Andrew’s Judgmental Album Reviews: Weezer – OK Human (2021)

This album came out at the end of January and it’s been my top album of the year. So it’s time for a JAR breakdown Weezer’s gem of an album!

Now while this being at the top of my personal list is surprising on multiple accounts (if you’ve seen what I usually cover, as well as, the other album they did that came out this year); I can’t argue how this struck me. I grew up on a lot of Beach Boys, so I’m fully aware of Pet Sounds and even remember the portrayal of things in The Beach Boys: An American Family miniseries that came out in 2000. It painted things in an interesting light, even if Brian Wilson himself didn’t like it.

So when I first heard this, it immediately reminded me of Pet Sounds. The orchestral aspect, the weird concepts that make the whole album feel more like one big thought than 12 songs. It was a fairly unique trip and came about at just the right time in the world if you ask me.

• Artist: Weezer
• Album: OK Human
• Label: Atlantic
• Total Track Time: 30:27

All My Favorite Songs a xylophone and recorder early on before the cello kicks in checks a few of those avant-garde interesting tidbits I like. The melancholy in this song is great for many introverts with low social gas tanks. Concepts of favorite songs being slow and sad; even though they attest they like parties…they just don’t go. “Sometimes I wish I was on an island, but then I’d miss the sound of silence”, is a great sentence with that dichotomy of not liking it but needing the presence to enjoy when it’s not there. Like needing pain to enjoy happiness. Aloo Gobi is a little song about a seemingly innocuous day where he’s just giving commentary on complacency. It’s got a decent swinging and walking beat, so it really gives the air of walking down the street on a normal day. Grapes of Wrath takes the ending cello right into the start of this song, so the flow is fairly seamless. As for the song, it’s a winding little journey referencing a bunch of classic literature, which seems to be more focusing on escaping reality in a book. I’m a little mad there’s no The Caine Mutiny reference but I enjoy the sentiment.

Numbers takes the theater aspect of segues into a somber little reflection about not measuring up since numbers are out to get you. Be it likes on social media, height or weight in a sport, IQ score, there’s something everyone is self-conscious about, which makes overcoming it more satisfying. Playing My Piano again the quick transitions between the songs really makes this whole album feel like a theatrical experience. This song alone feels like a Bo Burnham song talking about having stuff to do but finally having a moment to himself to just play his piano. That odd enjoyment of little things even if it’s procrastination. Then it picks up into a very Beatles-esque melody still embellishing further on being in basically his “happy place” with his piano. Mirror Image this is one of the shorter songs. But it’s perfect in its short simplicity obviously talking about his wife with the line of “She is my mirror image”.

Screens where the concept is a little Boomer level energy pointing out that kids just stare at their screens nowadays, there’s an irony in the tempo and the lyrical application. Plus the line of “Now the real world is dying” is more accurate with the pandemic aspect. So even if it’s a little bit of the old man screaming at clouds concept, the execution is more just ironic and wondering where things will be in the future.  Bird With a Broken Wing the somber yet pulsating tempo for the verses that elevates into more of a crescendo for the chorus helps to get across the distraught feelings in this song. A lot of imagery of nearly getting caught by the cat, but still having just enough to get away or still having a song to sing. Not sure if this is about feeling like you’ve got nothing left in the gas tank or maybe past your prime but still wanting to execute; either way it’s powerful and relatable for everyone over the age of 30.

Dead Roses has a gothic sway like an Emilie Autumn song. Also I appreciate the usage of the word oubliette outside of Castlevania or fantasy lyrics. Either way this feels a bit like Edgar Allan Poe wrote a Weezer song, plus I love the instrumentation with the drawn out bowed notes on the cello and violin to add to the sway of despair. Everything Happens for a Reason is a quick 23 second musical interlude. Here Comes the Rain definitely has more of a Beatles homage since this is rain and they did Here Comes the Sun. The ironic lyrics, fun tempo, almost like someone skipping down the street; hell it reminds me a bit of the Laverne and Shirley theme. Just amusing and upbeat. La Brea Tar Pits uses the imagery of the well know La Brea Tar Pits as sinking but not wanting to die, so the song takes the angle of trying to persuade someone to help him from sinking. Mortality, depression, the “could you throw me a rope” applies on a few themes they touched on in the album. There’s enough interesting instrumentation coupled with the almost sinking long notes to imply there’s still a way out of the tar pit, but the lyrics leave it open to interpretation.

This album really struck me as you can tell since it’s stayed at the top of my list nearly all year. Many people were indifferent or negative about the album, but I appreciated the more artistic approach and the tone the songs took was very relevant for the time it was released. I haven’t given a Weezer album multiple spins since their self-titled album in 2001.

Wonderful homage to The Beatles, Pet Sounds and whatever else inspired this. Cause you know…all of my favorite people make mad too.

Final Judgment: 9.1/10