Andrew’s Judgmental Album Reviews: Weezer – SZNZ: Spring (2022)

Well Weezer left an impression on my list last year, with an album that I don’t think many expected to just strike true for where I was at. With that being said, when I heard they had a new concept for 2022 of an “album for all seasons”, I was admittedly intrigued. Firstly, with how the music industry is much like wrestling with the “card subject to change” it’s very rare that bands can get one album out on time much less four in the same year, on very specific dates. Secondly, with exactly how they’re going to encapsulate each season. Lastly, the big one, if it would be cool or just a little too ‘out there’. Only one way to find out, right?

It just so happens that the Spring solstice is a Sunday, so this is probably the most current review I’ve ever done! The album came out today, and now we get to see what kind of impression Weezer’s Spring album leaves on us!

• Artist: Weezer
• Album: SZNZ: Spring (2022)
• Label: Crush Music/Atlantic Records
• Total Track Time: 20:54

Opening Night starts with a lute? mandolin? Some very light Renaissance Faire vibe stringed instrument and a little bit of a wooden flute sound as well. So they’re very possibly referencing Shakespeare’s sonnet Spring as well as different works and poets. It does have this oddly light and upbeat, triumphant vibe throughout. Angels on Vacation is a somewhat literal title when it comes to the lyrical metaphors. It’s taking the perspective of angels removing their halos to blend in and relax. “God won’t mind, if we take our time, God won’t scold, if we live our lives” that’s a fun little line that rings a bit deeper than the happy and bopping tune about Angels and PTO days. Still very light and fun, so the album is off to a strong start.

A Little Bit of Love has a bit of a ragtime/folk vibe since it’s light but there seems to be some harmonica and even metal spoons. So this gives me like…Bonnaroo vibes of just sitting around in a circle jamming with buddies swamp Hippie style. Also not a hard song to discern from the title, but it’s again, just fun and up tempo. The Garden of Eden this is a great song. It’s got that 50s Beach Boys vibe where it’s easy to sing along and sway to. Lyrically it mixes the concept of the Garden along with Spring Goddess which my guess is the Celtic Goddess Eostre because the song sways like wind through the branches. Which is a common metaphor for how people would dance and celebrate the equinox.

The Sound of Drums okay well even though the instrumentation is light until the chorus thickens up the electric guitar with drums of course, but there’s something that doesn’t really work with me here. They even mention mandolins and wooden flutes in the lyrics, but this song is the furthest departure from that sound. Also the line of “let yourself be soothed by the sound of drums” after distorted guitar and a raucous chorus…it’s a little too hectic for me to really enjoy this song especially on this album. All This Love,  “I forgot how to live,  How to love, how to give, How to sing with a mask on my mouth” is a great line very early into the song. The song is happy as a lark, but the lyrical tone is basically “let me out to enjoy my life and the world”. Reminds me a bit of the Tiny Rick call for help song, but that’s just a dumb correlation in my head. This is a great tune that mixes the gallop of old rock and country, with light enough instrumentation to just be fantastic.

Wild at Heart this is probably the most modern radio style of song, but it still fits beautifully. It’s got a nearly Jim Steinman/Bruce Springsteen style of arrangement, some of the lyrics get across pagan concepts again embracing the history of solstice celebrations, and just really moving along well. It ends in a weird staccato drum pattern, almost like a march, so I feel that may lead into the Summer album. This might be one of those ‘bigger picture’ concepts that can actually bleed into one another.

Now I’ll be the first to admit, if you don’t like Island in the Sun kind of Weezer, you won’t like this. But aside from The Sound of Drums this is a really nice album. It’s light, breezy, fun, and swaying like the concept of Spring. I also appreciated the sprinkling of pagan and Christian lyrical imagery to prove it’s a season about more than one thing and born from crazy celebrations. That plus the usual dorky and amusing lyrical metaphors at times are also a bright spot for a Weezer album.

Do I love this album personally? No, mainly because I’m not a happy go lucky, skip around a field while holding hands, kind of person. But as a concept it’s hard to find many qualms. Weezer putting out solid work again, that anyone who enjoys Weezer should find at least one song they like.

Final Judgment: 7.75/10