Weezer
Maladroit


2.5
average

Review

by Two-Headed Boy USER (86 Reviews)
February 15th, 2006 | 192 replies


Release Date: 2002 | Tracklist


A couple of months ago, if you said that "new" Weezer sucked right in my face, you would've been punched. But as I listen to their albums, it's getting harder and harder to comprehend that this is the same band. Sure, Green Album had some moments, but compared to the likes of the Blue album, it's junk. Maladroit has some good tunes, but one song off Pinkerton could beat this album down. Where did it all go wrong for Weezer?

Go back to 1994, the year of the Blue Album. The members of Weezer, Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell, Matt Sharp and Pat Wilson, were swimming in success. Undone - The Sweater Song was climbing up the charts. It's fun and innocent lyrics overtop of undeniable catchiness was contagious. People scooped up the Blue Album, and within months went platinum. Following Buddy Holly and Say It Ain't So, Rivers went back to Harvard for studies. After numerous depressing encounters, he wrote the auto-biographical (and embarassing towards Cuomo) Pinkerton, the flop concept album. On such songs as "El Scorcho", "Pink Triangle" and "Across The Sea", Cuomo made an almost humorous aproach to the true stories that echoed through the album. After countless negative reviews, Weezer took a break. A four year break. Rivers stuck himself up in a house with black windows and wrote songs. Really poppy, innocent songs that were supposed to mimic the Blue Album. Five years pass. With a new bassist in hand, Weezer was back, and more commercially successful than ever, although more boring than ever as well. Afterwards came Maladroit, a medoicre album with little to offer, except a new bassist, which for all I know, is staying.

The Album:

Maladroit has it's ups and it's downs. The bland and the boring, and the upbeat and exciting. On such songs as Dope Nose, he combines eighties era riffs and nonsense lyrics, to creat a catchy pop tune and the first single. But perhaps Weezer's indulgence in catchy pop nuggets had taken it's toll on the album, as almost every song is the same. Altough some decent lyrics may show up, and some interesting riffs might make listening worth while, the first 6 tracks are easily ignorable, despite the triumphant "Take Control", and the beauty "Death And Destruction", a song which might hook you to it, bringing you to a slow piece with some humming vocals. It isn't until Burndt Jamb, the albums triumph, that Weezer makes relaxing fun again, with some poppy but not too poppy riffs, nice drumming and a hard rocking chorus, it's what we've been waiting for on Maladroit. Even the solo is funky, with an almost talk box effect. Unfortunatly the song is over too fast, and it's back to the dreadful Space Rock, with unfortunate effects and annoying woo-hooing vocals. Nothing really fun about it, until it's decent chorus takes on an almost, ALMOST Pinkerton tone, sad but humorous. After is another of Maladroit's more impressive moments. The melodic Slave has a hard rock riff, a sensitive verse, and a Burndt Jamb-esque chorus. Easily a highlight track, which is a shame because it's barely three minutes long. Afterwards is the in your face Fall Together. Reaching an embarassing two minutes long, it packs as much punch into it as it can. They start with a heavy metal riff, add suitible vocals and a solo that makes you nod your head along to. Ending way too quickly and heading into a couple of disposable but catchy love-themed tunes, you end up halting at December, a haltingly beautiful song with simple chords and some very cliche lyics, such as "Only love can ease the pain of a boy caught in the rain". A great ending to a not so great album.

The bad. What else can I say? When it's bad, it's horrible. Starting with American Gigolo, an excuse to try and apply stupid, annoying riffs into a song with an attempt at "romance" in a "metal song". Next! Dope Nose is okay, but nothing special. It represents that album well, which is probably why they made it their first single. Annoying eighties fills and "Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa!"ing is pretty bad, but otherwise a good, upbeat song. Keep Fishin and Slob are two just totally boring riffs, complete with lame lyics, especially on Slob. "Get yourself a wife, get yourself a job, you're living a dream, don't you be a slob". And the way he says "Slob" is so obnoxious, it's unbearable. Love could easily be a theme of this album, seeing it's on pretty much every track. Possibilites and Love Explosion are either really upbeat (Possibilites) or annoying (Love Explosion). Love explosion doesn't have a very good riff to begin with, so it really shouldn't have surfaced on the album.

Maladroit. What the hell does that mean? It actually means clumsy, which is what I describe the album to be. While some deem it as a "masterpiece of the new millenium", others look through that and see the quality of the songs, and the way it fits together (which is nice, by the way.). Arguably their worst release yet, Weezer may not keep a large grip on their 1994-96 audience, but one thing is for sure, they have a large number of fans who appreciate them now.

Overall:
53%, C, 2.5/5

Standout Tracks:
Take Control
Death And Destruction
Burndt Jamb
Slave
Fall Together
December

Weezer:
Rivers Cuomo: Lead Guitar, Vox
Brian Bell: Guitar, Backing Vox
Scott Shriner: Bass, Backing Vox
Pat Wilson: Drums

That's all, folks!



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user ratings (1502)
3.2
good
other reviews of this album
1 of


Comments:Add a Comment 
Two-Headed Boy
February 15th 2006


4527 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Sure, it's short, but the album isn't really worth a long review. This Message Edited On 02.15.06

Neoteric
February 15th 2006


3243 Comments


The review is fine. Keep Fishin' and Dope Nose was quite cheesy to me, I'm assuming that the rest of the album is like that.

Electric City
February 15th 2006


15756 Comments


I dont understand how u work a 2.5 when u have 6/13 recommended tracks. That sounds like half the album was good, meaning you enjoyed it. A few great tracks make an album pretty good imo, mostly good tracks garner it a 4 or 4.5 and all equal classic. This sounds to me like a 3-3.5.

tom79
February 15th 2006


3948 Comments


^yea half the albums good, 2.5= half of 5This Message Edited On 02.15.06

ollie_poole
February 15th 2006


19 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Nice review.



'Where did it all go wrong for Weezer?'



I often ask myself that question. Why o why? The Blue Album was just pure magic and a classic, pinkerton a slight step down, after hearing Green I was holding out some hope of the old weezer but any hope is all but gone after hearing maladroit. It's alright as you say, there are some good tracks ('take control' being my fav) but it's just not the same. The guitars are too heavy and weezer just don't carry that same innocence as they did before.



I can't even bring myself to listen to 'Make Believe' because I'm afraid of what it will be like.

This Message Edited On 02.15.06

spoon_of_grimbo
February 15th 2006


2241 Comments


i saw a copy of this with island in teh sun on it. i thought it were on't green album...

Two-Headed Boy
February 15th 2006


4527 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I can't even bring myself to listen to 'Make Believe' because I'm afraid of what it will be like.


I actually like that album:D Better than this one, despite the singles. And the album version of Perfect Situation is much better, with the configured vocals.This Message Edited On 02.15.06

Zebra
Moderator
February 15th 2006


2647 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

Solid review. Things seemed a little crowded at times during the 3rd paragraph but that was only a slight problem.

This album isn't very good, but its not awful. The first three tracks are awesome, but after that things go down hill.

STFDood84
February 27th 2006


179 Comments


I like Maladroit, actually. It's better than Green and MB, Pat's drumming was the best he's ever done, and Rivers shreds it up... 3.5

Two-Headed Boy
February 27th 2006


4527 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

orignally posted by STGDood84:

and Rivers shreds it up


...And that's a reason why this album just doesn't fit.

The Jungler
February 28th 2006


4826 Comments


I agree with STF this is the best of the new weezer.

Electric City
February 28th 2006


15756 Comments


I heard this album was harder and more rock out than the soft self titled album. Wait, I'm not talking about Pinkerton, am I?

Two-Headed Boy
March 2nd 2006


4527 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

...That better not be a diss to the review.

Pinkerton was raw, but an extremely enjoyable, musically fun album that you can listen to over and over again. Maladroit is something that has little to offer, and if you hear it often you want to puke.

Electric City
March 2nd 2006


15756 Comments


That's not a diss to the review, AV8RS, it was a fine review. It's a dis to Weezer for trying to rebuild their careers by doing the same thing they did when they started it.

everythingisblack
March 13th 2006


29 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

i dont really like this album but man slave is the greatest song ever for weezer. ive listened to it like 400 times. and slob is good too

Aeaon
March 19th 2006


188 Comments


This is pretty much the only "new" weezer album I actually like.This Message Edited On 04.20.07

Two-Headed Boy
March 20th 2006


4527 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I think Green and Make Believe are good, but this just doesn't sound like the Weez at all.

MyRamona
March 20th 2006


1098 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I prefer this album to make believe and green, I think they're all great albums though.....Still all behind blue and pinkerton good review too.



pika122689
April 28th 2006


15 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I listened to this entire album when I finished my test early today (wow what a short album!). I like this slightly different style in this album. It is a bit more heavy, but still retains the catchy harmonic choruses. I liked it at least, and this is coming from a casual weezer fan.

Mewt
May 3rd 2006


36 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I liked Dope Nose, haha.



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