If you’re a hardcore Weezer fan, this probably isn’t the album review for you. I picked up Weezer’s newest release, “Hurley,” out of a combination of mild curiosity, a love for Lost, and a strange inability to say no to Hugo “Hurley” Reyes’ (Jorge Garcia) lovable face. (I mean really, have you looked at the guy? He’s adorable. I want to give him a hug and then discuss Star Wars over a Dharma beer.) Anyway, I tell you this because I can’t review “Hurley” in the context of Weezer’s career—I’m not nearly familiar enough with it. I’ve been a casual fan since the Buddy Holly days, and we’ve had some good times together, but my Weezer knowledge consists mainly of their singles that got some radio play and a handful of other tracks that my brother has thrown on mix CDs over the years. I've been known to roll down all my car windows and blast the stereo when “Troublemaker” comes on, and if you’re ever in the room when I accomplish a minor, routine task, you can bet I’ll sing a few lines of “I Am the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived;” but I can’t go 10 rounds over whether the green album kicks the blue album’s ass, or comment on your annoyance with “Raditude.” In short, I’m a casual Weezer fan, and this is a casual review. Take it for what it’s worth.
I’ve always thought Rivers Cuomo was a quirky dude with a mild case of Peter Pan syndrome, and the band’s newest release reinforces that theory. “Hurley” (Release date: 9/14/10) is upbeat and loud, with a few catchy choruses and some witty wordplay. The lyrics run through the typical, uninspired themes of emerging adulthood—unrequited love, slackers who wouldn’t have it any other way, living for the moment, and being oddly nostalgic for the good ol’ days, which really don’t seem that long ago. The album’s opening track, “Memories,” seems to be a cry for the 90’s, when Weezer was in its heyday and there were no babies to take care of or groceries to buy. “I’m freaking bored,” complains Cuomo, before reminding his youthful listeners to enjoy these days before they slip away in “Time Flies.” “Trainwrecks” seems to take its lyrics from the mouth of your couch-surfing friend who never picks up the bar tab, and who seems damn proud of the fact that he doesn’t have his life together: “We think it’s uncool to be on time/Mooching off our friends is not a federal crime/It’s the story of our lives/We are trainwrecks.”
Throughout “Hurley,” Cuomo seems stuck in a state of perpetual adolescence, fighting an Eriksonian battle to establish Identity at the risk of Role Confusion. “I want to be something/Before I die/I want to know at least I tried,” he says in “I Want to Be Something,” capturing the essence of man’s elusive quest for greatness. That track is followed by “Represent,” which reminds the listener that there is meaning in all that we do: “One hundred years from now/They’ll look back on this day/Where are you going to be/And what are they going to say?” Cuomo asks, reminding the listener to be a man of character. In a fantastic surprise, Weezer continues the theme of self-discovery and greatness with a cover of Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida,” a whimsically strange choice that made me smile, although it will probably outrage both Weezer fans and Coldplay fans everywhere.
To balance these heavier themes, “Hurley” throws in a few silly songs; “Where’s my Sex?” sparked an eye-roll or two, but still drew me in for a second listen. “All My Friends are Insects”** delivers exactly what the title promises: an earthworm, a butterfly, and a dragonfly who each play a big role in this world.
No album is complete without some lovesick pain, and Weezer delivers with “Run Away,” a standard, melancholy break-up song that would’ve gotten me through a high school heartache or two, had it existed a decade ago. “Hang On” explores another universal human experience, that on-again, off-again flirtation that left you in love with the potential of something that never quite became real. And then there’s “Smart Girls,” which on its face seems to be an ode to intelligent women, but disappointingly turns out to be a list of women that the protagonist would just love to marry—if only he could remember their names. The girls may be smart, but that doesn’t seem to be their most sought-after attribute. Buff beats brains, yet again, it seems.
All in all, “Hurley” is a catchy compilation of average songs. There’s not a stand-out single or a future crowd-pleaser in the bunch, but the songs are entertaining and easy, fun and forgettable. If you’re a Weezer fan or an angst-y adolescent, my guess is that you’ll like it. But if you’re looking for profound lyrics or something musically creative, you’d be better off looking elsewhere. But hey, check it out for yourself—what do I know? I’m only a casual fan.
**Correction: The original version of this post mistakenly referred to this song as "All My Friends are Bugs." My sincere apologies to Weezer, and any & all insects whose feelings may have been hurt by this error.
