Weezer

Weezer (The Blue Album) [Deluxe Edition] (2004)

Scott Heisel

One of the most important rock albums of the nineties gets the tenth anniversary treatment, and while you may not think it's possible to love the Blue Album moreso than you already do, this Deluxe Edition will make you treasure the disc even more.

This re-issue contains Weezer's classic 1994 eponymous debut, and each of the 10 songs sounds as good as they did 10 years ago. From the acoustic fingerplucking of "My Name Is Jonas" to the tumultuous guitar solo raging over thundering drums in "Only In Dreams," the album still sounds as flawless as it did before.

So why buy this, if you already own the original version of the album?

First off, there's a second disc chock full of b-sides, live tracks, and rarities. The highlights are "Mykel and Carli," "Susanne," and "Jamie," but none of the 14 tracks - which include live, acoustic, and demo songs, some of which have never been heard before - are duds. It's exciting to finally have an official documentation of songs you've had on your hard drive for ages, as well as ones you've never encountered before. My only complaint is that there's still about 20 minutes of free space on disc 2, and as a devoted Weezer fan I know there is more from this 1994-and-before era that could have made the cut. I guess I'll just wait for the box set in another 10 years.

The packaging on this double-disc is also very pleasing to the eye. From the understated, classy sleeve it comes in to the incredibly detailed liner notes and handwritten lyrics to the amusing inclusion of the band's collective feet on the back cover, it's all well done. A lot of love has been poured into this re-issue, and it's evident as you pore over the liner notes.

You may not like Weezer, but it's hard to argue that the band, and this album in particular [as well as Pinkerton], didn't help shape modern rock music, especially underground. The Blue Album is an essential part of any self-respecting music lover's collection, and this Deluxe Edition will keep even the most diehard fan happy.