IN REVIEW: Weezer - "SZNZ: Spring"

 

The first of four planned EPs to be released in tandem with the change of seasons in 2022, Weezer's latest experiment in gimmickry is meant to feel truly ambitious; its first installment, SZNZ: Spring, finds the band returning somewhat to the chamber pop they surprised with on last year's OK Human (one of two albums that saw release by Weezer in 2021, alongside the big dumb rock of Van Weezer). Acoustic instrumentation pops up throughout, although there are swaths of sugary noise punctuating many of the choruses; lead track Opening Night is a prime example, interpolating Vivaldi's Four Seasons (because of course it does, as it's already been said the following three installments will) as Weezer do their best to mash up 18th century concertos with '90s power pop. It's noble in its intention but the execution doesn't feel quite right.

A better indicator of what this approach can sound like when done properly is highlight Angels On Vacation, which uses a slight choral prog bent and some sunny Weezerisms to create the kind of endorphin rush that makes fans still put up with Rivers Cuomo's cringier whims after all these years; the song is kind of a journey, and one that's worth taking to boot.

Then, there's single A Little Bit of Love; like with Opening Night, this one is more notable for what it tries to do than what it actually accomplishes. At its core, it's a sweet and harmonious little ode to love being in the air as winter gives way to spring; however, the slapped on Lumineers-lite acoustics, clumsy lyrics and verse melody that puts Glass Tiger's My Town in my head (I'm sorry, I've been around too long and heard way too many songs; old, obscure Canadian Hot AC hits still live in the deep recesses of my poor brain) blunt the song's impact and make the whole thing come off kind of awkward.

Garden of Eden is a cute, melodic song that brings back some of the religious overtones from earlier in the track list and cram them into a Beach Boys tribute that is fine but ultimately unremarkable. That's followed by the post-pandemic (I know we're still in it, for the record) revelry of The Sound of Drums, which celebrates the end of isolation and exalts the power of getting together and banging out some tunes; I can't be mad at this one, as it does what's on the tin without getting bogged down by overwrought production or head scratching lyrics. All This Love picks up the same thread, Cuomo crooning about ditching masks and getting back his freedom over a galloping, easy going melody.

SZNZ: Spring ends with Wild At Heart, a decent enough ending that finds some of that classic Weezer crunch, a soaring chorus, a dual guitar solo and a sudden change-up in the final ten seconds that might just point the way toward a heavy metal summer (we'll have to wait until June to find out). It's a jarring about face from the rest of the EP, but it attracts attention and has me thinking about the second volume in the series, which is likely the reason for its inclusion, so well done?

Weezer's recent history has been built almost exclusively on gimmicks, which is fine if it keeps them and their hardcore fans engaged but (for me, at least) more often than not works against the quality of the work; by placing restrictions or mandatory aesthetics on the music, a lot of Weezer's songs get stuffed into a box that may or may not suit them but it doesn't matter as long as they stay inside said box. That said, SZNZ: Spring is by no means the worst offender and, aside from a few awkward juxtapositions, the idea of what Weezer was going for is here. It's also smart of them to keep it concise, at 7 songs in just under 21 minutes, as a full-length album in this wheelhouse could have easily become insufferable.

Whether or not Weezer captures the spirit of spring is up to the listener; in my mind, I applaud the attempt but feel that supplementing what amounts to par-for-the-course Weezer songs with mandolins and classical flourishes misses more often than it hits. However, considering how sunny Weezer has been from the beginning, I would sure hope they can stick the landing on SZNZ: Summer.

March 20, 2022 • Crush/Atlantic

Highlights Angels On Vacation • Wild At Heart