25 essential Weezer songs

As The Blue Album turns 25, we take a look at some key entries in Weezer's discography

Music Features weezer
25 essential Weezer songs
Weezer Photo: Chelsea Lauren

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.

previous arrow2. “El Scorcho” (1996) next arrow
Weezer - El Scorcho (Director’s Cut)

Like “Undone—The Sweater Song,” “El Scorcho” lurches forward to an unsteady beat but where the subject of Weezer’s first single is rather elliptical, this lead single from Pinkerton is an outpouring of pop cultural ephemera and unrequited love. The two aren’t mutually exclusive: Rivers Cuomo loves that the object of his affection has never heard of Green Day, using it as an excuse to read her diary. Where some of Pinkerton cuts a bit close to the bone, “El Scorcho” is purposefully funny, a sign of the direction Weezer would take in their 2000s comeback.

45 Comments
Most Popular
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Share Tweet Submit Pin