I would place this at the top of my list of Weezer albums. Next would probably be Maladriot and then the blue album. You can really hear Rivers soul in Pinkerton. All of his fears and insecurities come out in the lyrics and melodies. I love this album so much. It is such a treasure.

Most people apparently either hate this or adore it. I’m in the middle. I guess I can understand the people that love this album’s “heart on its sleeve” lyrics. They’re almost painfully intense (particularly on “Across the Sea” where Cuomo laments not being close enough to date an underage Japanese female fan while simultaneously loathing himself for it). I can also see the people that hate it because of its dearth of big, catchy, singalong hooks. Really only “The Good Life” and “Pink Triangle” would fit into that category.

I love those 2, as well as slightly lesser “Why Bother?”. “El Scorcho” is a left-field pop song but the tossed off “G-d*mn” at the front dims its appeal for me. (Side note: Is this a further elaboration to the girl of “Across the Sea”?) Soft acoustic closer “Butterfly” is also worth a listen.

BOTTOMLINE:

It has its charms but it won’t be getting as much play as BLUEALBUM or GREEN and probably not as much as MALADROIT or MAKEBELIEVE either. You may flame away….

I like all Weezer albums, but this one has some special gems. ‘El Sorcho’, and ‘Get You’ stand out. But it is the last track ‘Buterfly’, with a stripped down Rivers and an acoustic that deserves repeated listens.