[av_heading heading=’Record Cut in a Vintage Masonic Temple within West LA’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=’custom-color-heading’ custom_font=’#aa3108′]
Written by: Matthew McGuire
[/av_heading]

Brian, Rivers, Scott & Pat go back to their roots with “Everything Will Be Alright in the End” produced in Los Angeles, California. The barber shop rock group that started fast heavy 20 years age comes to return with more classic Weezer to dig into like a well cooked steak, or vegetable.

[av_video src=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H89GXU9OeU’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

The record opens with a motherly voice explaining that everything will be alright in the end in connection to a bad dream. It could be a sign of symbolism that the band has seen dark times, and now has arrived to a golden era of their career. ‘Ain’t Got Nobody’ introduces the album with an emotional torn subject reaching out for reinsurance from another. This emotional angst is what put the band on the map, and now that they have been all over the map, it only makes sense to return home for inspiration that broke them into the music scene in the early 90s.

Weezer created a series of preview videos on their YouTube channel. We go over each track and provide the videos to preview pieces of the album.

[av_animated_numbers number=’02’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
Back To The Shack
[/av_animated_numbers]

Warren Fu, director of ‘Back to the Shack’, goes over the subtext to the video, and how this was the first time in four years that the band had made a video. Patrick Wilson, drummer for the group describes the concept of the video.

“The concept is to show how easily the originally moon landing was faked.” – Pat Wilson

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/z9hfiNbKPSM?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

[av_animated_numbers number=’03’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]

Eulogy For A Rock Band
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/V9Du6JOTkz4?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

The title of this track and the words to the song have several meanings, and that is one of the finer elements to listening to Rivers. When I listen to this track, the meaning has a conflicting message to me. Over time, I have grown to expect Rivers to poke fun of idols, and this track provides a paradox of laughter and support for rock legends.

Sonically, it was recorded and mastered well. The composition of the track is standard Weezer with a little over the top, and nothing under par about the track.

[av_animated_numbers number=’04’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
Lonely Girl
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/sDrQrde1E0I?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

‘Lonely Girl’ calls out to all of the emotional frustrated girls in the world. Rivers understands his audience, and produces certain tracks to relate specifically to certain demographic groups. It really is brilliant marketing, but lacks depth in story telling during my first listen.

[av_animated_numbers number=’05’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
I’ve Had It Up To Here

[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/fmADvbdeQyg?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

Frustration is an excellent emotion to draw on when working, driving and interacting with music. The song is single material, with catchy guitar riffs from Brian. His guitar is one of the main elements that has kept me a Weezer fan so long. They lost their original bassist, and when Brian was on the ropes, it was the darkest times for me in Weezer history.

When he returned to the band, and brought the raw passion, it felt the band was back together. My goal is to help bring Matt back on backup bass with Scott for some amazing dual sessions on the next album. When I think about what the band has left to achieve, it is the dual bass sessions. Give them the center stage, and let the magic happen.

[av_animated_numbers number=’06’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
The British Are Coming
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/LAwPfXNStoU?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

The track opens up with an audio clip going over the tradition in connection to music and history. The words and story of the track is one of the better songs for the album. ‘The British Are Coming’ introduction is a reminder to why we keep going as an indie outlet. If we don’t carry on tradition, who is going to?

Pat does an excellent job on drums with this track. His control over the pace and rhythm of the track is another consistent element to the Weezer sound through all of their albums.

[av_animated_numbers number=’07’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
Da Vinci
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/xgtJeqAqrTk?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

This track reminds me of the location that the album was recorded. The Village is in an old temple and can be felt during this song. ‘Da Vinci’ is one of the top tracks of the album with pop structured guitar riffs, and original lyrics to add to the analog instruments.

Another element that makes this album so important is the analog instruments and the tradition that goes into that style of music. We love EDM, but we also find a strong importance for music performed on instruments as well.

[av_animated_numbers number=’08’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
Go Away
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/OR-JKeRHbY8?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

This beautiful song features Bethany Cosentino on additional vocals creates nice harmonies along with Rivers voice. The combination of these two is one of the first time I remember River singing with a female counterpart.

One of my favorite Weezer memories was at Bonnaroo 2010 was when Rivers brought out Julia Nunes during their live set. After watching the band grow from the mid 90s to current day adds a deeper connection to the music they produce.

[av_animated_numbers number=’09’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
Cleopatra
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/Ycelu-olxGQ?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

A harmonica rings in the start to this track as Rivers vocals follows the rural sounding instrument. The song goes into a “Pinkerton” acoustic guitar style that sounds old school, and the lyrics tie in perfectly.

Brian gets a chance to open up and tear into the track midway through. His guitar solos are far way too short. ‘The Waste Land’ does do an excellent job of providing a platform to showoff Brian’s talent, but backing vocals would help possibly. Rivers vocals are strong, and provide a solid rock edge to the album.

[av_animated_numbers number=’10’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
Foolish Father
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/oXGz4BAzLF8?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

This video captures the essence of the album before it even hit stores. The band uses the phases, “album of the year” in the video, and ironically NPR is calling it album of the year. It is a great album, and is in the running for best album, but the jury is still out to see if anyone can dethrone the west coast rockers.

[av_animated_numbers number=’11’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
The Waste Land
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/mt6tAArDHt0?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

Insanity cascades through the opening guitar piece to ‘The Waste Land’. After feeling some solos of Brains cut short, it was nice to get two solid minutes of his guitar work on record.

[av_animated_numbers number=’12’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
Anonymous
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/q_52GZ0iLgY?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

The title to this track undermines the creativity and genius of Weezer. It has a soft piano opening that reminds me of the “Make Believe” album.

[av_animated_numbers number=’13’ icon_select=’av-icon-before’ icon=’ue860′ font=’entypo-fontello’ font_size=’30’ font_size_description=’40’ link=” linktarget=’no’ color=” custom_color=’#444444′]
Return To Ithaka
[/av_animated_numbers]

[av_video src=’http://youtu.be/2lK-aRQRQ2Y?list=UU7JDBUzkcwRGtQGia3_mMgQ’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

Each of these songs have been far above par for what the band has produced in the last decade. This review is a reflection of the album. As we progress over time, our reviews will have additional details that other rock journalists may fail to miss. We may fail to miss some points as well, but we produce our artwork despite what the critics say.

[av_magazine link=’category,8′ items=’5′ offset=’0′ tabs=’aviaTBtabs’ thumbnails=’aviaTBthumbnails’ heading=” heading_link=’manually,http://’ heading_color=’theme-color’ heading_custom_color=’#ffffff’ first_big=’aviaTBfirst_big’ first_big_pos=’left’]