Weezer

OK Human

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Genre: Orchestral Rock.
Released: 29/01/2021

Album Review: Weezer – OK Human

Weezer’s latest surprise efforts, Ok Human, see the band teaming up with a 38-piece orchestra, to create an album that is very subdued, and personal feeling. The album has a strong flow throughout with songs fading into each other. While the album might not be a full heavy rock album, fans shouldn’t worry if it’s not for them as you’ll only have a few months to wait for the long-anticipated ‘Van Weezer’.

“All My Favorite Songs” opens up the album and was the only single released. The track starts off feeling very simplistic and innocent before progressing into using a wide range of instruments to create something quite complex. It has a very catchy chorus that’ll get stuck in your head after the first listen, but that doesn’t make it bad, perfectly setting the tone for the album, and utilising the orchestra making the song feel full.

Flowing into “Aloo Gobi”, which despite the less complex structure of instruments from the previous track, is still bouncing with energy. The song seems to be talking about how life has changed since the pandemic, talking about going to the cinema, but fearing being near other people, with the chorus talking about how life has become mundane. Lyrics like “They said that life gets sweet as years go by, But mine has lost its flavor like this chai” feels like they’re talking about the change from having an exciting life, to it becoming dull.

The album then fades into “Grapes Of Wrath” which has a very strong rock song feeling, however swapping guitars for a cello. The song talks about frontman Rivers’ love of books. “Numbers” follows, slowing the album down, the song slowly picks up a little over it’s run time. Starting off the song feels glum talking about how “There’s always a number that’ll make you feel bad about yourself”, yet towards the end feeling optimistic like a weight has lifted.

Keeping the slow pace, and also feeling like it’s been stolen straight from Elton John’s discography, “Playing My Piano” is up next, it almost feels like if it had some lyric changes it could be a bond theme. Hints of the pandemic can be felt through this track, with lyrics like “I should get back to these Zoom interviews”. At just under a minute and twenty-seconds long “Mirror Image”, shares Rivers’ feelings for his wife, along with his fears of losing her one day.

‘Ok Humans’ name references Radiohead’s 1997 album ‘Ok Computer’, likewise to that album’s techno-phobic theme, the next track ‘Screens’ talks about how people live on their devices, sucking them away from the real world. The song picks the pace of the album back up, and is very funky sounding. “Bird With A Broken Wing” show’s Rivers feeling of being out of his prime. The chorus to this track is very memorable.“Dead Roses” uses the stringed instruments from the orchestra well, making the song feel suspenseful.

Separated from the previous track by a short interlude, “Here Comes The Rain”, picks up the melody, leading to an upbeat feeling tune, however lyrics like “Did you hear the news? The universe will give you more, Of what you pay attention to” talk about how the media will show you what you engage with, which might not necessarily be what you should be paying attention to. “La Brea Tar Pits” ends the album on a mellow-jazzy note, lyrically the song talks about how the frontman doesn’t want to die as he still wants to give more.

While the album isn’t full of big guitar riffs filling the speakers, Weezer keeps it sounding like Weezer, despite its overall more orchestral feel. Themes of isolation throughout the album are put forward in a catchy, but subdued way. The album keeps it’s tone throughout, and utilizes the 38-piece orchestra well. A solid album.