Artist: =w=eezer
Album: Maladroit
As cool as: Thick rimmed glasses and hemp necklaces  
Grade: 9.5
 
I've always loved Weezer.  I hate the emo scene.  I hate sensitive guys with sideburns singing shitty love songs to pop/punk riffs.  I've always loved Weezer.  Weezer does it with style.  No self loathing...they makes being a loser cool(or at least humorous).  Last time I saw Rivers Cuomo, he had mutton chops going.  Not sideburns, mutton chops.  As if facial hair is any sort of indicator of the music's quality(kind of like all the nu metal guys with goatees), Weezer takes all those immitators back behind the woodshed and gives 'em all a good slagging.  It's only been a year since their last album(The Green Album) was released.  The Green Album was pretty good, but it was to "by the book" for me and most of the other serious =w= fans.  Maladroit is much edgier and raw, showing off =w='s ability to bring the heat and still make it catchy.  It's like a cross between Pinkerton and their first album.  This is classic =w=, plus the first 500,000 copies are individually numbered and feature several short video clips that provide a few minutes of pleasure.  Rumor has it that =w='s next album is already recorded and will come out next year at about this time.  Normally in the music biz, quantity doesn't always translate to quality.  But we're taking about =w= here, and they have proven their ability to put out a solid album every time they try.  Keep 'em comin'!
 
Mr. Pickles...loves flashing his =w= "gang sign" at Weezer shows...