Weezer's second album, Pinkerton is very different to their self titled 1994 debut. While the first album was very well done, it's sucess was mainly due to many cleverly made music videos. The critics had started to fear that Weezer were one hit wonders and so did Rivers, the band's leader. Rivers decided he didn't want any clever videos for his next album, which is why he recorded Pinkerton. Pinkerton received many negative reviews and Rolling Stone's "Worst Album Of The Year" award. But the rest of us thought that Pinkerton was, and still is, Weezer's masterpiece.
Pinkerton is a concept album, loosely based on the opera "Madam Butterfly". Here is the story in full for those who are interested
[url]http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/LONG/contents.html[/url]
The opera is about an american man who falls in love with a japanese girl while he is drafted to Japan as a soldier. He then has to move back to america, but promises he will return. When he does return, he has an american wife and has forgotten about the japanese girl. Once she sees him with his new wife, she goes and hangs herself. The american man finds her and this is when the opera ends.
It is honestly very hard to pick highlights of this album, as it is a masterpiece.
Tired of Sex- This track starts out with some feedback, a technique which the band seem to like. As with the other tracks up until Across The Sea, this song sets an unhappy mood. Great album opener. 4/5
Getchoo- All of the first four tracks are extremely catchy, despite their unhappy mood. Getchoo is probably the most catchy, and the most unhappy. 5/5
No Other One- There is really nothing else to say about this song that hasn't been previously said. 4/5
Why Bother- Probably the happiest track of the first four, Why Bother is when the mood starts to pick up, quite a catchy track. 4/5
Across The Sea- In this track, the mood is no longer a sad one. This is the track when the american man has left Japan for his home country. An excellent song. 5/5
The Good Life- One of the Pinkerton singles, this is possibly the most catchy song of the album. The mood is happy and the lyrics are quite positive. 5/5
El Scorcho- Another Pinkerton single, El Scorcho is regarded by many as one of Weezer's finest moments. El Scorcho is a great track with a catchy guitar riff. 5/5
Pink Triangle- Another of Pinkerton's finest moments. A very recognisable melody and it reveals a slightly twisted sense of humour from Rivers in the lyrics. 5/5
Falling For You- A sadder Pinkerton track with a bit of a depressing melody with a lot of feedback in the song. 4/5
Butterfly- The final Pinkerton track, where the Japanese girl has commited suicide. The whole track is acoustic, and leaves the album on a slightly depressing note, but it is telling a story. 5/5
You may see my review as slightly incomplete and that is because the material really needs to be heard. The music is simple but VERY effective. Pinkerton is a must have, if you like catchy music. I have heard metalheads describe this album as one of their favourite 90's albums, so it's worth a shot for everyone. One of those albums that gets better everytime you hear it.
5/5
