Weezer (Red Album)
by Weezer
  • Record Label: Geffen
  • Release Date: Jun 3, 2008
User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 191 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 126 out of 191
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 191
  3. Negative: 29 out of 191

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  1. R
    Jun 4, 2008
    8
    I get a kick out of the critics who first say a band is not stretching their limits or trying new or innovative sounds, only to complain when they do.
  2. BlakeW
    Oct 5, 2008
    10
    First off , buy the deluxe album . If you don't you're an Idiot. Secondly , these guys are progressing on every album (minus make believe). Tehy will never sound like the blue album or pinkerton ever again so the cool thing for peopel to do is bash them. but let's cut the crap, Pork and Beans was a #1 song for a while , this album is great and brings Weezer back on track First off , buy the deluxe album . If you don't you're an Idiot. Secondly , these guys are progressing on every album (minus make believe). Tehy will never sound like the blue album or pinkerton ever again so the cool thing for peopel to do is bash them. but let's cut the crap, Pork and Beans was a #1 song for a while , this album is great and brings Weezer back on track from the last album that was MEH. This band is growing and people don't wanna let it grow , it's a shame. This Album kicks ass as well as the band itself.… Expand
  3. ChrisA
    Aug 22, 2010
    8
    This album and its promotions were what made me a Weezer fan, and since then they have become my favourite band. A great album on its own, though it cannot be compared to Blue or Pinkerton. The low points are the songs not sung by Cuomo and I feel if they were replaced by some of the Deluxe tracks this could have truly been a great album.
  4. J.R.
    Jun 12, 2008
    10
    Hands down their best since Pinkerton. The playfulness and humor found in the blue album has returned!
  5. JordanB
    Jun 4, 2008
    8
    Yeah, it's not perfect. But, it's different. I personally bought the itunes deluxe version, and some of the bonus tracks like pig and miss sweeney are actually better than songs like let's get dangerous and one of my least favorites, cold dark world. But songs like greatest man, dreamin', automatic, etc...are totally worth it. better than make believe and green in my opinion.
  6. PaulH
    Jun 4, 2008
    10
    This is the CD weezer fans have been waiting for. There is a plethora of sounds on this album that all seem to work. I think 'Pig' and 'King' from the deluxe version should have been included.
  7. SkullKid
    Jul 10, 2008
    10
    Amazing return to form after Make Believe. "Dreamin'" and "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" are future Weezer classics, and they may have taken a few more listens than the other songs, but the non-Rivers entries are nowhere near as bad as some of the reviews make out. Get the deluxe version.
  8. fILAZAFERx
    Jun 11, 2008
    7
    I think people are being way to hard on this cd, especially on the other band mates who contributed songs. I thought their songs were pretty good. The last song on the deluxe cd is actually my favorite song on the cd and it's sung by another member. No, this is not the masterpiece all Weezer fans wanted, but it is the best cd they have done since Pinkerton. For the masterpiece we I think people are being way to hard on this cd, especially on the other band mates who contributed songs. I thought their songs were pretty good. The last song on the deluxe cd is actually my favorite song on the cd and it's sung by another member. No, this is not the masterpiece all Weezer fans wanted, but it is the best cd they have done since Pinkerton. For the masterpiece we will keep waiting, but I recommend this cd to any Weezer fan.… Expand
  9. JacksonH
    Sep 18, 2008
    9
    Great Album all around, the Deluxe addition adds 3 solid tracks with "King" being possibly the best on the album. "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" gets better and better each time I hear it! This album is fun, catchy and an all around great time.
  10. WalkD.
    Jul 11, 2008
    10
    This is a great album from top to bottom. Sit down with no preconceived notions and the deluxe version and you will surely enjoy this album.
  11. Felix
    Jun 13, 2008
    5
    Mediocre at best, but it is an improvement over Make Believe. A couple stand out tracks, but many songs are forgettable, while others are just duds.
  12. ChrisK.
    Jan 15, 2009
    3
    if weezer's debut was a 10 and pinkerton an 8.5 this is a 3 at best. weezer was the first album i ever bought and i'm embarassed that 14 years later this is what they've come up with. "everybody get dangerous"? who do they think they're singing to?
  13. SandenoS.
    Jun 10, 2008
    2
    Awful awful stuff, this record will destroy this band.
  14. IanB
    Jun 10, 2008
    8
    This album has a lot more life than people are giving it credit for. The first 4 songs are going to be Weezer classics. "Cold Dark World" is a let down an sounds like something that could have been written by a high school kid, but that was really the lowest point of the album for me.
  15. MattK
    Jun 3, 2008
    6
    I just bought the album today ($6 at Wal-Mart, the same on Amazon.com for you bargain hunters) and listened to it three and a half times on the ride home from a road trip. It has a lot of decent tracks, but no great ones, and little flow. This is not the Weezer album I had hoped for after hearing "Pork and Beans" for the last month. "Troublemaker," while making it clear as day that Rivers I just bought the album today ($6 at Wal-Mart, the same on Amazon.com for you bargain hunters) and listened to it three and a half times on the ride home from a road trip. It has a lot of decent tracks, but no great ones, and little flow. This is not the Weezer album I had hoped for after hearing "Pork and Beans" for the last month. "Troublemaker," while making it clear as day that Rivers Cuomo is no longer a skillful lyricist, is still a fun song. It doesn't have any depth whatsoever, but who cares? It's a good Weezer song. The verse in "Everybody Get Dangerous" is Cuomo's best stab at anything hip-hop since the vocals of "El Scorcho." "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" starts off as a pretty awesome song, but past the first three minutes, it becomes one great big black mark on the whole album. Rivers tried to make his own "Jesus of Suburbia," to a lesser extent, and it falls flat on its face. The jerky turn-arounds left and right in its six minute runtime completely throw (and in my case, turn) the listener off. "Dreamin'," while not as extreme, has some very awkward, uncomfortable structural issues (although I won't deny that it's kind of rockin'). "Thought I Knew" is a throwaway track and a disappointment for those looking forward to hear what the other members of Weezer are capable of. "Automatic" is a little better, but nothing great. I think Cuomo is better off going with the whole control freak thing. "The Red Album" is a great improvement over "Make Believe" and even a step or two above "Maladroit." If nothing else, it serves as a very interesting record to the band's fanbase. Sadly, instead of the triumphant return we've been hoping for, this is more so the final nail in the coffin---Weezer is never coming back. Few tracks can be identifiable to the band's crunchy pop-rock of the nineties, and Cuomo and Co. don't seem to be looking back. If this "different" music was better, I wouldn't be complaining.… Expand
  16. TomK
    Jun 5, 2008
    0
    Biggest let down since Make Believe.
  17. KristopherB.
    Jun 5, 2008
    8
    A lifelong Weezer fan, I must admit that while "Pork and Beans", "The Greatest Man", and "Automatic" had me listening happily, the rest of the album was only slightly above average, maybe bar "Troublemaker". The other two non-Cuomo entries have not been played through once on my media player thus far. Yes "Make Believe" was panned but as far as Cuomo handing out songwriting duites, the A lifelong Weezer fan, I must admit that while "Pork and Beans", "The Greatest Man", and "Automatic" had me listening happily, the rest of the album was only slightly above average, maybe bar "Troublemaker". The other two non-Cuomo entries have not been played through once on my media player thus far. Yes "Make Believe" was panned but as far as Cuomo handing out songwriting duites, the old addage "if it's not broken don't fix it" may be needed to put in effect, although Wilsons attempt was quite catchy.… Expand
  18. LarryC.
    Jun 5, 2008
    4
    I'm so disappointed by this album!! I'm afraid that I'll finally have to line up with the reviewers who claim they haven't made any great record since Pinkerton. Make believe at least gave some hopes!!
  19. PaulC
    Jun 6, 2008
    3
    Bland and boring.
  20. JackG.
    Jun 6, 2008
    2
    These guys should just quit. This music is disgusting.
  21. J
    Jun 7, 2008
    10
    Best satire on the industry in years. They took the best formulas out there and reinvented them Weezer style.... great stuff.
  22. TomH.
    Jun 7, 2008
    3
    Worst album in the Weezer catalog. 2 good songs on standard album, 1 extra on the Limited Edition. Cuomo rapping, really?
  23. JacobT.
    Jun 8, 2008
    5
    In short, Weezer has continued it's trend of making each new release worse than all their previous albums (Blue Album > Pinkerton > Green Album > Maladroit > Make Believe > Red Album). 1.Troublemaker - 2.5/5 2.The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn) - 2.5/5 3.Pork and Beans - 3/5 4.Heart Songs - 2/5 5.Everybody Get Dangerous 2/5 6.Dreamin' - 2.5/5 In short, Weezer has continued it's trend of making each new release worse than all their previous albums (Blue Album > Pinkerton > Green Album > Maladroit > Make Believe > Red Album). 1.Troublemaker - 2.5/5 2.The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn) - 2.5/5 3.Pork and Beans - 3/5 4.Heart Songs - 2/5 5.Everybody Get Dangerous 2/5 6.Dreamin' - 2.5/5 7.Thought I Knew - 1.5/5 8.Cold Dark World - 1.5/5 9.Automatic - 1.5/5 10.The Angel and the One 2/5.… Expand
  24. Mike
    Jun 8, 2008
    10
    All songs are good if you don't expect it sound like pinkerton or blue.......don't let the reviewers discourage you!
  25. BrendanD
    Jun 9, 2008
    7
    I don't know why all the indie-poseur freaks are so obsessed with "Pinkerton" as this seminal classic of rock music. It was a nice departure for a pop band, but the results weren't nearly as catchy as the Blue Album; nor were they as arena-ready and fine-tuned as "Maladroit." I agree with another poster: it grows awfully tiring to hear people crap upon all post-Pinkerton Weezer I don't know why all the indie-poseur freaks are so obsessed with "Pinkerton" as this seminal classic of rock music. It was a nice departure for a pop band, but the results weren't nearly as catchy as the Blue Album; nor were they as arena-ready and fine-tuned as "Maladroit." I agree with another poster: it grows awfully tiring to hear people crap upon all post-Pinkerton Weezer records, because frankly, they've done better music since. That being said, this will probably go down as their worst record. That doesn't make it crap; it just makes it not brilliant. But maybe, just maybe, it will age as well as "Make Believe" has -- and for all the haters out there, go back and listen to "Make Believe" now that the hype's been removed. It's not a bad record at all. This one... Don't know if it's got anything (besides the glorious "Greatest Man") that's as memorable.… Expand
  26. TMo
    Jun 10, 2008
    6
    Why are they pretending they're still in high school (troublemaker)? The tunes ain't bad (dreaming's the best), but the lyrics are so asinine and childish. Grow up, peoples. There's more to life than just doin' what you wanna do. Let's get past the "I'm me, if you don't like it, kiss my a**, rolling stone." Can't keep my attention when Why are they pretending they're still in high school (troublemaker)? The tunes ain't bad (dreaming's the best), but the lyrics are so asinine and childish. Grow up, peoples. There's more to life than just doin' what you wanna do. Let's get past the "I'm me, if you don't like it, kiss my a**, rolling stone." Can't keep my attention when you're singing about how cool and different you are.… Expand
  27. MikeS.
    Jun 15, 2008
    8
    Great album,4 ok songs,better than the majority of the 70+ reviews!if you heard another band play a song like the greatest man that ever lived..you would be amazed.but the fact that its weezer and does not sound like the blue album or pinkerton; people complain!great album tho!!
  28. DW
    Jun 17, 2008
    0
    Horrendous. A malformed abortion of an album with no focus, no themes, no art. The biggest waste of $1 million ever spent by humanity.
  29. Demokid
    Jun 24, 2008
    8
    The problem is that these brilliant boys have become legends & people expect unreasonable results. The Album is brilliant and no bands these days can say they go #1 on the sixth CD. Most will be washed up after 1 or 2. there are 4 soon to be classics which is allot. Having other members singing may come off as a downfall, but not so. After 6 CDs, There is room around. They already have a The problem is that these brilliant boys have become legends & people expect unreasonable results. The Album is brilliant and no bands these days can say they go #1 on the sixth CD. Most will be washed up after 1 or 2. there are 4 soon to be classics which is allot. Having other members singing may come off as a downfall, but not so. After 6 CDs, There is room around. They already have a live setlist of hits. This helps build Character. I smell a KIss legion of fans, without the $$$ grubbing ideals of KISS. Truth be told, they are charting #1 still... Yet, have never sold out. They are quirky, always have... They rock and people agree. Truth be told. If something is cool, then we all want to be cool by disagreeing that this is cool. Well. Weezer is real. They continue to stay fresh, Bizarre & somewhat unpredictable. Thats why we all still talk about them. They are too good to die off like every other band with their years of history.… Expand
  30. TerryC.
    Jun 24, 2008
    7
    First 6 tracks are excellent the rest are a bit so-so.
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2008
39
#39 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 32
  3. Negative: 5 out of 32
  1. Billboard
    70
    Cuomo turns the mic over to the other three members of Weezer for a song each (the best: "Automatic," sung by drummer Pat Wilson), unironically salutes the influence of Nirvana ("Heart Songs") and marries fake crowd noise and piano to the thick power chords of "Greatest Man." Rock on.
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  2. Drowned In Sound
    50
    A number of plays through and it’s still not clear who, exactly, the band are taking the proverbial out of: themselves, playfully and absolutely intentionally, or us, fans who’ve become conditioned to not expecting the best from a band who, personally, have been a shadow of themselves since that first ‘sequel’ release.
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  3. Pitchfork
    47
    Like the YouTube culture the "Pork and Beans" video depicts so well, the song--and this album--relies on a high quantity of short-lived pretty good ideas to distract from a shortage of great ones.
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