Here is a track by track review of Weezer’s “Pacific Daydream” album. Pacific Daydream is the 11th studio album by American Rock Band Weezer. It was released on Octover 27, 2017. It’s Weezer’s second release by Crush Management and is distributed by Atlantic Records. It has been said in many music circles that it is the most significant departure from their trademark sound.
Mexican Fender
If you thought Weezer was done playing guitars after you heard “Feels Like Summer”, you thought wrong! This song comes our hard hitting, rocking on the guitars. The video is a bit crazy but creative and original.
I know many fans were worried after hearing “Feels Like Summer” that Weezer had transformed their sound to adapt to the current wave of Alternative music that has become more Pop and less Rock.
Beach Boys
Now, I am a HUGE fan of the Beach Boys, so when I first saw the title of this track, I immediately wondered if this was a song paying homage to the Beach Boys or was I reading too much into the track name and it was just simply going to be a song about boys on the beach or something. Beach Boys is a catchy tune but I gotta say the lyrics leave me confused. I don’t know if Rivers is just rhyming for the sake of rhyming or does this chorus actually mean something?
“Turn it up / It’s the Beach Boys / Singing out in a sweet voice / On a roll like a twist toy / Keep cranking them Beach Boys.” Then: “Turn it up / It’s the Beach Boys / Making my eyes get moist / Hold ’em up at gunpoint / Keep cranking them Beach Boys.”
I mean, I guess the only part I don’t get is “Hold ’em up at gunpoint” Who exactly are we holding up at gunpoint? The Beach Boys? The person who is threatening to change the channel away form the Beach Boys? 🙂 Sadly, this is what I ponder… 🙂
If you go check out the comments about this song, you will find many negative commnets. It might be safe to say that you will only appreciate this song if you are a Beach Boys fan and ladies and gentleman, your boy Johnny Fevur is a Beach Boys FAN!
Feels Like Summer
I personally love this song but one of my friends flipped out when he heard this song. He WAS a huge fan of Weezer until this song and then he done with them. I kinda thought he must be joking right? Maybe time will heal his wounds. HAHA!
If I remember correctly, they do have their guitars slung over their shoulders in the video for this song, but if they played them, they must have cut it all out in final production. In my opinion though, this song was perfect to release this summer. Very catchy with a fun beat.
Happy Hour
Pop version of Weezer in full force on this track. I really don’t blame Weezer for trying to stay within what is going on with Alternative music these days. It is for the most part, more pop and hip hop. Just look back at the Beatles and how they transitioned their sound throughout the decades.
Don’t underestimate Weezer, they are some smart dudes! Basically this is the 5 o’ Clock somewhere song of the album but less rowdy and more whimsical. This is a song to close your eyes too and bob your head along back and forth lightly while sippin’ on your favorite beverage, whether that be a cold beer or a frosty milkshake….. just chillin after a hard days work.
Weekend Woman
I don’t know if this is the intention of this song, but the Beach Boys could totally sing this and I’m not talking about Mike Love’s version of the Beach Boys…I’m talking the 50th Reunion Beach Boys where all the remaining original members got back together to create magic! This song would really fit with their harmonizing as it does nicely with Weezer’s harmonizing.
I totally could hear Brian Wilson singing the bridge as River’s does so eloquently…
I still believe your beautiful lies
(I still believe your beautiful lies)
You don’t have to die to go to Heaven
Weekend Woman starts out with an island beat and then transitions into this light and airy blend that will sweep you away. Definitely one of my favorites!
QT Blitz
One word. Catchy. This modern song will have your feet tapping along from the start. Rivers said in an interview with Upset Magazine last year that
“”QB Blitz” is about another person in my creative life, a collaborator. That one’s ultimately about disappointment with decisions that had been made, and that feeling of, ‘Why did I trust other people when I should have just been going with my own creative instincts?’ I just need to get back in touch with my instincts and go for it, rather than relying on the advice of the experts.”
Rivers also provided some insight in an NPR interview last year where he revealed that the Algebra lyric is about trying to get his wife to take an Algrebra course on Khan Academy with him and that she wasn’t having it! 🙂 Rivers also references “Hoth”, a planet from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Ya gotta love a Weezer song that references a planet from Star Wars! Geeks in Music ROCK! 🙂
Sweet Mary
Rivers has Catholic roots in his Italian family. He hinted that this song maybe referring to the Virgin Mary. I could go with that since the lyrics do reflect that story line.
When I am all on my own
One foot is in the grave
My sweet Mary comes
To help me to find my way
So I give her my thanks
I don’t know what I would do
Without my sweet Mary love
To help me to make it through
This is a nice ballad overall….nothing to get my blood pumping, but a definitely a nice song.
Get Right
Another nice easy going song. It’s got a catchy chorus…but to be honest with you on this one, it made me fall asleep several times…so I gotta say, it definitely is a relaxing song…at least it was for me!
La Mancha Screwjob
This fast paced pop song is an instant Weezer hit for me! It will have you bobbin’ your head and singing along from the start.
The chorus makes it a great summer anthem!
You and I, we do it right
Hanging out on a summer night
We’ve come so far, we’ll shine so bright
Hanging out on a summer night
We’re getting stronger, stronger
Going faster, faster, woah, woah
You and I, we do it right
Hanging out on a summer night, again
An interesting factoid about this song is that it was originally written for 2014’s Everything Will Be Alright in the End.
Any Friend of Diane’s
Catchy tune paying homage to many women in Rivers life that helped him along the way in his musical career. The title of the song is also the name of the 6th episode of the 1st season of the TV show “Cheers”. I love songs that give insight to the band or band member. In an interview with marketplace.org, Rivers indicated that the lyric about a 20 dollar tip was based on an actual event when Rivers was delivering pizza for Domino’s pizza.
I know, I know, I’m confused too. The lyric in the songs says “Working at Papa John’s”. Not sure why is doesn’t read “Working at Domino’s” Maybe it just has to do with the words flowing right? No idea. But nonetheless, the story is pretty awesome. In another interview with NPR, Rivers gave some more insight that one of the supportive women in his musical career was his former Domino’s boss who painted his band’s logo on the back of her jean jacket.
Working at Papa John’s, I was making good bread
Got a 20 dollar tip on New Year’s
And I moved out to LA
She drew me up a map with a fountain pen
She took me to Hermosa
With the boys from ’round the way