Hurley

At first listen this album sounded like a dud. I wasn't able to distinguish the semblance of a tune, anywhere. After several more plays (somewhere between 5-10 actually), I realized it was actually really rather good. In fact, this album comes quite close to being a Weezer classic. This album is 14 tracks of varying musical styles. That's not to say it sounds disjointed. Quite the opposite. The more you play it, the more you will enjoy it and appreciate the variety offered in this excellent body of work.Notable favourites of mine being the Green album sound-alike Ruling Me, Trainwrecks(great intro), Unspoken...heck, besides the opener I REALLY like all the other 9 'standard' edition tracks. OK, a few of the tracks DO come over as cheese lyrically (Where's My Sex, Smart Girls, Brave New World - all guilty as charged) but those are all catchy and driving rock tracks so I won't be too hard on The Weeze. It's on tracks like Unspoken, Run Away, Hang On, Time Flies, I Want to be Something where this album really excels AND where it will be pleasing 99% of the fan base. Put together these songs make for a rather fine songbook and hold together very well. Time Flies in particular is strong and different enough to get onto any Weezer album released thus far.The only real negatives being the inclusion of All my Friends are Insects(which besides it's out of place intro is thankfully only 1 min 24 secs long) and the football/soccer themed Represent which is kinda OK but it's also half-baked and off kilter - or just plain old rubbish as some would say, complete with excruciating sports related fist-clench classics such as "REP-RE-SENT YOUR FAM-I-LY". Those 2 ARE both included as 2 of the 4 "bonus" tracks though, so I guess that lessens their damage to the album in some capacity. That's unless the 2 tracks were just placed on the album to make the other 12 come across as classics. That's not a bad idea actually. The other 2 bonus tracks are both really good, Coldplay's Viva La Vida comes across well live, iTunes says I've played it 16 times so it must be ok. A special mention goes to I Want to be Something, which will be a lovely hidden gem in the Weezer back catalogue, sounding like Rivers had just come up with the idea, grabbed his acoustic guitar, switched on the tape recorder and just let it all tumble out for the gorgeous 2 mins 55 that it lasts.I could of almost added an extra star for the fact that the artwork is, well, perfect. It's a shame that the full picture isn't printed on the inside of the booklet or included as a poster, shame. I also love the fact that the sticker on the front states that all 10 'standard' tracks are hit singles. I soooo told you they were really good in my 2nd paragraph(ok, 9 out of the 10).I so wanted to give this album 5 stars, but in reality it stands rightfully as a more than solid 4 stars. If you don't like Weezer this CD probably won't change your viewpoint. If however, you like more than your fair share of Rivers' weird little observations and social inadequacies played out inside of the usual poppy-punk-ballad 1-4 minute timeframe, then this'll do you just about right.

When critics discuss Weezer, they tend to refer to two classic albums and a host of disappointments. I am inclined to agree with this view, though my two classics are Pinkerton and the unspeakably magnificent Green Album (the Blue album isn't quite at that level for me, they were still learning their trade). Following the Green Album, though, the fayre we have been treated to has been the disappointing `Maladroit,' the downright awful `Make Believe' and the overly poppy `Raditude.' Only the Red Album (in patches) has done anything to arrest this trend.However, with a new record label and some big-name assistance with the songwriting, with `Hurley' I am pleased to say Rivers and Co are showing signs of getting back on the right track.In style, this is probably most similar to `Green,' ten short-but sweet pop-rock blasts with no unnecessary frills or experimentation. In particular, `memories,' `Ruling Me' and the quirky closer `Time Flies' stand out.Possibly due to the jump to an Indie label (Epitaph) there is a freedom an unfettered feel to the songwriting (no contrived hit singles a la `Beverly Hills' or rap collaborations here) and Rivers certainly sounds like he's having fun. There is still the grating `teen angst' air to the lyrics, difficult to reconcile with a man who, last I heard, was happily married...but that is what you get from Weezer and maybe we shouldn't expect anything else.It is arguable that Weezer will never reach the level of their first three albums (unless Rivers goes through a messy divorce, which we wouldn't wish on him). But for the moment, this will more than do the trick.

After the pop-themed Raditude album, Weezer made a deliberate return to guitar rock on Hurley and it's a successful come-back to their original style (not that Raditude isn't a good album in its own right). Stand out tracks are the singles Memories and Hang On, although the acoustic stomp of Time Flies is a great album track. Worth getting the "International edition" for the bonus tracks.

I am new to Weezer, picking this album after a paper review. And was very pleased, a mainly strong album of indie pop with intelligently written songs and some great rocking guitar-led tracks with good melodies. Particular stand out ones for me were the bonus tracks 'All My Friends Are Insects' (crying shame less than 2 minutes long!) and 'Represent', and the main album 'Ruling me' and 'Trainwrecks'. Some others are a bit predictable but can skip those. Will look forward to exploring the Weezer back catalogue...

I love ALL weezer albums!! (including ratitude- apart from the song with lil wayne 'cant stop partying', as its just cringey LOL - but i laugh at it when i hear it!!!). Hurley however is a step back in the RIGHT direction for rivers and co.!. There are some fantastic memorable tracks on here - being 'memories', 'trainwrecks', 'unspoken' (my fav). Hurley is NO 'blue' album or 'Pinkerton' for that fact! but it does sit proudly amongst the best of weezer. I have 1 flaw..and that is - i didnt want a silly cover of coldplays 'viva la vida', I REALLY wanted the lady gaga (pokerface) and the MGMT - mixed cover they did put on this cd - as that is pure MAGIC -i hope weezer continue to make music as they are an awesome band!

Good album, worth a listen

Weezer is a band that just makes you happy, drive your car a little faster, get the housework done faster when you listen to it, gets the dog walked a bit longer when it's on your headphones! Just makes me smile to listen to them!