SZNZ: Autumn

*"fall gonna be good thanks to weezer"*

*--Zane Harding*

**SZNZ: Autumn** is an EP by the band Weezer. It is the 3rd of 4 SZNZ EPs and the 6th Weezer album reviewed by Cam for #music. It received a positive review from Cam, who was surprised by how much he enjoyed the production of the album, although he had the same complaints about songs feeling disjointed.

## Cam's Review

### Introduction

And we’re back. It’s SZNZ: Autumn, Weezer’s third of four seasonal EPs. It’s a golden age of Weezer content. But why do I feel so beaten down about it? Spring came out on the first day of Spring, and it was downright awful. My Summer review was nicer, although I admit I could have been in a particularly charitable mood that way. I haven’t listened back to it and don’t plan to, unless I do some big SZNZ marathon listen at the end of all this. I don’t want to but I will if people want me to suffer. In anticipation of Autumn, Weezer performed a show under their old 90s alter ego Goat Punishment, which is incredibly cool, and that alone has me feeling slightly optimistic about this album. Of course, you never truly know with Weezer. I suppose there’s only one way to find out.

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### Songs

#### Track 1: Can’t Dance, Don’t Ask Me

Sometimes when a song has a weird or long title, I try to imagine how it would sound sung. This one’s a weird one. Here goes. Oooooh WHAT it sounds like a Pinkerton B-Side in the intro. With the very specific synth sound over the Weezer guitars. Oh my god, this is excellent? I love this. Ok I don’t like the bridge. If this was like a 7 minute song, a minute long breakdown and buildup like that could work. But 15 seconds of what sounds like the Beelzebub section from Bohemian Rhapsody doesn’t do it for me. And the key change into one more chorus was awkward. They fumbled this one at the goal line. This could have been an all time great, instead it’s a

7/10

#### Track 2: Get Off on the Pain

How kinky, Rivers. The opening guitar sounds very Muse. Oh no what is he doing? Why do they have so many songs like this where none of the parts blend together? I think the verse is fine. I think the chorus is a little better than fine. But there’s such a stark difference between the two and it’s super jarring. This one really sounds like two EWBAITE-era demos jammed together. I suppose it could be worse

4/10

#### Track 3: What Happens After You?

Kind of a mysterious synthy opening. Wow this doesn’t sound like any Weezer song I’ve heard before. He goes into a falsetto ‘yoouuuuuuuuuuuu’ in the chorus which I’m not sure what I think about. But it’s grabbing me. It has a very specific sound that I can’t put my finger on, but it does that very well, and it’s not something I’ve ever heard from Weezer. I can’t believe it, but Weezer actually kinda sound like Muse on this album, and it’s not poorly executed. It’s like the Muse bones but with that Weezer power pop bend. I’m in shock.

8/10

#### Track 4: Francesca

Oh it’s starting out with that thing where there’s one soft electric guitar and he’s singing softly over it. I love when songs start like that. What? Key change after 17 seconds? Man this one’s a shame. Another one that doesn’t fit together, but I like the chorus. What does it mean that Francesca is his Waterloo? He’s going to be vanquished? I can imagine them singing the bridge on Broadway. Remember that thing? It just doesn’t feel like a complete song.

4/10

#### Track 5: Should She Stay or Should She Go?

If this isn’t a perspective-flipped cover of the Clash, I’ll be very disappointed. Oh hey they’re talking about the autumn. There’s some weird speaking over parts of it. The chorus of this one is super boring. But again, it’s not outright offensive or anything. And I still love the production on it. I guess the point of the song is asking god for advice about a girl? IS THAT A SAXOPHONE? I hate to give another 4, but it’s another 4.

4/10

#### Track 6: Tastes Like Pain

Mmm yummy pain. It’s starting out with a very theatrical classical string part. “Forgive me, I should be castrated.” Wow this is an opera but with Weezer. Now this is something I would watch a play of. It’s a short little unique interlude, but it’s done really well for what it is, although I’d never listen to it on its own

6/10

#### Track 7: Run, Raven Run

This is nice. The whole album sounds very EWBAITE, and EWBAITE is an excellent album. He sure is saying ‘Raven’ a lot, but I love the chorus. I really like this song, although I can’t help feeling like this and plenty of other songs on this album sound like other songs which I can’t put my finger on. The guitar bridge is very cool. I like the chorus of voices coming back in. Oh my god, I think this album is good. Ok I don’t like the squeaky lullaby voice here. And that’s how it ends

8/10

### Conclusion

I… liked this? I definitely liked the way it was produced. It sounds impeccable with a few exceptions. The only thing is once again it sounds pieced together, like theyre taking a bunch of unfinished song chunks and slapping them together. On the whole, it was a good sounding album. It’s Weezer, one of these was bound to be good, right? SZNZ: Autumn: good.
6/10