Weezer
Hurley
Epitaph
September 14

By Nicholas Proch

After having spent some time listening to the newest installment from Weezer, I find myself asking to hear more.  One thing is for certain: this album shows that the band is back and is going to stick around for quite some time.

After they burst onto the scene with their debut album, Weezer (Blue Album), they were on the path to success until their lackluster effort Make Believe showed them to be burned-out and leaving their roots.

After a hiatus, a stand-off with their record label, and a mediocre release, they seem to have found their groove again.  Hurley is worth more than just a listen whether or not you are a fan of the group’s previous works.  The album can be hard, it can be soft, and it can even be funny.

Beginning with two big rock songs, the album kicks you in the face and leaves you throbbing to hear more.  This album rocks and it rocks hard. As it progresses forward, they show how the band has grown since their hiatus.  They’ve learned to build tension and throw it all away, as seen on the song “Trainwrecks.”

Many Weezer fans have been waiting for another Pinkerton moment and they may finally have gotten their wish with the song “Unspoken.”  This track reminds us of the brilliance of the band’s leader, Rivers Cuomo.  While it is mostly his direction that drives the band, you can still hear the influences from other members shining through.

If you were a fan of Weezer (Green Album), definitely download this album; you’ll hear the similarities between them.  Weezer hasn’t rocked this hard since pre-break up, and it certainly feels good to have them back to their old ways.