Website © 2003 by Tyler Carey
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Capsule Review- Weezer - Maladroit
-by Christian B. Carey, Ph.D.
Maladroit dispenses with the pretense of alternative that endeared Weezer to eyeglass clad college rock kids in the first place. Instead, we get a bunch of hook-laden 70's rehashed stadium rock. Much as some of the hooks are very nice (who couldn't bop their head in time to 'Dope Nose'?), listening to Maladroit is like making out with your first cousin. You should feel dirty afterwards. I feel dirty having bought a cutout. Where the hell are review copies when you need them?!?At least it wasn't 29 minutes this time guys -- you upped the ante to a whopping 33 minutes. When Radiohead released a half-hour of live music last year, they at least had the decency to sell it as an EP rather than listing it at the exorbitant $18.99 that Weezer has charged for their past two stingily timed efforts. I suppose that I wouldn't want to listen to more than a half-hour installment of either the 'Green Album' or Maladroit, but one would assume that their rabid fan base might be afforded the option!
Question - will the aforementioned Emo kids herd like sheep, twenties in hand, to the altar of Rivers Cuomo currently erected at Best Buy's around the country and relentlessly shilled on MTV, or might they buy something better, like Creeper Lagoon or Death Cab or Trail of Dead or even Jimmy Eat frieking World, instead? If there ever was a sign that the Major Labels are in serious trouble in 2002, it is that their A&R people prefer elevating an act that amounted to a stale afterthought of the mid-90s Fake Alternative craze to stadium rocker status, while tragically ignoring any of the aforementioned Indie jewels. The Apocalypse may be nigh, and I need a shower after listening to Maladroit...
-Dr. Christian Carey. New Jersey. June 30, 2002.