Expectations! It's all anyone thinks about when the newest Weezer release hits the airwaves. Every album since Pinkerton has carried the hoped "comeback album" hype, the supposed album that restores the Weezer lyrical and songwriting esteem. Reality tells us that the band that produced Maladroit and Make Believe is the same band working on the upcoming self-titled album. In defense of Weezer, the band has been a victim of severe fan nostalgia and revisionism. Those first two records were for all intents and purposes, simple pop rock records, with the debut hitting mainstream nerves and Pinkerton garnering rabid cult status. The large gap between Pinkerton and The Green Album essentially created this gap between fan demographics, which has left early period Weezer fans continually unsatisfied, while post-Pinkerton fans are clearly satiated with their output—as sales figures and decent critical acclaim has proven.

And here we are at the stage of the sixth record, again a self-titled effort with an unconfirmed color scheme (leaning towards red). Could this be another dick tease for Weezer fans, signaling a return to form both aesthetically and musically to the supposed "glory days"? If the first single, "Pork and Beans" is any indication, be prepared for another divided reaction. The song is another in a long line of instant radio hit first singles, featuring a hum-worthy rhythm to its verses and a chorus that launches into power chord deluxe stardom. Much to the chagrin of devotees, they are going to have to deal with another weak lyrical offering reminiscent of "Beverly Hills". The references to Timbaland, Rogaine, and Oakleys are so fucking trite, with Rivers again playing his role as the aging rock star that is in on the joke with all the young, cool kids.

I'm not making an overstatement when I say the chorus is one of the best things they've done in a while, as its chugging distorted melodies are Weezer at their best. The lyrics could possibly be a middle finger to critics and fans who accuse them of the very things I've addressed in this review, like their stale lyrics and redundant verses. In that sense, there is a bit of humor to it, all of which is sadly forgotten by the time the break hits with the chant of "I don't care!" in front of a chiming piano line. It's a bad move on their part, as it feels so cheap and misplaced. But it does segue nicely into a guitar solo that…wait a minute, there is no solo! A questionable move that might actually pay off in the end, as instead of leading into the obligatory Weezer guitar solo, the chorus comes in again and it just feels right. And there you have it, another good radio single by Weezer. Not the Weezer who released The Blue Album or Pinkerton, but the one who continues to churn out solid pop rock today.