Raditude = Shittastic

Perennial nerd-rockers, Weezer released their seventh studio album last week to a base of eagerly waiting fans. With bated-breath and swift fingers, we downloaded Raditude as soon as it dropped and eagerly gave it our first listen. Single (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To was our first taste back a few months ago, and immediately I was thinking that this sugary-sweet Buddy Holly-esque anthem would mark the reemergence of Weezer as a rock staple.

And then, the rest of Raditude dropped.

This CD plays like Rivers Cuomo's absurd adolescent fantasy to branch out as a musician turned sour. A rock collaboration gone seriously overboard, much to the consternation of the listener.

Yes, there are some sweet, irreverant ditties, much like the old Weezer, but this album is mired with tracks that insert drum, vocal and guitar parts into the Weezer machine and squeeze out facsimiles of songs past. On the other hand, when not weighed down by cookie-cutter tunes, Raditude goes over the top to bring in outside collaborators and producers, creating a sound so unique and mish-mash that the resulting songs are completely incongruous to the Weezer of our past. All the irony of featuring Little Wayne is overlooked by the sheer awful sound of songs such as Can't Stop Partying. Too far, or not far enough, Weezer missed the mark on most of the album.

Yet, to those of us who are made completely confused and uncomfortable by this release, fear not. There are a few redeeming tracks that are worth skipping the wannabe-crunk tunes. My favorite by far is The Prettiest Girl In The Whole Wide World, and it's likely because the guitars remind me so much of those used in Maladroit's Dope Nose. Here's the breakdown by track:

Popped out of the Weezer mold- same rock guitar and drum beats and repeat the title/chorus over again.
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
The Girl Got Hot
Trippin' Down The Freeway
Let It All Hang Out
Turn Me Round- Cuomo is waaay off key

Awful- Nonsensical guest spots, excessive producing
Can't Stop Partying
Love is the Answer- Bollywood WTF
In the Mall
Get Me Some- same awful production, easier to swallow
I'm Your Daddy

Best of the Worst
Put Me Back Together
I Don't Want To Let You Go
Run Over By A Truck- cool jazzy piano, picks up after the 35-second mark
Underdogs- when you get past the R. Kelly I believe I can fly beat
The Prettiest Girl In The Whole Wide World- Dope nose guitars rule