can’t Stop Partying.”
Penned by the R & B star Dupri, this song could’ve possibly worked had it been given a guitar-driven instrumental. Instead, it was assigned a nauseating, overdubbed, hip-hop/electronic beat.
Add lyrics bragging about a lifestyle of excess and a verse rapped by none other than the notorious Lil’ Wayne himself, and you have one song that will find even the most hardcore of Weezer fans questioning his or her loyalty.
If I wanted some bad pop music like “Can’t Stop Partying,” I could just pump some Lady Gaga on my iPod. The horror doesn’t stop there, either.
Ritter and Wheeler’s “Put Me Back Together” has musically shallow instrumentals and lyrics more suited for their band than Weezer. And the Indian-themed “Love is the Answer” is an insult to even the most tone deaf of Bollywood movie soundtracks.
An album littered with poor pop-rock songs is a far cry from the Blue/Pinkerton days, when Cuomo was spilling his insecure guts and complex guitar solos over two of the most celebrated alternative albums of the 1990s. Say it ain’t so, Rivers.