I love music. It truly is a driving force in my life. I’m often asked the question, “What’s your favorite band?” Now, knowing that I have a pretty deep and diverse musical taste, people are waiting for me to rattle off band names. Obscure groups who put out underground EP’s. Classic bands whose stuff sounds better on vinyl. That’s why most people are surprised when I quickly answer with the one band I truly identify with – Weezer!
I love all things that this band does. From their live show to their videos, they can do no wrong in my eyes. But it wasn’t always that way. This brings me to the album that changed my life – Pinkerton.
First, some back story. Pinkerton was released in 1996. Following the success of the “Blue Album”, most fans were expecting that same infectious power pop that marked their debut record. What they got was a darker, grittier, and less polished sound with a much more pessimistic view, a far cry from their breakout hit “Buddy Holly”. Critics and fans alike panned the record, saying that Weezer was just a flash-in-the-pan band.
I loved their first record, and can admit that on the first couple of listens, Pinkerton left me disappointed. For those of you that have heard the album, you have to agree that it is not an instantly accessible record. It takes awhile to get into. But once you start peeling back the layers, and you start identifying with Rivers Cuomo’s lyrics, it becomes one of the most important albums of the 90’s. It is his bravest songwriting effort to date, as he puts all his failures and fears on display for everyone to see.
For me personally, Pinkerton has meant more to me with every passing year. It plays like a soundtrack to my life. And now when I listen to it, I don’t see the songs through Rivers’ eyes, I see them through my own. Each song connects to a tangible event or feeling that I had. Here’s the breakdown:
