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Maladroit

Weezer - Maladroit Audio CD

A fair review of the Weezer "Maladroit" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Weezer reviews here, or go back to the Weezer tabs.

Band: Weezer
Title: Maladroit
Rating:

Release Date: 2002-05-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: American Gigolo 2: Dope Nose 3: Keep Fishin' 4: Take Control 5: Death And Destruction 6: Slob 7: Burndt Jamb 8: Space Rock 9: Slave 10: Fall Together 11: Possibilities 12: Love Explosion 13: December

Maladjusted.
Instant classics include "Dope Nose", the epic "Slob", and "Love Explosion". The rough garage band sound of "Pinkerton" is present on "Maladroit", along with a wider variety of musical styles. Other standouts include "Fall Together" which borders on classic rock, the funk-lite "Burndt Jamb", and the retro-punk "Possibilities. " Midway through the proceedings is "Death and Destruction", a slow crawl through Rivers Cuomo's apparently endless relationship troubles. The closing "December" is a singalong with some downright positive lyrics (by Cuomo standards at least). The band's sound throughout the record is aggressive yet melancholy, introspection bordering on narcissism. Several video clips are included, mostly of live performances, and the initial pressings include a serial number gold-embossed on the back cover (Mine is 357007, hardly a collector's item). "Maladroit" is another winner from the best nerd party band around.

Two thumbs up for Maladroit!
Maladroit is their fourth album, and it is GREAT! The singing is great, as is the classic guitar work. I have been a fan of Weezer all the way since the Blue Album back in 1994. A couple of years ago, I heard a guy on the radio declare that Rock-n-Roll was dead, that the guitar work that has defined it for two generations is gone. Well, he obviously doesn't listen to Weezer!

I must say that I really like this album. I especially like Burndt Jamb and December, but all of the tracks are great. Two thumbs up for Maladroit!.

Maladroit
Whereas Pinkerton's departure was into emotional, spontaneous territory, Maladroit moves into something more self-consciously rock, more eagerly heavy, more defined, and saddeningly, more calculated. Maladroit, like Pinkerton, marked a departure from straight-forward sunshiny pop to new rock experiments. Even the Green Album had a certain care-free attitude about it. Maladroit wants to be something great, something powerful, there's a vicious megalomania about it, and that keeps it from being perfect. New-wave experiments like "American Gigolo" and "Take Control" are good songs, but unlike their former counterparts "Tired of Sex" and "Getchoo", they are songs which want to be great. They are built upon Rivers' studies and analysis of great pop songs. Their influences are beared proudly on their sleeves, and they are pushed underneath the waves of originality. There are some wonderful moments on the album, where Rivers' former genius creeps its way through into full-length songs. Keep' Fishin is a great pop song. Slob is something virile, and for all its angryness and self importance, works quite freshly, in a sort of violent rehash of David Bowie and Suede. Burndt Jamb is lovely. As a whole Maladroit sounds quite solid, and it's a good album, but following the perfection of something like The Green Album, it's just slightly sad that Rivers thought this was the path to take. He would soon find out that it was the wrong path, and Maladroit never reached the heights that he hoped so eagerly it would.

Weezing
. Sandwiched between increasingly generic pop, punk and metal influences do lie Weezer's noteworthy melodic guitar sweeps, though heart-on-sleeve songwriting of yore subsides to straightforward distort-rock that had its moments, only to be degraded further in the future.

Another supurb weezer album worth adding to your collection
This was partly because of all the negative magazine reviews and foul comments from friends who own it. Maladroit was the very last of the weezer albums I added to my prize collection. Frankly, I was afraid for several years to finally hear the album for myself. (I didn't want to hear one of my all-time favorite bands actually "bomb out") Much to my suprise, the album is stellar.

Overall, Maladroit has a very post-Green Album feel to it, meaning there is still heavy-rock distortion, as well as tons of solos featuring the wah pedal. Weezer changes their style up a little bit thoughout this record, however. The solos are now quite a bit more complicated. Solos no longer simply mimic the chorus. The songs on Maladroit are slightly more obscure in comparison to the catchier "pop rock" sounds found on the Green or Blue Album. Although, its certainly not as obscure as their Pinkerton album. After a few listens, the hooks in each song will begin to "stick" and you will begin to find them all very catchy. Although the band does get a little "out there" at times, Maladroit still has enough pop rock vibe, overall, to make it an album you'll want to listen to over and over again in your stereo or ipod.

And now the moment you've all been waiting for. . . a summary of all the songs on the album (in my opinion).

TRACK 1. AMERICAN GIGOLO- The almost hypnotic drum intro is what really sets this song apart from the others. I really like how Rivers talks somewhat authoritive or like he may have "a chip on his shoulder" in the song's verses. It really adds attitude to the song as a whole. Primative, yet insanely catchy, heavy guitar riff makes this song an instant album favorite and a
10/10.

TRACK 2. DOPE NOSE- This is probably one of my least favorite songs on the entire album. It was the first release off Maladroit and got plenty of air and tv time. Maybe too much. To me it is just "alright". "Dope Nose" sounds somewhat generic and uninspired. This song should've been a B-side or other rarity. Theres definitely a very recycled weezer sound going on here. In my opinion, the song isn't unique or strong enough on its own giving it a
7/10.

TRACK 3. KEEP FISHIN- A great choice for a release, in the respect that this song is unique. It took some time to really get into this song, but after that, I absolutely LOVED it. The drums at the begining of this song really set the tone and make the song "pop". I really liked how Cuomo and Bell strum their guitars quietly until the chorus, then they really lay on the guitars and the tempo changes. P. S. - Excellent solo on this song. 10/10

TRACK 4. TAKE CONTROL- This songs is one of the obscures I mentioned above. I definitely grows on you. The slow pace and long breaths between singing make you wonder "where is this song going exactly?" But then the chorus comes around the bend with loud guitar and a different tempo to slap you right in the cerebellum. I like Cuomo's choice of vocal notes here, and again, his time between notes. A nice change from his typical style of singing. Also, the lyrics are interesting and catchy.
10/10

TRACK 5. DEATH AND DESTRUCTION- Although I get what the band was going for when they wrote this song, it still stands as my least favorite song on Maladroit. It has a very slow and gloomy tempo. The singing is very droney. The chorus just seems like an afterthought rather than an actual break from the verse. Everything just kind of blends together too much in the song. It makes me feel tired and bummed out, so I usually skip it. 7/10

TRACK 6. SLOB- This is the reason I bought Maladroit in the first place. I first heard it on one of my Weezer DVDs. This song treads on very different ground than what weezer is typical known for. This song has a very dark and emotional tone, and its all thanks to the guitar. This song totally nails "dark" in every aspect that "Death and Destruction" fails. The way it is sang almost makes you think that Cuomos is becoming a recluse or is mentally disturbed. The louder guitar volume and tempo changes at the chorus set this song even more over the edge of sanity. This is definitely my favorite song on this album
11/10

TRACK 7. BURNDT JAMB- This could have been a single in my opinion. If "Island in the Sun" and "Keep Fishin" had a baby, this might be it. This song travels back to jazz and funk roots at times, but still manages to bring it all back into the weezer realm with its hard rock chorus and solo. It sounds very much like something that could have been written by 311 or the chili peppers, but by all rights is still unique.
10/10

TRACK 8. SPACE ROCK- I love the synth sound in this song (either coming from a guitar pedal effect or an actual synthesizer). It reminds me a lot of The Cars. Short song, but cute lyrics.
10/10

TRACK 9. SLAVE- Reminds me of "Simple Pages" and "Crab" from the Green Album. This song would have fit just perfectly there. The hook that really gets you is towards the very end of the song when theres a single guitar chord they let sustain until it fades, while Cuomo sings "Love. . . Barely Alive, Love. . . Barely Alive. . . SlAaAaAaAaaaAve. . . " Its really profound and emotional. Another one of my favorite songs. The intro is insanely heavy, leading you to beleive the songs going to sound really mad and agressive, instead of rocking and emotional.
11/10

TRACK 10. FALL TOGETHER- A excellent heavy rock, feel-good, love anthem. An instant winner. The guitar riffs almost remind me of Nirvana or 90's Silverchair, if those bands had slightly more positive music.
10/10

TRACK 11. POSSIBILITIES- This song has a very simple pop punk feel to it.
There really isn't anything majorly exciting about this song, but its definitely worth a listen, and will probably make you smile. The louder and higher pitched vocals at the end are kind of a neat touch. I still think this would make a great Pillsbury comercial jingle. . .
Pillsbury- "Imagine the Possibilities. "
Cuomo- "Woah-oh woahhh. . . POSS-I-BIL-I-TIES. . . "
9/10

TRACK 12. LOVE EXPLOSION- Theres definitely some sarcasm and hilarity to this song. The vocals and music are sang and played in such a royal and happy rock tone, yet the actual lyrics are kind of violent or twisted.
"Take a look around you
All the people who crowd around in your house
They be wantin' to kill you
In your sleep. . . "
I just love the total juxtapostion of evil and sweetness in a song.
11/10

TRACK 13. DECEMBER- I really like this song. It sounds like it may have some deep roots from the the Doo Wop era, perhaps. A great slower song with really sweet and emotional lyrics. Probably some of Cuomo's best vocals on the whole record. This song is something along the lines of the great weezer Blue Album song "Only in Dreams".
10/10
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You can see a complete list of all Weezer discography, or go back to the Weezer tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.