The Words and Music of John Prine

Remembering the life of John Prine        October 10,1946 - April 7, 2020

Hi – If you have read along in the past, you are probably aware that this is more of a stream of consciousness than a well written piece of journalism.  

Today will be more of that – I am not sure of consciousness at this point and I keep hoping that this whole pandemic is a dream, or a scene inside of a snow globe. 

So, today I am going to share with you some of my favorite John Prine songs.  If you love John Prine, you will probably know these songs.  But maybe someone will find something that brings a smile to their face, or maybe just discovering John Prine will do that.  I will tell you why I chose each song, but it won’t be deep.  It might just be a lyric I like – a scene – a verse. 

To steal a line from Prine protégé Todd Snider:

I didn't come down here to change any of y'all's minds about anything, I come down here to ease my own mind about everything. It works every time.

               

Anyways.  Here goes nothing.

Spanish Pipe Dream

I think this is the first Prine song I heard.  If not the first – somewhere pretty close.  I love the lyrics to this song and really the simplicity of it all.  Blow up the TV – Throw out your papers.   A sort of a minimalist life.  Wouldn’t it be nice to step away from current life we are living and just eat a lot of peaches?

So, my favorite line in this song is one that to me is such a great play on words that you might not notice it. 

“Well, I sat there at the table and I acted real naïve, For I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve”

The topless lady has something up her sleeve.   Yeah – now you get it. 

So here you go. Most videos are going to be live or live recordings.  But here is the first. 

It’s a Big Old Goofy World

So – Prine explains in a live version that he came up with this song while helping his mother with a crossword puzzle.  He began collecting all these phrases, sayings,  and metaphors that made him laugh.  He put them all together.  And what comes out is a beautiful song. 

My favorite line in this one is-

“I wished I had a woman that made my knees knock. She'd sing like an angel and eat like a bird. And if I wrote a song she'd know ever single word”

Enjoy

Knockin' On Your Screen Door

This is a newer one from Prine’s Tree of Forgiveness album.  A great album that brought in so many new fans.  I will probably mention it again. 

This is just such a fun song.

 I guess a line that sticks out is -   “ If you see somebody, would you send em' over my way? I could use some help here with a can of pork and beans”

Who wouldn’t want to help John Prine eat pork and beans?

Here it is anyways.

Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone)

This is another off the Tree of Forgiveness.  It speaks for itself. 

Clay Pigeons

This is not a song written by John Prine.  It was written and recorded by Blaze Foley. 

But when you listen to it, it sounds like a Prine song.  I actually assumed it was a Prine song about his return to music after his first battle of cancer.  It’s a great song either way.  Beautiful.

Hello in There and Sam Stone

Look – I could spend all day writing about Prine’s debut self titled album.  It includes many of Prine’s most well known songs including Angel from Montgomery, Paradise, Spanish Pipe Dream is from this album, well shit – just go look up the album, listen to it, Buy it, Live it, Love it!

So the two songs in question here are some of the saddest songs ever.  But they are so beautifully written.

Hello in There is literally about the sadness and loneliness of getting older.  Written somehow by a man in his twenties.  But somehow he gets the feeling right.  He gets it all right. Always.

Meanwhile Sam Stone tells the sad story of a veteran returning home and eventually overdosing on heroin/morphine.  Something sadly still happening today 50 years later. 

Illegal Smile

So – it turns out this song isn’t about drugs.  I know it seems like it is, and to many it is regardless.  But by Prine’s account, this song is about his ability to make himself laugh in most situations.  He sees the humor in everything the way a comedian does.  I think that knowing that, and knowing that he prides himself at that, you can go back and find the humor in every Prine song. 

So first – here is a live fan recording of Prine crashing Todd Snider’s encore at the Ryman on 4/20/19.

Here is just the audio

In Spite of Ourselves

This is I think, my wife’s favorite Prine song.  I could be wrong.  She will correct me if I am.  So  - Here  John can explain it himself. 

In the same vein –

The Other Side Of Town

Hey y’all, I know this is just dragging on.  I think part of me wants it to go forever.  I also keep reminding myself of songs.  So, here's what happens from here on out.  I am going to introduce the next video, then add a few more videos, and then I will be right back to tell you about the last video. 

Deal?

Cool.

Lake Marie

So – This song is about a real place.  The setting is not far from where I grew up.  I have been on, and in these lakes.  So this song has always been special to me.  It became more special when I saw Prine perform it live.  He played it at the end of his set.  He came back for an Encore but this was how he closed the main show.  I can’t un-see it.  Now you get to see it.  Just the way I did.  Please watch till the end, it is long but truly special. 

Here’s a cleaner sounding version with no video

The Great Compromise

Souvenirs

The Accident

That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round

Please Don't Bury Me

So here we are the end.  Well almost.  I know we had a deal, but I am breaking it.  I just wanted to say that this song is great. It’s beautiful and you’ve probably heard it 5 times today.

When I Get to Heaven

I don’t think I could end this any other way.  I don’t think I need to say much. But as of now, this is the last song on the last John Prine album.  God is getting one hell of a concert tonight.

Thanks for your time everybody – I love you – Stay Safe!!

I'm Back!!!

Let’s try this again. 

Hey Folks, God damn, it has been a while.  Don’t worry. I haven’t forgot about you. I’ve just been so monumentally busy. But I tell you 1 thing and that’s for sure – I have not stopped listening to music. I have not stopped wanting to tell you fuckers about all this cool shit that has been going on. 

So today – I am just going to throw a whole hodge-podge of shit at you and let you figure this shit out.  I mean it has been a long time since I have done one of these. I have always had the goal to just show you things, songs, whatever.  You know, just stuff that I have heard recently, or thought of.  I mean I can only play so many songs in the garage, or in the car, after a while, it just stays in my head until I explode.

Hell, I am not really sure of how to do this anymore.  So, if the shit doesn’t seem right – It probably isn’t.  Send me a message on the facebook page – here - and let me know. 

Where do I begin? 

How about a concert.

Hobo Johnson and Jeffrey Lewis

I have this new thing going now, where I am able to take my oldest son to concerts with me and while we have only gone to two so far, I thought I would talk about the 2^nd one, which was a small but packed show in Milwaukee’s Rave.  I was arguably the oldest person there, aside from maybe some concerned parents in the back. But shit, even as the creepy old guy, I still had a blast.

So, let’s dive into Jeffrey Lewis – Jeffrey Lewis is one of the late 90s torch bearers of the “antifolk” scene.  Describing that scene however is difficult, as each artist has sort of morphed their own way of doing things.  Jeffrey Lewis doesn’t come right out and talk politics, unless you are viewing one of his short-illustrated stories.   To me, there is always a weird swerve or a different moral than what you were thinking. 

Consider my favorite Lewis song below.  The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song

If you stuck around for the whole song – first, thank you, secondly – How about the moral at the end.  I have loved that hopeful ending.  It’s just a great way to end a song.  I mean- maybe it’s just relevant for all of us hopeless romantics out there.  I always thought that I personally had these weird ideas for feelings for people who I’ve seen in passing – but shit, I would never have the courage to write a song about it. I guess someday I should.

Anyways – here is another one of my favorite of Lewis’s songs.   It has another swerve ending.  Which again, is what makes his folk songs “anti” to some.  I don’t know.  Maybe I just don’t get the concept.  I should ask my mom more about Folk (I mean, if I want to learn what anti folk is, I should learn what folk meant to someone in her age bracket {old})

So Anyways – Don’t be Upset

One last one – Broken Broken Heart

This one was played at the concert – with the newer band of Jeffrey Lewis and Los Bolts-  but this was recorded with The Junkyard.  Anyways, I still have the video of this song live from Milwaukee on my phone, I wonder if the teenage girl who filmed my excitement for this song on her phone.  Hell, maybe I am a viral star now, or maybe she wrote a song about it. 

I lied – I am sorry. This is really the last one – another Jeffrey Lewis and the Junkyard song 

Good Old Pig, Gone to Avalon

Now onward to Hobo Johnson and the Lovemakers

I had only heard Peach Scone before I decided to go to the concert – Truth is, I really only went to see Lewis who opened for Hobo Johnson.  But here is the cool part – Hobo Johnson blends rap and emo into a way that makes perfect sense to my mind.   Which also- my son could dig too. He likes rap, when he isn’t listening to Weird Al.

So here is Peach Scone

Demarcus Cousins and Ashley

I will admit, I don’t watch much basketball, so initially I didn’t know who this song was about.  Plus, who is Ashley?  Anyways – I still like the song. 

Like I said, it’s a blend of Emo and rap, the music contains elements of both.  So – yeah.  It’s definitely worth getting behind.  I promise.  One last song.

Father

Moving along.   Here is another song that I recently love.  This one feels biographical to my life.  True story – first time I heard this song, I had to stop walking and just sit and listen.  So, if you don’t know me well, or whatever.  Anyways – This is a band called Boris Smile.  They broke up in 2011 – so there’s not much to say.  I mean, there is, but do you really want to read more? Look it up for yourself.

True Colors

Have you ever thought about what songs you want played at your funeral?  No just me the fucking freak I am!

Anyways -My list has been Hallelujah – some version   and Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.  Well, in 2018 John Prine added another song to that list. 

When I get to Heaven

Speaking of John Prine and Heaven, have you heard this song?

Your Flag Decal won’t get you into Heaven Anymore

For the record – I must confess that I am a little too giddy to talk John Prine right now as I prepare to see him in 20 days.    I keep overthinking what a perfect setlist will be.  Certainly, it won’t include all my favorites.  But I can hope for a few of them.  Here’s one I hope he plays.  Hell, I will give it a standing ovation if he does.

The Other Side of Town

One last Prine song

In Spite of Ourselves

So, remember how I told you I was going to see John Prine? I forgot to say that Todd Snider was opening for him. 

I know – you have no idea who that is.  That’s fine, I didn’t at first.  But now I love him. In fact, just like Jeffrey Lewis before Hobo Johnson, I may be looking more forward to seeing Todd Snider than I am John Prine. 

Who is Prine you say?  Well he is certainly not the embodiment of this title, but rather somewhat the opposition. 

Conservative Christian, Right Wing, Republican, Straight, White, American Male

Todd put out a new album recently – Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3 available now through Aimless Records/Thirty Tigers here: https://toddsnider.net/cashcabin

On that album, you will find this little ditty below.

Talking Reality Television Blues

What can I tell you about Todd?  Not only is he a great songwriter, he is an incredible storyteller as well.  Some of his stories can go on for “18 minutes” as he says himself. 

Well this one is this –

The Ballad of the Devil’s Backbone Tavern

Lastly here’s Can’t Complain

I told you I was going to be all over the place and just pushing out videos, right?  Songs, whatever – Just shit that you might want to hear.   Shit that I can’t get out of my head.  This is my musical psychiatric couch, I guess.  I’m just lying down baring my musical soul.

Here. 

This might bring back some memories for anyone that knew me in like 96-99

Ok, Let’s talk about my new crazy love for Jimmy Buffett

My dad liked Jimmy Buffett, or at least he did when he was in a party mood.  Think like – racing days, or fun drinking days.  I don’t know.  Anyways.  I got back into it when I heard this.  Don’t watch the whole thing, but at least watch the first song. 

A Pirate Looks at Forty

This is slowly becoming my favorite Jimmy Buffet song, and I mean really, it’s relatable somewhat to the times still.  But also, as I approach 40, it’s a good reminder to look at your own body of work and see how you feel about it. 

That’s sappy – Try this for fun!

Why Don’t we Get Drunk…

So – here is a fan shot video of a moment I wish I could have been a part of.  This sort of became another Chicago tradition, as Jimmy and Patrick Kane would get together quite often.  Man, we need to get the cup back.

One last Jimmy Buffett song.

Son of a Son of a Sailor

Where do we go from here?  Have I shown you enough?  Man, Now I remember why I began to despise this blog.  I have to come up with words.  Someone should teach me how to make a fucking pirate TV station that I can use to just show cool old videos. 

Like this one

Jesus is my Friend

I love the guitar player’s enthusiasm- also, this is a very rare record to find.  It’s not valuable, just there’s not a lot of them out there.

Hey – Here is something that I haven’t watched in like 15 years, if not more.  This was one of the first songs I put on a CD R

Tiny Dancer

Ok – One last video and that is it for the day.  I am not sure if I have ever shown this one.  So here is the story.  Weezer had many fans, but Mykel and Carli Allan held fan club memberships 0001 and 0002.  They helped establish the fan club, they were just incredible.  Mykel is the female voice that you here on Undone – The Sweater Song. 

So, the Allan sisters were out following the weezer tour in 1997, with a younger sister Trysta when they were involved in a car crash, killing all 3.    This song was written much earlier as a tribute to their fandom and assistance.  Rivers would just call them and ask random questions until he had a song. 

Some say that the death of Mykel and Carli attributed to the hiatus, and it’s understandable.  It also makes sense that Rivers strays away from personal songs since Pinkerton.  This song changes meaning if you don’t realize that it was written pre 97.  Think of the bus as an Angel if you will.

Anyways – Here’s the video.

Mykel &Carli

That’s it for now – Thanks for reading, watching blah blah blah

As the Allan’s father stated – Please take care of one another.

Getting the best stereo out of your stereo

Who's ready for something wild?

Put your headphones on now and leave them on.  Unless of course you have a whole barn at your disposal.

Don’t know what I am talking about?

There is an old story where Graham Nash and Neil Young were--- Why don’t I let them tell the story…

From The Huffington Post 6/21/16 written by Todd Van Luling:

As the myth goes, Nash was at Young’s ranch just south of San Francisco when Young asked him if he wanted to hear something. (That something would become Young’s now famous 1972 “Harvest” album, which features the track “Heart of Gold.”) Nash, of course, said yes and suggested going into Young’s studio. That wasn’t Young’s plan.

“He said, ‘Get into the rowboat,’” Nash explained on NPR’s Fresh Air in 2013. “I said, ‘Get into the rowboat?’ He said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to go out into the middle of the lake.’”

The two row out on the lake, with Nash assuming Young brought a cassette player and headphones with him.

“Oh, no,” said Nash on NPR. “He has his entire house as the left speaker and his entire barn as the right speaker. And I heard ‘Harvest’ coming out of these two incredibly large loud speakers louder than hell. It was unbelievable. Elliot Mazer, who produced Neil, produced ‘Harvest,’ came down to the shore of the lake and he shouted out to Neil, ‘How was that, Neil?’”

The best part is Young’s apparent response to the situation. As Nash explained, “I swear to God, Neil Young shouted back, ‘More barn!’”

Although Nash has spoken about this moment throughout the years, you’d be hard-pressed to find Young’s account. So with an opportunity to speak with Young for his new album, “Earth,” The Huffington Post had to ask about the infamous lake scene.

“Well it’s funny, it’s just a little thing that happened one day and it keeps growing and getting crazier,” Young said over the phone. “But I had the left speaker, big speakers set up in my house with the windows open. And I had the PA system — that we used to rehearse and record with in the barn where I recorded ‘Alabama’ and ‘Words’ and a couple other things — over there playing the right-hand channel. So, we were sitting in between them on a little lake and that’s what we were doing.”

When asked if the kicker of the legend was true — whether he truly did yell back, “More Barn!” — the singer laughed for a bit. Then he said, “Yeah, I think it was a little house heavy.”

So there you go..

Anyways, this whole blog is about Stereo.  Or more importantly 2 channel stereo. So basically left and right.

Some of these are little things that you probably never noticed, but I did.

So seriously put some headphones on and listen to this.  Because unless you paid big bucks for a sound system and expert set up, your best bet is a pair of headphones.  Especially with the recent advances in their quality

If you really want good headphones check out https://www.nuraphone.com/

So any ways, on with the post

I will be giving you some great songs to hear, but I won’t tell you everything to listen for.  But I will hold your hand along the way. 

Rest assured, you will enjoy this and then you can show off to all your friends all the cool things you can hear.

If you wanna really check it out, switch between ears, put the left one on, then the right. Or however you wanna do it.

Ok So as a final warning.   This whole thing is about stereo, so put headphones on.  If you listen to this from a mono system or a device with only 1 speaker, or two shitty/closely spaced speakers,  it won’t work.

You’re the Boss – Elvis Presley  and Ann Margret

This one is simple, yet effective.  A great way to feel 2 channel.

It’s a love song that basically makes you the chaperone between the 2 stars. 

So basically you have 1 in each ear, but since they ended up having an affair, you clearly suck at being a chaperone. 

And actually this song was not in the movie, supposedly because it was too sexy…

So go ahead and get started with this little ditty

Space Oddity – David Bowie

Let’s just get this one out of the way now while we can.

So the lyrics are all sung by the same guy, David Bowie.  Duh..

But listen to how he harmonizes with himself. 

Also listen to how the instruments fade in and out. 

Even if somehow you are within that 1 percent of people who don’t like this song, you can still appreciate everything that went into creating such a sonic masterpiece. 

Here you go…

Also, just for shits and giggles, check out this recording, It’s a cover from an actual astronaut. And it uses some good stereo aspects.  More importantly the video was filmed from the International Space station

2:45 am - Elliot Smith

So, if you are familiar with Smith, you will know there’s not a lot of instrumentation to fool around with. 

So just listen to the way he sings with himself.

Think of all the singers you’ve seen that can barely carry a tune and Smith can carry 2 at a time.

It takes a while to get there, just indulge me a little, the payoff is worth it.

The Gift – The Velvet Underground

You will hear it right away.  No reason for me telling you anything, but brownie points for anyone who makes it to the end.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

This one begins with an epic panning at the beginning, and then goes on from there.  The vocals are in mono so you will hear them in both ears.

But this is when you get to a great use of instruments in stereo; you will hear certain things in each ear and its fun to go back and forth between each ear. 

Don’t like Cyndi…

Fine it gets better…

But you are still an asshole

Not really.  I am a nice guy… I think.

Anyways

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

This is actually my favorite test song. 

Like when I am setting up musical equipment. 

This song really draws from more than 2 channels but you can still get all the great effects with a 20 cent pair of headphones.

I am sure you know the song, and maybe you have heard some of the things to pick up on in this song. 

But seriously, this one, if you have never heard it in stereo, this will start to blow your mind. 

You are going to want to listen to the whole song, it is so worth it.

Hump de Bump – Red Hot Chili Peppers

This might be the first RHCP song to appear on my blog.  I don’t mention them much, and this is my favorite song of theirs

It might be because the video is so great I don’t know, maybe it’s the horns, maybe it’s because it is a throwback to their older stuff.

Maybe it’s because it doesn’t begin with a solo guitar strumming some sad chords (see every single RHCP hit song after 1996.)

The whole Stadium Arcadium album is supposedly in a stereo set up to reflect their stage setup, with Flea’s bass left based and John Frusciante’s guitar on the right. 

When the breakdown hits, that’s when you really get to hear the music weaving from one side to the other.

Oh and if this song doesn’t make you wanna dance then you must be a red head. 

Gingers have no soul

And they look dirty to colorblind people

Oh and, yes Flea actually is the trumpet player for the song. That guy is wicked talented

Ok, sit back down, that’s enough dancing for now. 

Speaking of color blind people, or should I say blindingly uncolored people…

Frankenstein – Edgar Winter Group

Now we are finally getting into the cool stuff. 

We can break for a hit of acid if you like.

This song is layered with so many sounds, most of them by the multi instrumental, Edgar Winter himself. 

Winter plays the synthesizer that hums through your brain, plus the electric piano, saxophone and timbales.

The title of Frankenstein actually refers to the fact that the song was much longer and then spliced together. 

Just listen to the thing, and wait for the drums, hell just hear the thing through.  But the drums are the best.  maybe…

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes – Paul Simon

This is hard to hear, but if you listen closely you will hear it.

By the way,

Ladysmith Black Mambazo!!!!

So, hopefully you can pick it all up, the horns, the guitars and the drums all play around with your ears.

Not to mention the aforementioned Ladysmith Black Mambazo is recorded in stereo, so you can hear different tones and quality from each side of their part.

Dig it...

Suzie Q – Creedence Clearwater Revival

If you don’t pick up on this one right away, then maybe this blog post isn’t for you.

Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin

So, you have probably heard this so many times in your life that you didn’t think it was that special anymore. 

There is so much that happens in this song,

But the main thing to note is the guitar and the flute, and then later you have 1 guitar in each ear, each playing something slightly different. 

There are a lot of little things worth noticing, this one may take a few tries 

Money – Pink Floyd

Remember that acid break I offered you a little bit ago, take another one.

This song starts giving it to you right away, then just fucks with your head for a while, I mean I guess it’s not as trippy sober, but still there is a great amount of stereo action in this song.

Maybe do the whole Dark Side of the Moon/ Wizard of Oz thing with headphones on. Then you might feel it more.

I don’t know…

Do what you want, just check it out? Let it play to the end.

Tomorrow Never Knows – The Beatles

This one will trip you out sans acid.

This is just 3 minutes of pure mind fuckery

There is just a ton of tape loops, random sounds, and backwards cymbals backwards anything.

Then the vocals were run through an organ speaker (A Leslie Cabinet to be specific) so Lennon sounds like he is running around the room chanting these vocals.  Some of which are also backwards.

There’s so much. 

Seriously close your eyes and take it all in…

So, hopefully you have opened your eyes by now.

I hope you enjoyed it

Hell I hope you enjoyed this whole post

Cause that is it for today.

Did I miss your favorite?

Let me know.  Check me out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/musicnotesfromthepast/

See you soon. 

Ranking every track 1 on every full length Weezer album.

Ranking every track 1 on every full length Weezer album.

So here we go.  If you aren’t down with the weez, then this might not be a fun post for you. 

But then again, maybe you haven’t given them enough of a chance and should check this list out.

So as the title would suggest I am going to give you a 12 through 1 ranking of the 12 full length weezer albums.  12 includes the upcoming Pacific Daydream, due out October 27^th.

I am also including 2010’s Death to False Metal.  Which, in case you are wondering was sold as a Weezer album to fulfill their contract with Geffen, but it was really a compilation album, patched up by Rivers with little input from the rest of the band.

 But more on that later.

Let’s get Going.

12. Don’t Let Go from 2001’s Green Album

So, initially there is an excitement when a band comes back after a 5 year hiatus. But once you get past this song, you realize there are better songs later.

The whole green album was filled with weird cryptic lyrics with no personality.  This started that mold. And as a comeback song, you can see why it was never a single.  

The album should have opened with Hashpipe.  This was just cookie cutter, there were a few old school sounding riffs. But the solo was just a copy of the vocal track. 

 Rivers would later improvise better solos.

 But it was such a dismal way to start an album.

Here is a redone version from 2005. You can look for the original on your own. 

So, the guy in the back is Bobby Schneck, a guitar tech for the band who played during some songs on the Make Believe tour.  Also, some people have dubbed this version the “New Wave” version of the song due to Brian’s synthesizer duties.  The solo section on this version is much different as well.  

11. Turning Up The Radio from 2010’s Death to False Metal

So this was a song that came out of a whole conglomerate of Rivers Cuomo and anyone following him on YouTube. 

I participated, it was weird, but it showed the whole world a facet of his writing process.

The project was called, Let’s Write a Sawng

Go ahead, click it.

Right up there where it says Let’s Write a Sawng

So, yeah, this is a decent song, but this was a completely solo project.  Cuomo offered the song for the band; they didn’t want it so it ended up on this album. 

Here ya Go.

10. Beverly Hills from 2005’s Make Believe

Here We go,  

I have held a grudge against this song since 2005, and it’s time to end that beef.

If this is what brought you into the weezer world, cool.

If you haven’t checked out any of the older stuff, or anything since, you are really missing out.

The summer of 2005 and the Make Believe tour was overrun with 13 year olds, who only knew 1 song, and they would rush the stage as soon as this song came on.  I try hard not to be a snob, or a hipster, but sadly when it comes to weezer, I kind of am. Sorry

So this was the band’s biggest single of all time, and the number 2 most downloaded song of 2005. If you are under the age of 30, I have probably offended you already

Anyways.  The song was just too poppy for me. And as good as Stephanie Eitel’s gimme gimmes are, I like it better when the band does it.

Also, there is a better live version of this.  You don’t need the original, everybody fucking owns it.

Yeah, how about that solo huh?  Also, did you hear rivers accent. When he plays live sometimes his r’s and L’s become w’s.  I don’t know if that is on purpose, or is that a Connecticut thing that he masks when he records.  Anyways.  Good, it’s done.

9. California Kids from 2016’s White Album

Look, this song is good. It gets a lower rating though, in particular because as far as lead songs go, it’s just not the best. Plus we just came from Everything Will Be Alright In The End, and for me that was a phenomenal album.

Now granted this wasn’t the lead single.  In fact it was the 5^th single.  But still the first song.

Look it’s just kind of boring and based on just weird meet ups that Rivers had through tinder.

However, the one positive I would say is that it did set the tone for the album.  Which is cool.

To my knowledge this was the only song that had been written before recording the white album. 

Well.  Here it is.  By the way the video pays homage to the other videos from the album.  Make sure you check those out too.

8. Memories from 2010’s Hurley

Ahh, that’s right, Weezer was on Epitaph for 1 album.  So they got a bit harder.  Maybe you like it.  It didn’t feel real to me.  But hey

So the song itself is definitely a cool look back at the history of weezer, however, for as much as they say they want to go “back there”  it took them 4 years to actually go back there.

The song is decent.  Rivers screaming is a bit awkward. 

A killer solo would have been nice.  But hey what can you do

I think I like this song more because of the video.

Decide for yourself.

7. (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To from 2009’s Raditude

I don’t know

A lot of people didn’t like this song, and in general Raditude is highly regarded as weezer’s worst album.

I actually liked the album.  

Ok except Love is the Answer, but-

Nobody liked that song.

Look if anything, this song should be noted for the background “yep shouted after the line - The rest of the summer was the best we ever had- unofficially I think of it as a nod to that song Shine by Collective soul. But hey maybe I am wrong

The song itself is not half bad; it definitely has its own sound. But that was true of the whole album.  It’s pretty straight forward. About a guy wanting a girl to make the first move

It was also the lead single off the album, but everyone was waiting for Can’t Stop Partying.

6. Mexican Fender from 2017’s Pacific Daydream

Look, you probably haven’t heard this yet.

The weez has been getting us ready for this album for a while.

You owe it to yourself to get hip to this. 

Out of the first 3 songs released from the album, this is my favorite.  There are a lot of modern sounds to it, but it has a very pinkertonesque breakdown.  But no solo.

I think this might grow on me, and hopefully you. 

Check out the video, and yes this is the real video

Finally, the top 5

5. Troublemaker from 2008’s Red Album

This is top 5 because it is a great song. 

The red album was sort of all over the place, but this was a hip song to start it all off. 

Good hook, good breakdown.  I mean, It’s missing a solo, but there weren’t many on the red album. 

But this song has the ability to get you going.

Oh plus my son loved this song.

Check out the very different video

4. American Gigolo from 2002’s Maladroit

Maladroit as an album is always overlooked. But I mean they had cool videos for other songs, this one just got missed.

It is a pretty hard rocking number. And a great opening number. Keep in mind that this came out almost a year after the green album.  So there was a tradeoff, where the green album seemed rushed, Maladroit was almost over produced.

The song features a lot of distortion and a whiny guitar sort of shredding in the background, and just a great crunchy snacky cake of a solo.

I have always liked Maladroit. And I love using this song as an entry way, to show people that weezer is more than just the pop you see them putting out.

Dig it.

3. Tired of Sex from 1996’s Pinkerton

Gasp

“This is not number 1?”

So this song has lived in obscurity for most casual fans.

I mean when you think about Pinkerton, most of it has wasted away.

But when I say solo, these are the kind of solos I am looking for.  Rivers just shredding his heart out.  He hated the album, but fans loved it.

So anyways, it is only number 3 because; there are 2 songs that mean more to me… kinda…

It’s just

Ok here it is, it’s top 25 and with 12 albums to choose from. Top 25 is saying a lot.

Here’s a live version from 2001

Here’s the original from the album

Both worth your time.

2.  My Name is Jonas from 1994’s Blue Album

If you are doing the math, right now you are probably very confused.

Pinkerton at 3, blue at 2?

And, hey think about this, my son’s middle name is Jonas.

The song rocks and I mean loudly. 

Then all of a sudden, a harmonica.  How often do you hear a harmonica if you aren’t a huge blues fan?

I mean it has a cool break/solo and really just chomps down on you. 

This was always a good first set closer.

Just listen

So if you haven’t figured it out yet… it’s time for number 1

It’s a bit of a shocker…

1.  Ain’t Got Nobody from 2014’s Everything Will Be Alright in the End

The song has everything that I have been saying the others haven’t.

Kick ass intro, hand claps, solos, breaks, shreds, crunchies,  it is all there. 

The lyrics might not make much sense. But ehh what does Ape the Goomba mean?

So here is what it is.  For years, the weezer fanbase has begged for Pinkerton 2.0, in my opinion, this album was it. 

As soon as I heard this song, I was so excited; weezer was back, and not just back, but true to form.

This one does it for me.

Guilty pleasure? Maybe, but after you hear it, it’s going to be yours too.

That is it for now, I will amend this if a new album comes out.  Until then, check out all of the other ones, and get ready for Pacific Daydream.

One Love

=w=