1.Tired of Sex: 9/10
Opening this CD with its monster drum beat, and the screeching Rivers leave me in awe of this song it will immediately ring in your head for days to come. Awesome.

2.Getchoo: 8/10
"I never meant to do all that I've done to you please baby say its not too late." Another extremely catchy song, with a very strong chorus. GETCHOO!!!!

3.No Other One: 8/10
Where would we be without the classic Weezer high pitched squeal, masterfully played out in this one. Another strong chorus, but that's not a bad thing.

4.Why Bother?: 9/10
What did I say about those powerful drum beats. Even the musically challenged can pick up on it. This song keeps picking up until an extremely well played ending, multiple laired with backup vocal, power riffs, and a Weezer classic drum beat

5.Across the Sea: 10/10
Powerful beyond words..."I've got your letter, you've got my song." This song starts out slower with a distorted guitar on the right, and a quiet piano going on the left, keeps it slow until about 2:20 into it, the guitar solo, touching. Then after the slower portion, it builds up until an explosion of an ending. O.K. maybe it wasn't powerful beyond words.

6.The Good Life: 10/10
"As everything I need is denied me and everything I want is taken away from me but who do I got to blame? Nobody but me." I don't really know how to describe this one, another power Weezer riff, drum beat, chorus everything that one would and will come to love about this band all packed up and rolled into one song.

7.El Scorcho: 9/10
Quirky. One word to describe this song. This song is unlike everything that I have heard and seen Weezer do, but somehow it works, this song is sloppy, abstract guitar, squeaky singing, but it works, that's all I have to say about it. It works. Then there comes the 2 minute mark in the song and unbelievable tempo change that will be in my favorite for quite some time. It works.

8.Pink Triangle: 10/10
A depressing but comedic turn on love: "I'm dumb she's a lesbian, I though I had found the one, we were good as married in my mind, but married in my minds no good." Obviously if you haven't picked it up this one is about falling in love and after a long relationship she turns out to be a lesbian. My favorite quote from this album is a desperate cry, but funny at the same time: "Everyone's a little queer; oh can't she be a little straight." Depressing but funny, great song.

9.Falling For You: 8.5/10
Another love song, it's charming. I like you way too much my baby I'm afraid I'm fallin' for you...or maybe I would rather settle down with you." What wouldn't a girl give to have the one they are pining for say this to them. Catchy chorus and whining guitar makes this one, one of my favorites.

10.Butterfly: 10/10
I could go on and on and on about this song, emotional, real. This is my favorite Weezer song of all time, this song with only an acoustic guitar and the occasional bass pedal going from the drums give this song, and the album a ending of the ages. This one is the one that slipped away...and you slip away into the song, you will melt into it. Excellent ending for an excellent album.

Overall this is Weezer's best album, so what the "critics" didn't like it, it's all about you and me, and what we think. This album will be in my steady rotation for years to come. I suggest that you give this one a try I guarantee that you will not regret it.

A Very Rewarding Album
Pinkerton is Weezer's extremely overlooked and underrated masterpiece. The blue album was a fairly upbeat, catchy punk-pop album with lots of good songs, and a few not-so-good ones. Maybe it was because of the four-year interlude between the albums, but Pinkerton didn't receive nearly the publicity and praise it deserved. Here, Weezer took a slightly darker, and much more personal approach to their emo/pop-rock style. What is probably the best aspect of this album is that all of the songs are good. It is very rare to find an album that is without even a mediocre song (Radiohead's OK Computer and Tool's Aenima come to mind). Of course, this album is extremely short--it clocks in at just a little over 33 minutes. However, that isn't really such a fault when you consider the quality of every single song here.

1. Tired of Sex - Here, Rivers Cuomo sings of how he is sick of the countless lovers he has as a band member. The musical quality is astounding, as are the lyrics. The drums are strong and forceful, and there is a very interesting electric guitar riff played throughout. This is one of the album's best, and is sure to become a favorite among anyone who gives it a few listens. (9.5/10)

2. Getchoo - Straight after the previous track ends, Getchoo starts up with Cuomo's cathartic "This is beginning to hurt." That vocal line is repeated many times during the song, and becomes a very important part. Not only does it lead into the chorus, but it also makes-up the very dramatic ending section. One of my favorite songs on the album. (9/10)

3. No Other One - While slower, and maybe a bit more light-hearted than the last two songs, No Other One is still filled with emotion. In the chorus, Rivers seriously declares that "No, there is no other one." The song chugs along at a slow, laid-back pace, with profound melodies and a lazy guitar hook. Not one of the best on the album, but certainly decent. (8/10)

4. Why Bother - This sounds more like something you'd find on one of Weezer's other albums--its chorus is quick and catchy, and the song is based around it. It's also the shortest and most to-the-point song on the album, and is therefore very satisfying. The straight, simple guitar riffs heighten the appeal of the chorus, and accent Cuomo's vocals. (8/10)

5. Across the Sea - Though initially unappealing, this one will eventually come to almost anyone's liking. It starts out slow with a brief, but interesting piano tidbit. Because of its lack of a solid chorus to grasp, it won't stick immediately. One of the few songs on Pinkerton that isn't exactly catchy. (8/10)

6. The Good Life - This is the most accessible, and arguably the best song on the cd. Here, Rivers Cuomo reflects on how he has changed into something alien, and is distraught over the situation. There are three main sections to the song, the first, where the vocals and guitar riffs are monotonous but catchy. It then moves into a short, modulation stage where Rivers rants out quick, witty lyrics, leading up to the extremely catchy chorus. The chorus is one of the best Weezer has written, and is really what makes this song good.(9.5/10)

7. El Scorcho - Here is another song that you may have heard on the radio a few times. Though it received some publicity, chances are, you didn't even know it was Weezer playing. It sounds much different to any other Weezer song, with stark, stripped-down guitar and drums and slow vocals, until the strongly-sung chorus. It's a bit strange at first, but you'll get hooked on in no time. (8.5/10)

8. Pink Triangle - This slightly depressing song is about falling in love with a lesbian. The lyrical line "We were good as married in my mind / but married in my mind's no good" is really quite ironic and quirky. Like most of the songs on this album, the instruments work extremely well with the vocals, creating a great, seamless effect. (8.5/10)

9. Falling for You - This sounds like it could've come right off of the Blue Album. The chorus is driving and well-defined, making for instant appeal. The most warm-sounding song on the album, which isn't saying a whole lot, but it certainly is quite playful. (8/10)

10. Butterfly - The final track is the softest Weezer has ever written, and could become a favorite among anyone who enjoys slower, more heartfelt tunes. It has the same sort of appeal as The Beatles' masterpiece "Yesterday." Though I prefer the faster, more visceral songs on the album, this one is most definitely a nice, refreshing closer to an all-around excellent musical creation. (8.5/10)

Almost flawless...
Pinkerton is not only Rivers Cuomo's (mostly cycnical)realization that he is going to get old, but it's Weezer's best album, start to finish. From "Tired of Sex," in which he laments meaningless sex to "Why Bother?" where he wonders what the point is, when "...why bother, it's gonna hurt me...it's gonna kill when you desert me..." to "Across the Sea," where he wonders about a young Japanese fan to "The Good Life," which is an amazing song about feeling old and removed (and my favorite), the raw production makes this album sound great.
The only way this album could have been better would be if Weezer had waited and put "Only In Dreams" instead of "Butterfly" on Pinkerton.
To any potential new Weezer fan (are there folks out there that aren't already fans?), this is their best work, although maybe slightly less polished (and sadly, less successful) than the self-titled debut.
Just quit reading about it and own it.

Best Weezer Album
People seem to be upset with this work of weezer because it is so different than its predecessor, the blue album. Well, it's not the blue album. But it is still obviously Weezer. They make a huge statement here through Pinkerton. They aren't your everyday band where every song, every album sounds exactly the same. Pinkerton is so different from their previous album, but that's what makes it great. Honestly, i didnt like it the first time i listened through it. why? because it wasnt blue and i was so narrow minded i rejected it. but after listening to it more and more, it has become by far the best weezer cd, if not my favorite cd of all time. it is one of those rare cds where you can listen to the whole album straight through and enjoy every minute of it. It made me a fan of weezer. I would recommend this cd to anyone, and would advise to accept it for what it is, not reject it simply because its not a remix of weezer blue.

HOW PINKERTON CHANGED MY LIFE
"Pinkerton" is the greatest album ever made! Alright, don't let the being rated "worst album of 96'" by Rolling Stone scare you. They have people who love rap reviewing Weezer albums for Jeff's sake! I have owned "Pinkerton" for about 4 years now and still listen to it at least once a day. Every song is an immaculately crafted piece of emotion and feeling on Rivers Coumo's part. You are not a Weezer fan unless you own and love "Pinkerton". The best songs are "Across the Sea" and "Pink Triangle". It's true, Pinkerton was before its time. Unfortunately, Weezer got a lot of flack for it just because the general public wanted another Blue Album which was also a great c.d. but not in the same class as "Pinkerton". Music should be for the fans, not the public. Pinkerton was for the fans, but mainly for Rivers. If a musician has enough guts to put himself on the line for a c.d. he believes in, that is worth something, when he makes an album like "Pinkerton", that is magic. "Pinkerton" is a new generation's "Catcher in the Rye". I'm not a fan of whiny loser teenage rock, basically, I hate any song that has the lyric "back in high school" in it. Pinkerton has no songs with that oh so dragon slaying phrase in it, yet, it stills delivers emotion without being whiny and assenine. There is not enough I can say about Pinkerton besides you should buy this album and listen to it as frequently as possible. Even if you don't like it at first, it will grow on you. Here you me, this is true.
A hit single can be a bit of a mixed blessing for new bands, especially if said song gets you firmly lumped into the "novelty band" category. Such was the case with Weezer, whose runaway hit "Buddy Holly" touched a global nerve upon its release, then got on everyone's nerves after months of radio saturation. However, it did ensure that they sold millions of copies of their self-titled debut. Which is why it's so strange that their second album, Pinkerton, was ignored. Perhaps the cold shoulder was due to the willfully noncommercial first single, "El Scorcho," which crashed and burned. Whatever the reason, Pinkerton soon disappeared, which is a shame because it's a great album. Whereas Weezer reveled in the band's geek-rock image, Pinkerton saw Rivers Cuomo maturing as a lyricist. From the opening, "Tired of Sex," which rants about the frustrating easiness of groupies, to the new wave pop of "Getchoo" to the epic genius of "The Good Life," there's much more diversity here than the Pixies-influenced bouncy grunge of their debut. With the closing solo, the acoustic lament "Butterfly," Cuomo demonstrates a pop mastery that promises great things from this reformed geek. --Robert Burrow