(Redirected from Weezer (The Blue Album))
'''Weezer''', often referred to as '''The Blue Album''', is the debut album by the band
Weezer. It was released on
May 10,
1994 by
Geffen Records. The album spawned the popular
singles "
Undone - The Sweater Song" and "
Buddy Holly", both of which were responsible for launching Weezer into mainstream success with the aid of
music videos directed by
Spike Jonze. The album was produced by former
Cars frontman
Ric Ocasek and recorded in Electric Lady Studios in New York City. As of October 2005, the album had sold 3,004,160 copies in the
United States,
[1] where it peaked at #4. It is currently certified 3 times platinum, making it Weezer's best selling album of all-time.
''Weezer'' was the first of
two self-titled albums, the other being
the band's 2001 album.
[2] A 2-CD deluxe edition was released on 2004.
Background
Weezer was formed on
February 14 1992, in
Los Angeles by
Rivers Cuomo,
Patrick Wilson,
Matt Sharp, and
Jason Cropper.
[3] They would then play clubs and other small venues around L.A. However, it took a long time for the band to gain a following.
They recorded
the Kitchen Tapes as an attempt to create a buzz around L.A.
[4] The band eventually attracted attention from major-label A&R reps looking for alternative rock bands while performing on the same bill as the band
that dog.
[5] They were then signed to the ''
DGC'' label (which later became
Interscope) on
June 26 1993, by Todd Sullivan, an A&R rep from
Geffen Records.
[6]
Recording process
While prepping for the forthcoming studio sessions, the band focused on their vocal interplay by practicing
barbershop quartet-styled songs, which helped both
Rivers Cuomo and
Matt Sharp achieve a newfound collaborative comfort during rehearsals. Sharp, who never sang before joining Weezer, got his
falsetto background vocal abilities — "I had to sing an
octave higher than Rivers. After a lot of practice, I started to get it down."
[7]
Fifteen songs were rehearsed for the album during early practice sessions in New York in preparation for the Electric Lady Studios album recording. Ten of the songs appear on the album, but four of the songs were cut: "Lullaby for Wayne", "I Swear It's True", "Getting Up and Leaving", and a reprise version of "In The Garage." The other song, "Mykel and Carli", was attempted during the Electric Lady sessions, but was also abandoned. It would be recorded a year later and became a popular B-side.
[8]
The band briefly considered self-producing, but were pressured by
Geffen to choose a producer. They ultimately decided on
Ric Ocasek. Cuomo: "I'd always admire The Cars and Ric Ocasek's songwriting and production skills."
[9] During production, Ocasek convinced the band to change their
guitar pickup from the Rhythm pick-up to the lead pick-up, resulting in a brighter sound.
[10]
During these sessions, founding guitarist
Jason Cropper left the band and was replaced by current guitarist
Brian Bell,
[11] leading to some speculation about how much Bell contributes to the album. While Bell's vocals are clearly audible
[12](especially on "No One Else", "In the Garage" and "Undone"), front man Rivers Cuomo re-recorded all of Cropper's guitar parts.
[13] According to producer Ocasek, all ten tracks were laid down by Rivers in one day, each in one take.
[14] Cropper's writing credit on "My Name is Jonas" is earned by his coming up with the intro to the song.
Artwork
The album artwork by Todd Sullivan features Patrick Wilson, Rivers Cuomo, Matt Sharp, and Brian Bell standing left to right in front of a plain, blue background.
[15] The simple image would be used prominently in the advertising the album.
[16] The cover received many comparisons to
the Feelies' album
Crazy Rhythms.
[17]
On some vinyl pressings of the album, the cover does not crop off their feet. On the ''Deluxe Edition'' case the feet are presented on the back cover, and the band sold an official t-shirt with a shot of the band's feet after the deluxe edition release.
[18]
Inside the album booklet, Rivers Cuomo pays tribute to his past
metal influences with a photo taken in the group's garage on Amherst (this same garage would be featured in the "Say It Ain't So" music video). A poster of
Judas Priest's album
British Steel is featured on the left side of the photo, while on the right a
Quiet Riot concert poster is displayed. The ''Deluxe Edition'' features additional photographs of the band, and hand written lyrics for each song.
[19]
Release
''The Blue Album'' was released on
May 10,
1994. It was certified
gold just over eight months later on
December 1,
1994, and certified platinum on
January 1,
1995; since then it has gone three times multi-platinum in the United States.
[20] The album peaked at #4 on the
Billboard 200.
As a single, "Undone - The Sweater Song" peaked at #35 on the
UK Top 40, and both "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So" peaked at #12 and #37 on the UK Top 40 respectively.
Back in the U.S. "Buddy Holly" peaked at #2 on the
Billboard Hot 100.
[21]
Deluxe edition
A deluxe edition of ''The Blue Album'' was released on
March 23,
2004. This release includes a remastered version of the original album as well as a second disc (entitled ''Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets'') of B-sides and rarities.
[22] The re-issue sold 69,778 copies.
[1]
Reception
Initial
The album was well received by critics on its release,
[24] All Music Guide gave the album 5 stars explaining "What makes the band so enjoyable is their charming geekiness; instead of singing about despair, they sing about love, which is kind of refreshing in the gloom-drenched world of '90s guitar-pop."
[25] Rolling Stone praised the album saying "Weezer's Rivers Cuomo is great at sketching vignettes (the Dungeons and Dragons games and Kiss posters that inspire the hapless daydreamer of 'In the Garage'), and with sweet inspiration like the waltz tempo of 'My Name Is Jonas' and the self-deprecating humor of lines like "I look like Buddy Holly/You're Mary Tyler Moore," his songs easily ingratiate."
[26]
Retrospect
In the years since its release, The Blue album has risen in stature to become one of the most highly-regarded albums of the 1990's, appearing on many "Best-of" lists. In 2003, Rolling Stone named the album among the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."
[2] In 2002, the readers of Rolling Stone ranked the album the 21st greatest of all time.
[28] Blender named The Blue Album among the "500 CDs You Must Own", calling the album an "Absolute geek-rock, out and proud."
[29] Non-U.S. publications have acclaimed the album as well:
New Zealand's The Movement placed it at number 39 on a list of "The 101 Best Albums of the 90s",
[30] and Visions of
Germany ranked it number 32 on a list of "The Most Important Albums of the 90s."
[31]
Critic reviews of the Deluxe edition version of the album has also seen positive reviews. In 2004,
Popmatters gave the album a very postive review and saying "I’d go so far to declare the 'Blue Album' one of the greatest records of the last 20 years."
[32] Blogcritics Magazine gave the album an 10/10 and asserted "this is one of the most important debut albums of the last ten years."
[33]
In naming ''The Blue Album'' one of the 50 best albums of the 1990s,
Pitchfork Media summed up the album's critical recognition:
Accolades
Since its release, The Blue Album has featured heavily in various "must have" lists complied by the music media. Some of the more prominent of these lists to feature The Blue Album are shown below; this information is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net.
[34]
(
★ ) designates lists which are unordered.
All URLs accessed on February 5, 2007 UTC
Track listing
All songs were written by
Rivers Cuomo, except where noted.
# "
My Name Is Jonas" (Cuomo,
Patrick Wilson,
Jason Cropper) – 3:24
# "
No One Else" – 3:04
# "
The World Has Turned and Left Me Here" (Cuomo, Wilson) – 4:19
# "
Buddy Holly" – 2:39
# "
Undone - The Sweater Song" – 5:05
# "
Surf Wax America" (Cuomo, Wilson) – 3:06
# "
Say It Ain't So" – 4:18
# "
In the Garage" – 3:55
# "
Holiday" – 3:24
# "
Only in Dreams" – 7:59
Deluxe edition bonus disc
The deluxe edition included a bonus disc titled ''Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets''.
# "
Mykel and Carli" – 2:53
# "
Susanne" – 2:47
# "
My Evaline" – 0:44
# "Jamie" – 4:19
# "My Name Is Jonas" (live) – 3:39
# "Surf Wax America" (live) – 4:01
# "Jamie" (acoustic live) – 4:03
# "No One Else" (acoustic live) – 3:23
# "Undone - The Sweater Song" (demo) – 5:33
# "Paperface" – 3:01
# "Only in Dreams" (demo) – 5:47
# "Lullabye for Wayne" – 3:36
# "I Swear It's True" – 2:57
# "Say It Ain't So" (original album mix) – 4:16
The tracks on the bonus disc originally appeared on the following releases:
[19]
★ Tracks 1–3 from "
Undone - The Sweater Song" single (1994)
★ Track 4 from ''DGC Rarities'' compilation (1994)
★ Tracks 5 and 6 from "
Buddy Holly" single (1994)
★ Tracks 7 and 8 from "
Say It Ain't So" single (1995)
★ Tracks 9–11 previously unreleased, and part of ''
Kitchen Tapes'' demo (1992)
★ Tracks 12 and 13 previously unreleased, demos recorded around the time of ''Weezer's recording (1993)
★ Track 14 is original version, most albums featured single mix
Chart positions
Album
Singles
Personnel
All information is taken from the CD.[15]
★
Rivers Cuomo –
lead guitar,
lead vocals
★
Patrick Wilson –
percussion
★
Brian Bell –
rhythm guitar
★
Matt Sharp –
bass guitar
★
Ric Ocasek –
producer
★
Chris Shaw -
Engineer
References
1. For The Statistically Minded
2. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
3. Official Weezer Biography Page at last.fm;retrieved on 2007-08-30
4. Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 69
5. Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 76
6. Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 82
7. Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 85
8. Luerssen D., John. 2004, p. 88-91
9. Luerssen D., John. 2004, p. 87
10. Luerssen D., John., 2004, p. 87
11. Luerssen D., John., 2004, p. 88-91
12. Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 98
13. Luerssen D., John. 2004, p. 99
14. Luerssen D., John. p. 99
15. ''Weezer: Blue Album'' booklet and liner notes
16. Luerssen D., John. 2004, p. 109
17. Luerssen D., John. 2004, p. 109
18. Blue Album era releases (1992-1995)
19. ''Weezer: Blue Album (Deluxe Edition)'' booklet and liner notes.
20. Gold and Platinum: Searchable Database
21.
22. ''"The Blue Album" Deluxe Edition Overview'' at Allmusic.com;retrieved on September 6 2006
23. For The Statistically Minded
24.
25.
26. Weezer: Weezer: Music Reviews: Rolling Stone
27. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
28. 'Rolling Stone Readers 100, 2002 at Rocklist.net
29. 500 CDs You Must Own: Alternative Rock at Blender.com
30. The 101 Best Albums of the 90s
31. The Most Important Albums of the 90s
32.
33. Review: Weezer-The Blue Album (Deluxe Edition)
34. List of Blue Album Accolades
35. Top Albums of All-time
36. Top Albums of 1994
37. 500 CDs You Must Own: Alternative Rock at Blender.com
38. Top 100 Albums 1990–2003
39. Top 101-200 Albums of All Time
40. Top 100 Albums of the 1990s
41. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
42. ''Weezer: Blue Album (Deluxe Edition)'' booklet and liner notes.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54. ''Weezer: Blue Album'' booklet and liner notes
External links
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