Turn the clocks back thirteen years to 1994: a fun (yet talented) power-pop group has just emerged. The band is geeky in appearance and completely subverts the archetypical image of the “rock star.” Their debut album is considered an enormous success; both financially and commercially. In just two years, they would release their second album, Pinkerton (1996).
The Sound of Pinkerton
Pinkerton strays from the poppy sound and the catchy hooks of the Blue Album. This album is abrasive and it even lingers near dark at times. The album is the musical diary of front man Rivers Cuomo who is struggling with the “rocker lifestyle.”
Cuomo openly sings about specific relationships: relationships with groupies, relationships with fans from Japan, and relationships with ex-girlfriends. The album is loosely based on Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly. The name of the album is derived from the protagonist of the opera.
Reception of Pinkerton
The music community just wasn’t ready for Pinkerton: plain and simple. Pinkerton flopped immediately upon its release although the album is at least just as good as its predecessor. Many reviewers disregarded the more personal lyrical direction of Cuomo. The sound of the album is also not as accessible as the Blue Album: the album features fewer melodies and playful lyrics.
It was not until 2001 that the album was certified gold. It is now included on many top album lists by a slew of the music media. It is also something of an anomaly among the music community. The mere mention of Pinkerton conjures up bad memories of the all the misguided criticism that the band received in response to the album.
The Importance of Pinkerton
The album has come to be considered one of the most important albums of the 90’s. Weezer not only pushed the genre of “emo” music to the forefront, they helped to define it as well. A plethora of pop-punk and emo bands have cited Weezer, specifically the album Pinkerton, as a major influence upon their career.
Pinkerton is also the second, and last, great album to come from the band. After a short hiatus, no doubt due to the overwhelmingly negative response of fans and critics to Pinkerton, the band would go on to release the Green Album, a catchy yet senseless album that resorts to songwriting that is too formulaic.
Pinkerton is an album both beautiful and sad, catchy and innovative. This album may require mulitple listens before the songs can really take hold and command one's complete attention.
Todd Christopher Petty - Todd Petty is a student studying Journalism and English Literature at The College of New Jersey.
Join the Conversation