Weezer Cranks Out More Catchy Rock on Hurley

Weezer Cranks Out More Catchy Rock on Hurley

I realize that I am probably the only person on the planet who is not a fan of the television show Lost, especially with the release of Weezer’s eighth studio album, Hurley.  Oddly enough, it is named after the Lost character Hugo “Hurley” Reyes, played by actor Jorge Garcia, whose headshot also graces the cover.  This kind of humor has become a trademark of Rivers Cuomo, Weezer’s front man and chief songwriter, over the last decade or so, and there is no shortage of it on Hurley, as evidenced by songs like “Where’s My Sex?” and “All My Friends are Insects”.  Cuomo has been criticized for his joke songs and general unserious attitude, mostly by fans who claim Weezer hasn’t had a real solid album since 1996’s Pinkerton.  Despite this, he continues to write songs about whatever he feels like, and it has paid off for him and the band.

Every song on Hurley is a solid, radio-friendly rock song. With collaborations from several other famous songwriters, such as Desmond Child, Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes, Dan Wilson of Semisonic, and Ryan Adams, this album had me bouncing to the beat and singing along right from the first track, “Memories”.  The guitar tone is great, the riffs catchy, and the choruses get inside your head and stay for a while, all marks of songs that will be popular.  I do miss, however, the sweet guitar solos that are characteristic of some of Weezer’s earlier stuff.

While Hurley is not the return of the so-called old Weezer of their first two or three albums, and it’s not quite the punk album that it has been touted as prior to its release, it is a solid pop-rock and roll record.  As for Jorge Garcia, when asked by MTV news how being featured as the title and cover model of Hurley compares to other achievements of his career, he said it is “really close to the top for sure… I think the action figure still trumps it…” but it is still “extremely special and dear to my heart”.