Weezer AKA "The Blue Album" 30 Years Later｜Vinyl Monday

[@abigaildevoe]

what's the best AND worst weezer song? comment your answers below!

[@hipstereagle6050]

The best is Buddy Holly. My favorites are Holiday and Tired of Sex. The worst is Beverly Hills. The “what makes this song stink” video on that song is brilliant

[@konowd]

Buddy Holly is great and the video is brilliant

[@davasato]

For me the best is Surf Wax America, it's just good vibes: the song. The worst is really difficult so i'm just gonna say Freak Me Out from Make Believe (just in general that album's awful.)

[@davidellis5141]

Only In Dreams is my favorite Weezer song & My Best Friend is my least favorite Weezer song.

[@Catsnnovels]

The best in my opinion is Say It Ain’t So. It’s just a perfectly written song, though I might be biased as I’ve played it in almost every jam session/gig I’ve had in the past 10 years. As for worst song, that’s tough, they have albums worth of terrible songs lol

[@Alderath989]

I can't believe that I just got Weezered by the Vinyl Monday lady

[@josemaria8177]

Imagine how many sweaters Abby had to undo to make this episode

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Work sucked, grocery shopping sucked, driving sucked. I almost forgot what day it was. Thanks for the much needed dopamine!

[@josemaria8177]

Wow, I know Vinyl Monday is high quality, but I was not expecting Mary Tyler Moore herself to be the guest presenter this week. Abby once again going above and beyond for the sake of her show

[@MaligNyant]

Did it work?

[@chan_martin]

I can’t help but think this is a perfect 90s record. It’s unapologetically dorky, fun, noisy and exquisitely paced and structured. Every song is simultaneously a jam, but also a relatable expression of those loner/doomer emotions that are probably more relatable now than they were then. Only In Dreams remains my favorite track from them and I always wish they could explore more of that in their later stuff.

[@sonicyouth29]

One of the best debut albums ever made.

[@gavriellarutigliano2356]

"my brother in christ, you and I both know NOBODY is surfing the long island sound" LMAO

[@erickent4248]

I am so glad that this album hit big when I was in high school, because no other album catches that feeling of being an awkward teenager with so much energy and boisterousness. In The Garage was like my theme song.

[@matthewbanta3240]

Younger Gen-Xer here. I still can't get over the fact that music that was contemporary when I first really got into classic rock is now classic rock. My mind is blown. Also carpe your diem because time really flies when you aren't paying attention

[@elevenseven-yq4vu]

Same.

[@ThatSchmoGuy]

*inhales* THE WORLD HAS TURNED AND LEFT ME HERE! JUST WHERE I WAS BEFORE YOU APPEARED! AND IN YOUR PLACE, AN EMPTY SPACE! HAS FILLED THE VOID BEHIND MY FACE!

[@atomwatt77]

Great episode! I have some unique connections to both the band & this album. I have known Karl Koch for almost 25 years now via a mutual friend. Thanks to knowing Karl, I was given permission to record one of the comeback shows in 2000 (9-1-00 in Buffalo, NY). That concert recording got pretty famous among the bootleg community since Weezer played three songs that night that were never recorded (the band themselves have a copy of my recording of that show!). I also collect records & have in my collection the three early Rolling Stones LP’s that Karl & Rivers were listening to at the Cali house in the early 90’s when Rivers got inspired to write those Blue Album songs! Yes, they are from Karl’s personal collection…he sent them my way in Dec 2021 when he was downsizing to move. And finally…that mutual friend who introduced me to Karl later formed a band with my brother that covered the Blue Album as a musical costume for a Halloween show they played in Oct 2000. To the band’s knowledge, this was the first time that album had been covered live in it’s entirety. And yep, Weezer has a copy of that live recording as well. Thanks for attending my TedTalk. 😎👍🏻

[@chris_troiano]

🐕 🐕 🐕 Pat Finnerty: Dogs for no reason Abigail Devoe: Dogs for some reason

[@hipstereagle6050]

Love that video 😂

[@hipstereagle6050]

Previewing Ratitude

[@evilscientistrecords]

@@hipstereagle6050 Yeah, I always get emotional when watching it :)

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Pat Finnerty's a gem. A much needed faunt of positivity. I can't believe it took me as long as it did to find him. I'm so happy he's back at it, despite his back issues.

[@saml302]

how's it goin'

[@spacemissing]

This girl is so entertaining I hardly need to watch anything else on Mondays.

[@TheWerehxg]

where ever I go, this album follows..

[@benjamincundiff9813]

This album was an instant classic for me. Us nerds finally had an album of people singing about Buddy Holly and Nightcrawler…

[@chrismcgovern1647]

I actually had this album on CD back in the day and it's one of those ones I sold for cash-back when I was broke after losing a job, and sadly I did not reconnect with it until recently. It has been way too long without it.

[@anthony_dimaggio]

0:38-0:49 that's what makes you cool Abby Excellent video! This was my fav 90s album to listen to in high school, it was so kind and innocent yet also pretty heavy and distorted, geeky and cool at the same time, it took a lot of influence from 60s and 70s music but still felt modern for its time, nobody could have pull this off better than the classic Weezer line up.

[@matthewmacdonald9851]

A true classic that just happened to drop at exactly the right time. After several years of downbeat, introspective grunge, the world was primed and ready for some power pop with catchy melodies and vocal harmony. Great job as always, Abby!

[@hectorThechilldudeonacouch]

Still a classic album for me. Albums puts me in a great mood.

[@KealohaHarrison]

Can’t believe we got Weezered in the first ten seconds, well done Abby lol fully agree Only In Dreams is one of the greatest album closers of all time

[@curtisbush5728]

Geffen wasnt upset about them going over budget because they had done something no other major label had ever done before, created a vanity label geared towards punks, indie rockers and alternative music types...they had Nirvana, Sonic youth, sloan, Beck, teenage fanclub, and Hole! They even were able to make a indie rock/punk style compilation album called DGC rarities like the comps made by indie labels like epitaph, sub-pop, Lookout!, kill rock stars, etc. they were on fire! Though weezer had little experience gigging(they were playing in what was left of the LA punk scene with bands like wax, joyride, and hardcore kings the adolescents) and relasing albums(having only produced two self released demos), they were tight and original! The guitars are so heavy and melodic at the same time! And the lyrics are so hard hitting at times like a gut wrenching 5 finger beatdown to your heart strings! I still remember seeing the premier of "the sweater song", my best friend had recorded 120 minutes off of TV and we watched and rewatched it over and over again! I know everyone including Rivers thinks it sounds like "sanitarium" by Metallica, but i had thought it sounded like "paper cuts" by Nirvana mixed with the quirkiness of the beach boys and i was hooked, personally! Anyway, geffen more than recouped from their investments on the band, im sure theyre still happy they let that A&R sign them with barely any street cred! Gr8 review, BTW!

[@boydlewis8747]

in 1995, got a new Pentium computer, it had Win95, was searching through the contents and came across a video? My first exposure to Weezer and been following their album releases ever since, wow 30 years ago? Thnx so much Abby 😷

[@MayGuh]

as much as I like "the classics", I just can't sink my teeth into some of the older 60s stuff. Don't get me wrong I like it, but I feel like you had to be there to fully "get it". More recent records like this one feel like they come from the same world that I live in now, rather than feeling like a time capsule of a world I never experienced. I really enjoyed this one!

[@colingillis5989]

I absolutely love this record. At 15 playing piano and guitar I was learning to play the bass and Only In Dreams was my go to! I rocked the Buddy Holly glasses in Catholic high school and was nicknamed Weezer and Austin Powers! Not in a good way! Lol But I was the leader of a rocking teenage combo so got a bit of respect as well! We wrote all of our songs and would throw some Jimi Hendrix, Pumpkins, Weezer and Nirvana in there too. Great review, brought back so many memories! Thanks!

[@defaultuser1447]

Past Abby in the Title Fight image with the same (or extremely similar) glasses as in the video was great.

[@abigaildevoe]

same glasses!

[@defaultuser1447]

@@abigaildevoe I figured, but didn't want to assume too much 🙂

[@soulcatradio]

Another top-notch look at a classic record. Well done, Abby! This album hit big for me in the fall of 1994 when I was a freshman in college. Then, in 2001 while Weezer was promoting the Green Album, I got to go on a WFNX Boston Harbor cruise with the band. They didn't perform, but they sat at a table and signed CDs and promo flats. I went down the line and thanked all the guys and then said to Rivers, "Hey man, Pinkerton is your creative opus!" Yeah, wish I could go back in time and take that back but I was young. Rivers looked visibly annoyed at me but said, "Thanks." This was during the time when he wanted to disown Pinkerton. I was so happy when a few years after this incident, the band finally embraced Pinkerton and now it's a respected part of the catalog. Nowadays, when I look back on Weezer, for me the Blue Album is the tops. Pinkerton is still great and I honestly Love The White Album, but the rest of the catalog doesn't do much for me. Still, it's awesome that we are still talking about them 30 years after this masterpiece. You did a great job putting it all into focus. Thank you.

[@TheAbandonedAccount7]

Dude, you gotta listen to Everything Will Be Alright In The End. Maybe even Maladroit and the SZNZ Winter EP. Plenty of old school weezy sound

[@regntonne]

30 fucking years!! Can everyone stop growing older please! sheesh..

[@Robo983]

They regularly played "Only in Dreams" (and most of the Blue album) during their most recent tour. It ruled.

[@DonaldGibson-dy4wv]

That really fun outfit! It's really great. Perfect for this episode.

[@Jaa21398]

Ahhh yes, the Natick Mall. So many memories there back in the day.

[@katsomeday1]

I absolutely LOVE this album. When I was a kid, I saw "Undone" when the video dropped on MTV and I was a massive fan from then on. Personally, "Undone" is still my fav, followed by "In the Garage", I just love its lyrical honesty. This album was an amazing one to skate to. And same for me, I still know all the words.

[@bewareofzealots]

I don't consider myself a grunge fan - though I did sneak into a Radiohead concert here in Boston in the late '90s and it was great. But this Weezer debut album blew my doors off. It's one of the great albums of the last 30 years, hands down.

[@daishoryujin95]

16:23 actually, Van Weezer isn't a covers album, it's originals that are just inspired by Van Halen.

[@acb9896]

Riv's mom gave him a haircut that day.

[@sugadelicsavagesoul8623]

The good ol' salad bowl! 🤘🏽

[@davidellis5141]

Much credit to the late Ric Ocasek for his excellent Production on this album. How do you say his name ? 🤔

[@travisw6378]

great review! this album came out when I was a freshman in high school, I can still remember the first time I listened to the record. My friend spencer put on the cd we sat on his bed and listened to the whole thing. Dang I cant describe how big of a deal this record was, alternative music was king in 94-95 and the blue album was the big one.

[@alanclayton9277]

just a shout out from someone who loves the full length vinyl monday episodes: if you don't watch vinyl monday in 60 seconds you could be missing out. It's not just a cut down version but a completely different edit and has a great sense of fun. short but quality!

[@smaz9]

Legend has it that Weezer took inspiration from composer John Cage's use of chance. In their case, to determine the quality of their records...

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

You win the comment section

[@michaelshiflett4835]

I used to teach my guitar students songs from this album. It takes me back.

[@frankthorne11]

Thank You. ( I often water myself too)

[@MarsHottentot]

Wasn't a Weezer fan, kinda thought they were "Nirvana for rich kids" (plus, I was listening to Boredoms, Royal Trux and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, for the most part). My gf, however loves them and approved of this episode, you two are sympatico so far! One note: as a Gen Xer working in music retail and heavily in the underground noise rock/grunge scene, I can tell you that the early 90s was when KISS began their renaissance after a rough time in the 80s. The underground was pretty nostalgic for KISS who were a huge part of our 70s childhoods. It was tongue in cheek, for sure, but the love was genuine. Nirvana, Melvins, Redd Kross, White Zombie and a million bands you've never heard all returned to KISS ALIVE. KISS paid attention, put the makeup back on and became the entertainment behemoth we remembered from the 70s and know today!

[@phil4208]

Hipster rock , I remember watching buddy Holly for the 1st time, I thought MTV was previewing a rerun of happy days until the band started playing, I grew up watching happy days , and I didn't remember that band on an episode, yes spike I fell for it , genius move spike, I can't believe it's been 30 yrs , time is flying at light year speed now

[@ethanobrien7504]

At 12:22 the album that appears alongside weezer's is american thighs by the band veruca salt. It's a really niche album but it's one of my favourites from this era. Anyone who loves grunge and girl power - please give it a listen!!!

[@jbennymusic4181]

Glad you said something because I was interested in what it was… I’ll check it out!

[@abigaildevoe]

i would've stuck that whole ad in bc veruca salt deserves the love, but definitely would've gotten copyright claimed for using that much of buddy holly. thanks for the note!

[@ethanobrien7504]

@@abigaildevoe no problem! Love your channel btw love the whole retro aesthetic you've got going on

[@sugadelicsavagesoul8623]

You can't fight the seether.

[@evilscientistrecords]

18:28 that's... that's actually a very good way to sum it up!

[@frankthorne11]

Have any from that band from Swindon, England, XTC in your stacks?

[@JWickyJr13]

When these guys get into the Hall of Fame, I'll make my first trip there and watch their induction. I'm about to see them for the 12th time when they go back on tour this year.

[@edward8597]

That Windows CD had an Edie Brickell video as well, but it's interesting how ignored and forgotten that was compared to "Buddy Holly". Edie not nerdy enough, I suppose.

[@shawnroberts5634]

As much as I love the blue album and Pinkerton, return of the rentals by The Rentals is in my opinion the best "Nerd Rock" album of that era.

[@TheAbandonedAccount7]

I dont think its fair to compare something with so much sweet, moog-y goodness to weezer. Theyre both great in their own right

[@indieguy81]

I'll never forget buying this album at a mall in Dallas when I was in 7th grade. It was 1994, and I think I had just heard "Undone (The Sweater Song)" on the radio a few weeks before and immediately fell in love with the sound. There wasn't a lot like it back then. Everything on the radio was either grunge or crappy Euro electro-pop. It definitely played a big part in shaping my musical direction and tastes for years to come. Kinda brings a tear to my eye thinking about who I was then. Oh, nostalgia. Also, Natick, MA is where Jonathan Richman grew up and went to high school. Just a little trivia tidbit for you there.

[@hipstereagle6050]

3:40 now I want a Weezer album of Judas Priest covers. I can picture Rivers doing the Rob Halford howl on songs like The Ripper

[@willcartoons]

I remember seeing the Buddy Holly video as a windows media file on my Windows 95 CD. This got me hooked on Weezer. I love the Blue and the Teal albums the most!

[@cyyoung7840]

Abby your show rocks 🪨 🎸 😎. Makes Mondays great again

[@ajplays-gamesandmusic4568]

Blue Album is a perfect album. You can pop the CD in, hit play, and just let it go. No skips necessary. Every track is good.

[@ethanquijano7401]

Video hits different when I got blue album on the turntable in the background

[@georgemathie8123]

This album brings back memories of high school and my teen years I guess what got my attention for Weezer was 2 things their iconic Buddy Holly video on constant rotation on much music and the fact that it was produced by Ric ocasek and being a massive the cars fan that definitely got my attention

[@ratbones620]

No matter how ridiculous this might sound, the blue album is definitely a reason as to why I love music. My dad would play it all the time in the car and every single song had me captivated even as a very young child. Whenever I listen to this album now it just takes me back to a way more simpler time in life. I’ll always have a soft spot for Weezer because of it.

[@georgewhite1972]

The Blue Album is a goddamn, all killer no filler masterpiece!!!

[@jamesbaxterfromax]

The kitchen sink mix for the sweater song is my all time favourite weezer song

[@maddys3955]

I grew up on this album! It’s my favorite weezer album

[@pedruxxo]

Hi Abby,good afternoon,congratulations by your video,cheers and have a nice week for you,and #weezer4ever!!!!!!!!

[@jlr8423]

Blue Album is still one of the greatest albums of the 90's and I will sing my soul out for a good chunk of it Too bad it's the 2nd best album of it's year, LONG LIVE CHOCOLATE AND CHEESE (ps a Ween vinyl monday would be nice but too bad their records are expensive for no reason)

[@sugadelicsavagesoul8623]

Ween's Chocolate and Cheese gets the award for best album cover of the era from me. 👍🏽🙌🏽

[@ravenstalons154]

I love the blue album and Only in Dreams is my favorite song of Weezer! Any song that gives me goosebumps is a smash hit! Interesting fact: Only in Dreams was almost a movie credits song. While attending a film festival in Austin I watched goofy undead film called The Revenant (no, not the Leonardo DiCaprio one). The song did play in the closing credits at the film festival, but was replaced due to costs.

[@AndyFenstermaker]

So great! I have the 2016 reissue, and it came with a printed poster of the art from inside your gatefold. I JUST published a video last week about how there's a lot of hidden depth and vulnerability on this album, which is kinda tragic as most people just think they're funny songs. In my research, I found out that the banter in "Undone" was supposed to just be placeholder and should have been replaced with sci-fi clips as well, but Geffen wouldn't front the cash. No Buddy Holly glasses in "Buddy Holly," and no sweater in "Undone - The Sweater Song" 🤣

[@steveosteveareno2670]

You keep getting better. As one of your older listeners/ viewers, the experience and resonance of hearing the albums and songs that you haven't heard in a while grow in meaning is one of the pleasures of music. I look forward to seeing your continued growth. And remember, no matter what someone says on the Internet, you matter to others.

[@Dayglodaydreams]

I want to say, regarding Steve Albini. A) I didn't know everyone knew about this guy. I thought he was obscure. B) I thought he was only responsible for Big Black (forgot he was in Shellac), only and had no idea he was a producer; and for Nirvana and The Pixies no less.

[@elevenseven-yq4vu]

Finally, this utterly wholesome album gets the love it deserves on the way too cynical interweb. It's perfect. Thanks, Abby!

[@scottall71]

I love how you delve deep and explain things in such an enthusiastic manner!! 😎💓💗💓👍

[@hipstereagle6050]

I was hoping for a Weezer cruise reference and we got one! 🛳️

[@buzzbabyjesus]

As usual I enjoyed your video, and like what you have to say. I bought that CD when it came out. I can't remember a thing about it, and am not sure it's still here. BTW 3/4 and 6/8 are closely related.

[@DetroitRockCitizen]

you make a great dork! 😀

[@paullynn473]

Welcome to the music biz, write a hit song and then have to play live forever 😂 I think it's a great problem to have🎉 A special on the 27 club would be thought provoking, perhaps Amy ❤

[@Shewjei]

im officially in love with this channel.

[@chrislaustin]

Another killer outfit Abby that goes so well with the topic of discussion, only wish you could have rocked the glasses more, as those were the icing on the cake.

[@joelblizzard160]

I first heard this album in grade 7 I think it was.. I had a "cool" young teacher that brought this into class and played it for everyone while we worked on stuff. I remember immediately loving it, and thinking it was different from anything I'd listened to before. This was that stage in life for me when I started realizing I didn't really like my parents music anymore.

[@Nsbustin]

My favorite album as a teen. My friend's and I must have listened to this album hundreds of times in my garage.

[@PeterBondeVillain]

Fans of River's space opera unite!

[@MAIDELLA]

I am having the same Ocasek issue these days... I have said it exactly as you are for as long as I've known The Cars... I guess with it being the 30th anniversary, there is so much talk of this album and Weezer, writ large, that I'm hearing Ric's name spoken more than I ever have. Suddenly I live with doubt... and it sickens me....

[@TheAbandonedAccount7]

This is the first album I ever heard as a baby in 1994. Its also my favorite album of all time!

[@baratiecook]

I Have this on cassette tape. I always listen to this though side A then side B without skipping a song. That's a strong indication if the Album is awesome.

[@ianemery4355]

Love the look Abi! A wonderful album from a band I continue to follow and enjoy! 😊

[@booneh]

Rivers wasn’t wearing glasses in the “Buddy Holly” video because he was afraid of them being accused of copying Nirvana’s “In Bloom” video, and figured the glasses would have made it worse.

[@jasoncromwell4206]

In 1990 KISS had their biggest hit ever with a song called "Forever" which was co-written by Michael effing Bolton. So they were thought of as a joke by the time of "The Blue Album." The year before that something happened that most people thought would never happen. The Eagle's manager Irving Azoff decided to gather some of the biggest country artists of the 90's together to record a tribute album of the band's music. Enter Travis Tritt one of the biggest artists of the decade and especially popular in 1993. He decided to record "Take it Easy." When it came time to make the video Travis thought it would be cool to reunite the "Long Run" version of the Eagles for the video. To everyone's surprise he pulled it off, and the Eagles appeared together for the first time in 14 years. About the time of "The Blue Album" the Eagles recorded an MTV special called "Hell Freezes Over." To no one's surprise the Special and the resulting Album were a huge success, and the Eagles launched a reunion tour that still goes on to today. In October 1995 Gene and Paul and two other guys were asked to do Unplugged. They agreed to do it and halfway through the show Ace and Peter came out and everyone lost their minds. That started the KISS Comeback that lasted several years.

[@jasoncromwell4206]

"The Blue Album" and "Pinkerton" are two of the best albums of the 90's. After that Weezer became a great singles band from there on out.

[@DomTremendous]

What a great little review! Really good and refreshing. Easy subscribe there.

[@jasonyoung5628]

In 1995, it took 4 hours to watch the video for Buddy Holly.

[@konowd]

You pronounced Ric Ocasek correctly, love The Cars, first rock star I ever met, nice guy, and very tall

[@konowd]

Also produced Bad Brains

[@theapires-foley5730]

Love this album. Always have, always will. I even will defend to the death the green album. - Once again, thanks for another great video!

[@RGRG3232]

Love the thumbnail. Perfectly done.

[@danopticon]

Still working up to Pinkerton, I see!! Yeah, that’s going to be a tough one. Kudos to you on your handling of all your selections! I recall when this album dropped, I thought “This is a one-hit wonder for sure … which is a shame, because all of these songs are pretty great.” I had ZERO idea - probably no one did - that we’d all still be talking about Weezer nearly four decades later. Saw them headline one night of a Chicago Lollapalooza, in fact! They were … okay? They’d become much too cutely ironic by a mile at that point. But I loved that first album, owned it on cassette, played it until I wore the tape transparent.

[@asharpbflat7179]

A Weezer cruise with Dinosaur Jr.????! That's the one and only cruise i would go :⁠-⁠)

[@ms8596]

Conveyor belt sushi 🍣. That can't end well 😂😂😂

[@garethbrewin3879]

......30 years ago? Love the album. Not sure that reality check was good for me though!!

[@comedyyyyyyyyyyyy]

my english teacher is a big weezer fan/srs she says shes been going to their concerts for a while and shes going to the blue album tour this year (i also noticed something small but the weezer blue tour is just a regular tour, not a cruise)

[@BRIANZ969]

Oops-Mussed your show this week --sorry-I will watch it now-Thank You Brian Birch

[@andrescadabid3022]

Ur a heroine in my book 📚.. you dissect albums so passionately

[@shayneoneill1506]

God I know the going on a bender before the studio thing. First album I was on in the 90s, I got dragged into the pub at university by friends and when I eventually got to the studio half an hour late I was seriously hazy. Yeah the rest of the band was NOT impressed lol. Probably half that days recording was me recording multiple takes on the bass because I was too drunk to play it well.

[@danielfuentes3226]

No doubt it's a great excelent classic album by Weezer.

[@gavriellarutigliano2356]

10/10 thumbnail and intro, no notes (actually, 9 notes if you count the lick)

[@ErnestIII83]

Weezer is a band I probably should like. But I'm mostly "eh" about them. And considering that KISS' reunion tour in 1996 was the highest grossing/most successful concert tour that year, I'd say they were pretty cool during that time. Ha.

[@beready992]

Worst Weezer song? They don’t exist. And this album is easily one of the best ever recorded.