25 essential Weezer songs
As The Blue Album turns 25, we take a look at some key entries in Weezer's discography
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When Weezer released their eponymous debut album back in May of 1994, few would’ve predicted that they would remain near the center of rock culture for the next three decades. Weezer—now commonly called “The Blue Album,” thanks to a proliferation of color-coded self-titled albums the group has released over the years— seemed very much the product of its time. Rife with pop culture references and maximizing the quiet-loud-quiet structure popularized by Pixies, the album also had deep roots in pop and metal, genres leader Rivers Cuomo would continue to explore over the years, accompanied by his faithful drummer Patrick Wilson, guitarist Brian Bell, and bassist Scott Shriner, who wound up replacing original member Matt Sharp once Weezer mounted a comeback early in the 2000s.
Weezer is still an active band, taking the time to explore new musical territory, as on 2021's baroque OK Human. Still, the band’s core catalog remains forged in the 1990s and 2000s, when the band dominated modern rock radio with songs that were simultaneously catchy, funny, and emotional. The 30th anniversary of The Blue Album allows us to take a look at 25 songs that explain why Weezer has proved unexpectedly enduring.
45 Comments
When are you gonna do the 25 essential TISM songs?
There are none. Why keep trying to make 90s bands relevant? They’re as bad as pearl jam. This is music for financial advisors and republicans. Let it die.
I’m no fan of Weezer, but 90% of the music covered here is either supermainstream pop , rap acts doing dumb but click engagement worthy things , or hipper than thou ‘ oh I guess you haven’t heard of them ‘ lists that would make even a Pitchfork writer think ‘ fuck me, that’s a bit elitist’ . A list like this isn’t making anything relevant.
What garbage are you listening to, sage of relevant music?
oasis, bob dylan
Someone who is an Oasis fan calling out 90s music and Weezer is rich. Wild for a Bob Dylan fan failing to recognize PJ’s fights against Ticketmaster, and consistent railing against the right in their music as kindred ideals.
weren’t they a one hit wonder? Can you just put sweater song 25 times?
I think Buddy Holly was probably more successful. People seem to love it more.
Buddy Holly is the bigger hit, that video used to be in heavy rotation.
Beverly Hills was the only one that made the US top 40 chart. Buddy Holly’s video is great.
Undone, Buddy Holly, Say It Ain’t So, Hash Pipe, Island in the Sun, Dope Nose were all massive hits on the U.S. alt rock charts.From Beverly Hills on they charted in the top 10 six times, scoring three #1s, two #2s and a #10.There are many other songs that charted which did not reach the same level of success. Weezer are objectively not one-hit-wonders.
I was just kidding.
Ask your mommy
Are there still only 25 essential songs even though the album is actually turning 30, not 25?
RIP to the days when Beverly Hills was #205, the second worst Weezer song in this painfully earnest and thoughtful version of the same listicle: https://www.avclub.com/every-weezer-song-ranked-from-worst-to-best-1847645973
Beverly Hills is terrible. I can’t stand it. I would pinpoint what I hate about it but it’s actually everything.
I’m sorry. But Beverly Hills is NOT essential Weez. It’s barely tolerable.
Beverly Hills fucking gets played at my job on the 00s pop channel, a LOT. Right alongside Carrie Underwood, James Blunt, Nickelback, Pussycat Dolls, and Maroon Five.
Shut it down! (or look for a new job).
‘tis a banger, it’s true.
I remember a couple years ago, there was an AV Club article that ranked every single Weezer song in order from worst to best. It was interesting to see that full list compared with this one. (TBF, I agreed with most of that full list. I think it was written in 2021.)I’d argue that the 25 on this list aren’t necessarily Weezer’s “best” songs (read: Beverly Hills and Africa – a COVER SONG!) but I understand the choice to include them here. Beverly Hills brought a new generation to Weezer’s music in the early/mid aughts, and then did it again for Gen Z with Africa. So from that perspective, I can see why both songs are “essential” even if BH isn’t a particularly good song (it’s TWO CHORDS! With some incredibly basic riffing!). And also given that the Africa cover is almost exactly the same as Toto’s original. Is Beverly Hills or Africa on my rotation? Hell no. But when my Zoomer sister asked me if I’d “heard of a band called Weezer” in 2018, when Africa had a lot of playtime on the radio, it was evident of Weezer’s staying power. I guess I can see why someone would consider Africa essential, given it was released nearly 25 years after the Blue Album.
Point being: essential doesn’t necessarily mean good. (That said… early every song on The Blue Album and Pinkerton are good AND essential.)
“Fuck off with this” -Glen Benton, probably
First Blur, now Weezer? Essential? You’re taking the piss, and I say that as someone who very much would have agreed with you 20 years ago.A.A. Dowd wrote this article three years ago and ten times better.
The Africa cover was the epitome of inessential.
“When Weezer released their eponymous debut album back in May of 1994, few would’ve predicted that they would remain near the center of rock culture for the next three decades”Have they? Really?
I’m not a fan but they’ve stayed more relevant than I thought they would have.
“While the genesis of the cover lies in a joke, the trick to Weezer’s “Africa” is that they played it straight: there’s never a sense the group is winking at their audience.”Hence the involvement of Weird Al. Obviously.
I am ready to blast this listicle as ridiculous and designed to generate controversy and clicks, but what’s with the Weezer bashing? If you don’t like Weezer, why did you care enough to post you don’t like them?
Because its not enough that we don’t like weezer, we *hate* Beverly Hills. (I am actually a fan of the first two albums though)
Most Weezer fans don’t like Beverly Hills. Try the White Album or Everything Will Be All Right In The End
Seconded. Those are their two best records since Pinkerton.
You could very easily find several songs from White Album, Everything Will Be Alright in the End, or OK Human more essential than “Beverly Hills” or “Africa.” You could slot in “Across the Sea” or “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” or “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” This list acts like Weezer stopped making music in 2010 outside of a kitsch cover.
EWBAitE (I’m not writing that out, come on) is criminally underrated. It’s like, “what if Blue Album, but without the fun existentialism.” It’s a very fun listen for anyone who enjoys the poppiness of Weezer’s earlier material.
The image of Rivers Cuomo drinking from a juice box at the end of Say It Ain’t So is the only essential Weezer. That self-conscious cutesy little display put me off immediately upon seeing it when it was first airing.Everything they do is like pretty good quality music, but Cuomo seems very inauthentic (a 90s no-no if you recall) and calculated. The dude just seems so fucking fake to me.
Lotta haters on here today. Weezer is pure California power pop, and if you weren’t around for the joy of the Blue album, you can beat it. I’d take them any day over their peers in No Doubt or Third Eye Blind.
Fake news, there’s no such thing as an essential Weezer song
Since this list contained only one song from the last 14 years, I’d toss in 2022’s A Little Bit of Love as a latter-career “essential”
Fifteen songs from their first 3 years, one song from the last decade (and one that sucks). Seems about right.
Weezer is fine, but as far as I’m concerned the only essential Weezer related song is “We Opened for Weezer” by Nerf Herder.
“few would’ve predicted that they would remain near the center of rock culture for the next three decades.”And, indeed, they haven’t.
Their version of “Rosanna” is better than their version of “Africa.” Full stop.
I never listened to Weezer. I was (still am) into hard rock/heavy metal and I hated 90’s alternative music. The first time I heard “Hash Pipe,” I thought The Darkness came out with a new song, but losing their edge. I’ve heard “Say it Ain’t So” and thought it was Sublime (they’re all over the radio, you can’t escape them). I skipped through the slideshow and played a little of each video and they’re, meh.
Seems like the author has only listened to Blue and Pinkerton and just picked singles from the other albums.
And not a single track mention from EWBAITE seems suspect.
No it’s because Blue and Pinkerton are the only good albums.
Tell us you’ve only heard their first two albums and then watched all their videos so you could make a quick $20 on an avclub article…..without telling us because that would have put you over your self-imposed 1000 word limit.