New Weezer equals good Weezer

Weezer has always been adept at tying themselves in with pop culture, from their "Keep Fishing" video with the Muppets to the "Buddy Holly" single where they're synched in, playing for the "Happy Days" crowd at Al's Diner. See, there are still things about mass culture I'll always really like -- cereal out of a box, riding a bike, Star Wars and singing along with Weezer.\nMake Believe, only the band's fifth album in 11 years, starts with its first single "Beverly Hills," a simplistic "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" anthem with a touch of rap from Rivers Cuomo, '90s nerd rock's knight in shining armor. It's a fun kick-start to the album because, I mean, who doesn't love Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"? "Perfect Situation," the second track, comes across as traditional feel-good Weezer, however, it's made clear that the band has dressed up its old format a little -- the Weezer wall of sound is smoother and cleaner than in previous albums. \n Halfway through the album Rivers experiments more with vocals, but the lyrics still speak of his tormented inner-self. He holds true to Weezer's staple "woah-oh-oh" solos (the one in "Peace" is 50 seconds long), reminding me of the way Cake constantly says "alright." "We Are All on Drugs" has a stiff anti-drug theme and, depending on what drugs he's going after, good for him. "The Damage in Your Heart" is new and improved Weezer altogether, especially with the way the vocals and instrumentation play off each other.\n In "Pardon Me," overcast lyrics alongside happy power pop chord progressions signal lifting clouds and light at the end of the tunnel for Rivers the narrator. Quoting some Weezer is always good stuff, and when he wails the so-cheesy-it-works line, "You're my best friend, and I love you, yes I do," while the rest of the band echoes "I love you" on "My Best Friend," I reflect on all my friendships, thinking of how great it is to have a friend. The song is sing-along Weezer at its best. "The Other Way" is as catchy as throwing a duct-taped ball around, sticky side out, but what song by these guys isn't? "Freak Me Out" is mellow, like sipping on a 40-ounce Mellow Yellow -- that's a lot of Mellow Yellow, and Make Believe is a lot of Weezer at 45 minutes long, especially compared with the 29-minute Green Album.\n New Weezer is always going to be good Weezer. Make Believe may not be better than 20th century Weezer -- they will not make another Blue Album or Pinkerton -- but it's more Weezer, and just like college after high school, to me that's more of the good life. I may wait until the Spice Girls reunion to wet myself with joy, but until then I have Make Believe to make me glad I am still growing up, together with the great little group of musicians known as Weezer.