Weezer released their debut studio album in May of 1994, often known as the Blue Album due to its blue cover. The band formed in Los Angeles in 1992 as grunge was on its ascendency. Despite a sound that we identify with grunge today, singer/guitarist Rivers Cuomo, drummer Patrick Wilson, guitarist Jason Cropper, and bassist Matt Sharp struggled to find an audience in the midst of the grunge movement. They were signed to A&R after recording a demo late in 1992, and would find success in the alternate sc...
Weezer released their debut studio album in May of 1994, often known as the Blue Album due to its blue cover. The band formed in Los Angeles in 1992 as grunge was on its ascendency. Despite a sound that we identify with grunge today, singer/guitarist Rivers Cuomo, drummer Patrick Wilson, guitarist Jason Cropper, and bassist Matt Sharp struggled to find an audience in the midst of the grunge movement. They were signed to A&R after recording a demo late in 1992, and would find success in the alternate scene by the time their debut was released. Cuomo had asthma when he was younger, and his dad jokingly called him “Weezer,” which became the name of the band.
Cars alumnus Ric Ocasek produced the album after Weezer had been persuaded not to self-produce. While recording the album, guitarist Jason Cropper found out that his girlfriend was pregnant. This led to difficulties and erratic behavior that led to Cuomo firing him. Guitarist Brian Bell was brought in as a replacement, and almost all of Croppers guitar parts were re-recorded after the album was already completed.
It only took seven months for this album to be certified gold by the RIAA, and it was also a critical success. Many consider the “Blue Album” to be one of the best albums of the 1990's. You may call it grunge, or alternative, or even geek rock, but it is great music.
Founder Rivers Cuomo struggled with the fame of the group, and it took a long time for him to reconcile his antipathy toward the “rock lifestyle” with the success of the band and its music.
Rob features this quirky album for the podcast.
Undone - The Sweater Song
The first single was originally going to have a number of sound clips sampled into the song, but the group went a different direction after considering the licensing costs. Although it was envisioned as a sad song, fans found it hilarious. “The Sweater Song” was added to the title when fans began referring to it by that name.
Buddy Holly
Many will recall this song from the iconic video involving the band being inserted into an episode of the 70's sitcom “Happy Days.” It was released as the second single on September 7, 1994, which would have been Buddy Holly's 58th birthday. It went to number 2 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. Songwriter Rivers Cuomo didn't want to include this track on the album at first, thinking it was not representative of the Weezer sound.
In The Garage
This deeper cut has a deliberately fuzzy “garage” feel. Rivers Cuomo and the band got its start in the garage, and the lyrics reflect time spent in the garage with nerd culture including Dungeons and Dragons, comics, and rock bands like Kiss.
Say It Ain't So
The third and final single from the album was inspired by an incident in high school where Cuomo found a bottle of beer in the refrigerator at his home. He believed alcoholism had broken up his parents' marriage, and was afraid that the same would happen with his mother and step-father.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Bustin' Surfboards by The Tornadoes (from the motion picture “Pulp Fiction”)
John Travolta showed us he still has the moves long after "Saturday Night Fever" in this Quentin Tarantino film.
STAFF PICKS:
Am I Wrong by Love Spit Love
Bruce starts this week's staff picks with the Psychedelic Furs’ alumni Richard and Tim Butler in a new band. Guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer completed the band. The name comes from a 1991 performance art exhibit protesting government censorship. The song itself is a bittersweet reflection on an ended relationship.
Wild Night by John Mellencamp
Lynch brings us a fast-paced cover of Van Morrison's classic. Mellencamp is joined on this piece by singer/songwriter, bassist, and rapper Meshell Ndegeocello, who contributed the female harmonies. This single from his album “Dance Naked” would see Mellencamp reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Tomorrow by Silverchair
Wayne features a second wave grunge act. The song is about a rich man who takes his easy life for granted until a streak of bad luck forces him to endure an overnight stay in a sketchy old hotel. The lead singer of this group was 15 years old at the time that this Australian group hit the charts with this song.
Get Over It by The Eagles
Rob finishes off the staff picks with the comeback hit from the Eagles. After a 14-year hiatus, the group came back together to release the part-live, part-studio album Hell Freezes Over. This song reflects the frustration of seeing so many people take a victim mentality.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly by Blues Traveler
We close out today's podcast with an instrumental number off the Blues Traveler album, "four."
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