New Rivers Cuomo - "Blast Off"
In a Weezer state of mind, Rivers Cuomo hits that "Beverly Hills" (et al) bounce on "Blast Off." You can hear the new, feeling blue (or green), beer drinking (to go with your hash pipe) tune over at MySpace. When talking about Weezer, a friend often mentions Cuomo's intense formalism -- the way he bases his tunes on a similar template, somehow tweaking it just so or just so to keep it interesting. It's an intense, streamlined talent. This time around he lops off the ending, before we can enjoy some satisfying crescendo. Ah, anti-climax! Or he just didn't upload the whole thing properly to his account. In an entry titled "Alone," here's what Mr. C. has to say about the solo, Weezer-y material...
I've compiled a CD of my favorite demos from the years 1992 to 2007 and Geffen Records has agreed to put it out this December, on the eleventh. I hope you enjoy it. I may also be able to put out more demo CDs in the near future.Thanks for sharing, Rivers. And re: CD vs. MP3, we hear ya -- it's hard to be an audiophile in an iPod world.I put up one of the songs, Blast Off, on my page.
***
I want to share with everyone the excitement I felt when I went back and heard the original master tapes of these demos. In most cases, they sounded much better than the mp3s I've been listening to for years--clearer, warmer, deeper. I highly recommend that listeners buy the CD rather than the digital version so that they can enjoy the highest quality listening experience.
Posted at 9:53 AM
Tags: Rivers Cuomo | Weezer
this post is really ignorant. sorry bub, this ain't a "new" tune. and it's not a "blue" or "green" song. it's from what was originally going to be weezer's second (concept) album 'songs from the black hole.' which was eventually abandoned and instead 'pinkerton' was brought to the world as the weez's numero dos. try wikipedia or google next time. also this mp3 with the chopped ending has been circulating on the web for years. peace.
Score = 0
It has a 'chopped' ending because it flows into the next track 'Who You Callin' Bitch?". If the two are played together its a seamless transition, since he only put up blast off it sounds as if its being cut off.
Score = 0
In addition, this song was released on the official weezer site back in 2003. Let me know if he posts the elusive Superfriend or Getting up and Leaving.
Score = 0
Pitchfork just made the same mistake. You don't have to have been a loser weezer fan in high school (like me) to realize that it's at least an old song when coming out on something labeled 1992-2007.
Score = 0
It is really easy to bash Weezer's last three albums... REALLY easy. But I'm just going to say how good the first album, Pinkerton, and pretty much every demo and b-side they wrote in that era was.
Score = 0
Yeah, I like how Pitchfork talked about it like it was new, comparing it to the last record and stuff. But, yeah, 1995. I've never cared for Weezer and I know both this song and the album it was supposed to be on. How is that?
Score = 0
poor alan knut. "the first album, Pinkerton"? Wait 'til the weezernuts above get through with you.
Score = 0
Dearest turning further,
I think that Mr. Knut meant the comma placed between first album and Pinkerton to serpate the two. Like try taking out "first album" and put in "blue album" and you'll see what I mean.
Yours,
j
Score = 0
rivers is sad in the song, so feeling blue -- and green is obviously a silly pun on that. don't think the post says it's from the blue or green album. weezer fans are so literal.
Score = 0
Weezer fans need to get laid.
The breakdown sounds like El Scorcho
Score = 0
wow, rob. calm down. so he got the story wrong. don't crap yo pants over it.
but it sounds like rivers pulled a george lucas and fixed a few parts. tsk tsk.
Score = 0
Hey, Rob and Rich...boardies? Anyways, I thought it was confirmed that "Superfriend" would be on Alone, but probably not "Getting Up and Leaving."
Score = 0
i love this new song! is it a demo for album six?!
Score = 0
@alex
can you not read?
Score = 0
alex,
It is actually the title track for album six. There is also going to be a remixed version 30 seconds after the last song.
Score = 0
alex,
It is actually the first track on album six. There is also going to be a remixed version 30 seconds after the last song.
Score = 0
For anybody looking for a little more info about the origins of this song and other songs from the black hole -> http://www.sftbh.com/page.php?id=faq
the reason why some of the transitions are so rough on the song is because they actually only did scotch tape edits on the master tape (cut the tape, and tape it together with another take).
I always hoped there was a better recording of this song in Rivers' collection,but ohh well.
Score = 0
Holy hell, this is a painfully, embarrassingly ignorant post. This track, or at least another version of it, has been readily available on the internet for years. I won't go into the details, since most have been mentioned here already. I swear, I almost snapped my laptop in half, seeing the brilliant "Blast Off" compared to the infantile, bland "Beverly Hills." I'm hoping that this post will be corrected, because that's about as awful as music blogging gets, up there. I'm not surprised that Stereogum fucked up, but I'm startled that ol' "indie cred" Pitchfork botched it.
It's interesting, though: This recording is actually not quite as complete-sounding as the one that leaked years ago. There's a couple of lines that are either muted or cut short. This version must be lacking some overdubs, presumably.
*flashes boardie badge*
Score = 0
if you're breaking your laptop in half over that, you should take David's advice and have sex.
Score = 0
ooooooooold song
good one though
Score = 0
LOL. Rivers told me to have sex. LOL.
Score = 0
the reason everything from the blue and pinkerton era was great was because of matt sharp. get a clue people, rivers sucks.
Score = 0
Matt Sharp had very little influence. I'm sure he added to it all, and maybe he was what Rivers needed, but let's remember that Rivers wrote all the music and lyrics himself, save for two tracks on Blue. Rivers may be lacking in... /something/ now, but he did not suck back in the day.
Score = 0
Geez folks, I didn't know Rivers Cuomo inspired this level of fanboy anger! Rob - The whole "blue/green" line was obviously not to be taken literally. Perhaps you should think before you rant. And for the record, I love a lot of great Weezer tunes, and this ain't one of them.
Score = 0
is this new?
i luv the new song, if this is it.
weeser has beenmy fav since that album that had the green cover.
wiked.
Score = 0
I have been waiting so long for Songs From The Black Hole, i think weezer should just re-record that and release it as there new album. I am sure most people will think they are "new" songs and it would sell a lot. they should have a bonus disc with the original recordings. it would be a dream come true
Score = 0
No one has mentioned this, but it looks like this is actually Rivers Cumo's personal myspace page. He only has 73 friends (!) and most of the wall posts read like they come from people who know him.
Score = 0
PS: upon closer reading, he mentions something to this effect under "Who I'd like to meet". Props to him for not being a whore like BIlly Corgan.
Score = 0
@Greg
Yeah that is his page. he never accepts friend request from fans or any thing. but it is his prerogative just like bobby brown before him.
Score = 0
Greg, Billy has a person who's job it is to accept his friend requests. I know this person. lame huh?
Score = 0
"Alone: the home recordings of rivers cuomo". Does this mean that no credit should be given to Weezer as a band or to the original members of the band who were there when SFTBH was devised, like, say, Matt Sharp?
Score = 1