In case you missed it, seven years ago Weezer hired Scott Shriner to be their bassist. Shriner, a former Marine, had played in several bands (including Vanilla Ice’s backing band) prior to getting the call from Weezer. He appeared on Weezer’s last two studio albums and now, to the delight of millions, there will be a third. Yes, a new Weezer album is set to be released, out June 24 on Geffen Records.
If there is anything more visually humorous than seeing Weezer play with a heavily-tattooed military man, it is perhaps the leaked album art from the newest Weezer album. Very Sears-family-portrait-meets-Photoshop. It’s also classic Weezer.
The band started recording what will undoubtedly be referred to as The Red Album with Rick Rubin last year, then produced a few sessions themselves. Producer Jacknife Lee was brought in at Geffen’s request to summon up more commercial-sounding material. According to Geffen, the first single, “Pork and Beans,” was made available to buy digitally on April 24, and a video will be available in early May.
“Automatic,” another song off the Red album, was remixed by LA Riots for the upcoming PlayStation 3 video game Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. The track features drummer Pat Wilson on lead vocals. If you don’t believe that, just check out the YouTube video below.
Don’t have time to search out this week’s essential MP3s, streams and viral videos? That’s why we’re here.
M83 “Graveyard Girl”
Like a John Hughes movie put to music, the latest from former My Bloody Valentine soundalikes M83–aka French producer Anthony Gonzalez–is a brilliant throwback to high school life in the early Eighties. In other words it sounds like the precise intersection of New Order and The Psychedelic Furs.
Frank Black “I Sent Away”
The Pixies frontman resumes his low-key solo career with an appropriately lo-fi solo track that lurches forward on rapid fire punk riffs, spit-out verses and a manic harmonica solo. Nice but still not as good as “Monkey Gone To Heaven.”
(via The Yellow Stereo)
She & Him “Why Stay Here”
Ever wondered who exactly goes on eBay to buy those old K-Tel compilations from the ’70s filled with songs by the Carpenters and Olivia Newton-John? The most likely culprits are Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.
MP3: whystayhere.mp3
Does It Offend You, Yeah “We Are Rockstars”
The next pack of young British punks certain to salvage the music industry this week, according to the NME. To our ears, this is fairly standard industrial noise on just a touch of ecstasy.
(via KEXP)
MGMT “Destrokk”
“You are soft/ We are hard,” the Brooklyn duo contends on this track. That’s kind of rich considering they wear women’s sunglasses and play the kind of retro synth-pop last heard when people with aerodynamic hair and pirate shirts ruled the charts.
(via Yukon Promotions)
Lykke Li “Dance Dance Dance”
A Swedish singer with just the right combination to break millions of indie-boy hearts: Big eyes, little voice, crazy ass song.
(via Control Group Co)
Weezer “Pork and Beans”
The latest single from the Los Angeles quartet features topical lyrics that sound like they were written by that dude in Train that always sings about soy mocha lattes. But the music, a riveting blast of guitars, more than makes up for it.
(via Consequence of Sound)