# SZNZ: Winter

SZNZ: Winter is the tenth EP by American rock band Weezer, and the last of four EPs in their SZNZ (pronounced "seasons") project. It was released digitally on December 21, 2022, coinciding with the December solstice. It spawned a single, "I Want a Dog", released on December 9, 2022.

## Background

Rivers Cuomo described the project's overall emotion as sadness. Cuomo said that the songwriting would be stylistically similar to Elliott Smith featuring "lots of loss and despair".
Weezer, under their Goat Punishment pseudonym, performed SZNZ: Winter in its entirety at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California on September 19, 2022.

## Release

The lead single, "I Want a Dog", was released on December 9, 2022, with a live performance of the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on December 16, 2022.
SZNZ: Winter officially released on December 21, 2022, alongside a video for "Dark Enough to See the Stars".

## Critical reception

SZNZ: Winter ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 8/10 |
| Exclaim! | 6/10 |
| Gigwise | |
| Riff Magazine | 7/10 |
| Under the Radar | |
Anne Erikson at Blabbermouth.net opined that the album "proves" that Weezer "can still churn out music that's as strong as their mid-1990s debut." However, Michelle Dalarossa from Under the Radar was more critical of the album, stating "Unfortunately, the combination of Christmas kitsch and Weezer kitsch makes for a grating mishmash of tackiness, angst, and blown-out fuzz that ultimately falls flat." Nonetheless, Dalarossa notes instances of "knack for ear worm vocal melodies and exhilarating power-pop guitar riffs glimmer."

## Track listing

All tracks are written by Rivers Cuomo
Notes
    1.^ The Vinyl version puts track 7 "The Deep and Dreamless Sleep" as track 8 on the tracklist.

## Personnel

Weezer
* Rivers Cuomo – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars, production
* Brian Bell – guitars, backing vocals
* Patrick Wilson – drums
* Scott Shriner – bass guitar, backing vocals
Additional musicians
* Max Bernstein – music direction
* Jonathan Dreyfus – banjo, cello, double bass, harmonium, harpsichord, Mellotron, orchestral arrangement, theremin, viola, violin
* Amy Andersen – backing vocals
* Jean-Louise Parker – backing vocals, viola, violin
* Harry Cooper – clarinet
* Jonathan Leahy – string arrangement
* Kelly O'Donohue – trumpet
* Jake Sinclair – additional vocals, synthesizer (track 1)
* Efe Cakar – additional guitar (2)
* Suzy Shinn – additional vocals (3)
Technical
* James Flannigan – production
* Suzy Shinn – production
* Emily Lazar – mastering
* Chris Dugan – mixing
* Jonathan Dreyfus – engineering, recording
* Ivan Wayman – engineering
* Jason Hiller – engineering
* Kevin Smith – engineering
* Jean-Louise Parker – recording
* Alex Parker – engineering assistance
* Alissa Laymac – engineering assistance
* Bella Corich – engineering assistance
* Peter Hanaman – engineering assistance
* Tori Newberry – engineering assistance
* Mike Fasano – drum technician
* Patrick Lehman – guitar technician

## Charts

Chart performance for SZNZ: Winter :
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) | 38 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) | 97 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 92 |
| UK Physical Albums (OCC) | 89 |
| UK Sales Albums (OCC) | 96 |