Weezer – Weezer (Gold Album) (Album Review)

Yes, this is Weezer’s seventh self-titled album.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. Say Yes

Would you just “Say Yes” to everything to avoid discomfort?

I really like how the song starts off a little softer before eventually diving into Weezer’s signature rock sound. Lyrically, it’s about people trying to drag you down and feeling like the best thing you can do is simply give in to the idea of selling out as a band. I think that concept can work on a more personal level too, especially when it feels easier to comply just so people will leave us alone.

This one also feels like it could connect with a mainstream audience because it leans more toward pop punk and pop rock than hard rock, which may actually be the point considering the song’s admission of selling out.

4. C.E.O.

“C.E.O.” feels like listening to a series of voice notes sent to a friend, partner, or someone close. The vocals lean away from traditional melody and instead feel more like someone talking through their emotions, realizations, and the expectations placed on the band.

Following their rise in the ’90s, the band has had to deal with the pressure of trying to recapture their old sound while being increasingly viewed as a nostalgia act. However, I think the song reaches beyond the band and touches on the expectations we deal with in our own lives. That personal connection is what makes the track stand out to me. It brings a very human perspective to the pressures artists experience.

3. Don’t Make It Weird

I’m a really big fan of how the guitars and overall instrumentals stay at the forefront of this track. It’s very pop-punk in a way that still loudly represents the genre without feeling like it’s trying too hard.

The song gives off this mix of social anxiety and detachment, which I weirdly found pretty comforting and relatable. There’s something about hearing those feelings wrapped in such an energetic instrumental that makes them easier to connect with. Honestly, though, this track gave me major “Teenage Dirtbag” vibes. Wrong band, I know!

2. We Might as Well Be Strangers (feat. Wednesday)

Sometimes two people just aren’t meant to be together, but goodbyes are still painful.

I love the way this track plays with contrast from the jump. The intro is soft and understated, but after a few seconds, the song suddenly bursts into a preview of its heavier rock sound before easing back into a slower melody. That musical push and pull perfectly captures what the song is about.

You’re listening to two people coming to terms with the fact that their relationship has become toxic and that they’re slowly growing apart. It’s a heartbreaking realization because sometimes you can know that letting go is the right thing to do while still desperately wishing you didn’t have to.

The song conveys that emotion so well that I genuinely felt transported into the relationship being described. Wednesday’s verse adds another layer by giving us the other person’s perspective, and her soothing voice works beautifully against the sadness of the song.

1. Up In the Clouds

Change is inevitable, and sometimes we just have to let go.

I really enjoyed the calm, acoustic sound at the start of the song. It was a perfect contrast to much of the album, making the transition into the more upbeat, guitar-heavy section feel even more impactful. That’s not to say the louder moment was any less enjoyable. I’m a sucker for rock music and loud guitars. What can I say?

The song touches on similar themes of letting go, explored several times throughout the album. It feels like a tower moment, where some kind of major change, whether it’s death, heartbreak, or something else, completely shakes your world. I think the way Weezer captures those emotions and makes you actually feel them is top-tier.

SONG-BY-SONG RATING

Say Yes (4/5)

Shine Again (4/5)

Don’t Make It Weird (4.5/5)

We Might as Well Be Strangers (feat. Wednesday) (4.5/5)

C.E.O. (4/5)

Hoops (3.5/5)

Nowhere (3.5/5)

The Show Must Go On (4/5)

Up In the Clouds (4.5/5)

The LA Sound (4/5)

RGM RATING

(B-)

Weezer’s latest self-titled album, “Weezer (Gold Album),” explores themes of introspection, reflection, living up to everyone else’s expectations, and ultimately learning to let go. I really enjoyed the album’s angsty, garage-band energy, which feels like such a staple of Weezer’s sound. There are definitely a few songs here that could sneak their way into one of my playlists.