Weezer (Black Album)

Weezer, also known as the Black Album, is the thirteenth studio album, and the sixth self-titled album by American rock band Weezer. Produced by Dave Sitek, it was released on March 1, 2019, through Crush Music and Atlantic Records.[4]

Weezer
Studio album by
Weezer
ReleasedMarch 1, 2019
Recorded2016–2018
Genre
Length37:33
Label
ProducerDave Sitek
Weezer chronology
Weezer
(2019)		 Weezer
(2019)		 OK Human
(2021)
Singles from Weezer
  1. "Can't Knock the Hustle"
    Released: October 11, 2018
  2. "Zombie Bastards"
    Released: November 21, 2018
  3. "High as a Kite"
    Released: February 21, 2019
  4. "Living in L.A."
    Released: February 21, 2019

Background

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo first hinted at the album in April 2016, shortly after the band released their tenth album Weezer (The White Album). "What could stand out more against 'White' than 'Black'? I think it's going to maybe be like Beach Boys gone bad. I'm thinking of swearing, which is something I've never done in songs."[5]

While promoting the band's eleventh album Pacific Daydream in August 2017, Cuomo said "The original plan was the Black Album but Pacific Daydream really came together. The Black Album is pretty much ready, it's coming."[6]

Release

Cuomo first told Australian radio station Double J in February 2018 that the album would be released on May 25, later hinting at dates such as June 1 and June 12 on his Twitter account.[7][8][9] On October 11, the first single from the album, "Can't Knock the Hustle", was released.[10] A second song, "Zombie Bastards", was released on November 21, along with cover art and a release date for the album, set as March 1, 2019.[11][12] Two more singles followed on February 21, 2019, which are "High as a Kite" and "Living in L.A.".[13] Additionally, "California Snow" was released as a single for the soundtrack of the 2018 film Spell.[14] On the day before release, three songs from the album premiered on the video game Fortnite.[15]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?5.1/10[16]
Metacritic53/100[17]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The A.V. ClubB−[18]
Consequence of SoundC−[3]
Kerrang!2/5[19]
The New Zealand Herald[20]
NME[21]
Pitchfork5.7/10[22]
Q[23]
Rolling Stone[24]
The Times[25]

At the aggregating website Metacritic, the album has received a normalized rating of 53, based on 19 critical reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[17]

Robert Oliver at Drowned in Sound gave the album a favorable review, stating "This is a unique addition to Weezer’s discography that sees them preparing for the future, however bleak and overwhelming it might seem."[26] Aaron Mook of Chorus.fm also reacted positively, writing "The Black Album feels surprisingly genuine for the aging pop-rockers, brimming with new sounds, bold production choices from TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, and most importantly, honest reflection on how the world has turned and left the band following their return to relevancy."[27]

However, Linday Teske from Consequence of Sound noted that the album is "not completely void of redeeming qualities", but also opined that "While it is absolutely no crime for a band to flirt with sonic experimentation, a disastrous affair can brew when the flirtation results in a body of work that is far more two-dimensional and hollow than what the band have proven capable of doing through their decades of previous work."[3] Additionally, a negative review from Exclaim!'s Corey van den Hoogenband, stated that "Weezer's latest is an utterly skippable collection that'd be entirely unremarkable if not for the fact it was released by Weezer."[28]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Can't Knock the Hustle"Rivers Cuomo[29]3:35
2."Zombie Bastards"
4:11
3."High as a Kite"
3:48
4."Living in L.A."
3:38
5."Piece of Cake"
3:17
6."I'm Just Being Honest"
3:57
7."Too Many Thoughts in My Head"
4:03
8."The Prince Who Wanted Everything"
3:23
9."Byzantine"
4:09
10."California Snow"Cuomo[31]3:32
Total length:37:33

Personnel

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[33] 24
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[34] 103
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[35] 143
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[36] 56
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[37] 96
Scottish Albums (OCC)[38] 18
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 82
UK Albums (OCC)[40] 73
US Billboard 200[41] 19

References
  1. "Album Review: Weezer - Weezer (Black Album)". Gigwise. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Weezer [Black Album] – Weezer". AllMusic. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  3. Teske, Lindsay (March 1, 2019). "Album of the Week: Weezer Underwhelm with Frustrating Black Album". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  4. Matthew Strauss (December 10, 2017). "Weezer Detail The Black Album, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  5. Nick Levine (April 20, 2016). "Weezer's next album could sound like 'Beach Boys gone bad'". NME. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  6. Zane Lowe (August 17, 2017). "Zane Lowe on Twitter: "'The original plan was the Black Album but Pacific Daydream really came together. The Black Album is pretty much ready, it's coming' @Weezer"". Retrieved November 21, 2018 – via Twitter.
  7. Slingerland, Calum (February 2, 2018). "Weezer Set to Deliver the "Black Album" in May". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  8. Rivers Cuomo (May 29, 2018). "Rivers Cuomo on Twitter: "June 1st sounds fantastic...for a release date"". Retrieved November 21, 2018 – via Twitter.
  9. Rivers Cuomo (June 4, 2018). "Rivers Cuomo on Twitter: "6/12/18 new music is coming..."". Retrieved November 21, 2018 – via Twitter.
  10. "Weezer Announces New Album, Releases "Can't Knock the Hustle"". Spin. October 11, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  11. Daniel Kreps. "Weezer Detail 'The Black Album,' Drop New Song 'Zombie Bastards'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  12. "Weezer – "Zombie Bastards" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  13. "Weezer – "High As A Kite" / "Living In L.A."". SPIN. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  14. "Weezer – "California Snow"". SPIN. 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  15. "Weezer Premiered The Black Album On Fortnite's New Weezer Island". Stereogum. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  16. "Weezer (Black Album) by Weezer reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  17. "Weezer [Black Album] by Weezer Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  18. Hassenger, Jesse (March 1, 2019). "What more do you want from Weezer at this point?". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  19. Ruskell, Nick (February 28, 2019). "Album Review: Weezer – Weezer (The Black Album)". Kerrang!. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  20. Puschmann, Karl (March 14, 2019). "Album review: Weezer, The Black Album". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  21. Bassett, Jordan (March 1, 2019). "Weezer – 'The Black Album' review". NME. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  22. Thomas, Peyton (March 4, 2019). "Weezer: Weezer (The Black Album)". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  23. Garner, George (April 2019). "Weezer: Weezer (Black Album)". Q (396): 118.
  24. Dolan, Jon (March 4, 2019). "Review: Weezer's Latest Hunk of Cali-Rock Malaise, 'The Black Album'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  25. Hodgkinson, Will (March 1, 2019). "Weezer: The Black Album review". The Times. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  26. Oliver, Robert (February 26, 2019). "Album Review: Weezer – Weezer (Black Album)". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  27. "Weezer - Weezer (The Black Album) • chorus.fm". Chorus.fm. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  28. Van Den Hoogenband, Corey (February 27, 2019). "Weezer: Weezer (The Black Album)". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  29. "Try the TIDAL Web Player". Listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  30. Apple Music->Song Info
  31. "Try the TIDAL Web Player". Listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  32. Weezer (booklet). Atlantic, Crush. 2019.
  33. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). ARIA. March 11, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  34. "Ultratop.be – Weezer – Weezer (Black Album)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  35. "Ultratop.be – Weezer – Weezer (Black Album)" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  36. "Weezer Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  37. "Offiziellecharts.de – Weezer – Weezer (Black Album)" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  38. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  39. "Swisscharts.com – Weezer – Weezer (Black Album)". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  40. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  41. "Weezer Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
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