After 5 years of silence, Weezer is back with the Green Album. It's catchy, short (28 minutes!), and completely different from Pinkerton. Hash Pipe and Island in the Sun are everywhere.

But compared to Pinkerton's raw emotion and Blue Album's inventiveness, this feels safe. Is Rivers playing it too conservative?

It's not Pinkerton. Nothing will ever be Pinkerton. But taken on its own terms, it's a fun, well-crafted power pop album. I've enjoyed it.

Island in the Sun is the perfect summer song. Simple, warm, and endlessly replayable. Not everything needs to be Pinkerton.

Sellout is harsh. It's just... less ambitious? Perfectly pleasant but missing the spark that made the first two albums special.