by Weezer
Released January 29, 2021 via Crush Music / Atlantic Records
Reviewed February 8, 2021
Top tracks (based on community voting)
Grapes Of Wraith (50%), All My Favorite Songs (45%), Numbers (45%)
This is not your Dad's Weezer. On OK Human, the band embarks on a new sound, one that leans into orchestral, symphonic arrangements shaped more by indie rock than their renowned pop-punk/alt-rock material. Dwelling on themes that have become typical of art in COVID times, this project is heavy on isolation, boredom, and mental fatigue. Still, Rivers Cuomo's added perspective of middle-aged apathy helps these songs transcend simple current context. Additionally, the group sounds fresh and inspired, which should guide this late-career effort to a solid placement amongst 2021 rock albums. – Enth (8/10)
Weezer was high on the list of bands that needed some sort of a musical makeover, and OK Human is nothing short of a solid revamp for a band now putting forth their fourteenth studio album. From the record’s beginning, it is a clear change of pace in the wider variety of string instruments, showcasing themselves early and often. Piano play is another uniquely emphasized element of the project, paired with the introspective and stir-crazy songwriting to achieve a sense of intimacy. OK Human feels like a success, because Weezer’s transformation is timely, robust, and complete—which is a lot to ask of a band approaching thirty years in the game. – DeVán (7.5/10)
While Weezer’s best days are behind them, OK Human offers a nice reprieve from the subpar records they’ve put out the past several years. Frontman Rivers Cuomo adopts a more singer-songwriter-esque role than usual, as the band’s shift toward an orchestral pop sound makes this feel a nice departure from the past decade of Weezer releases. But even as violins, horns, and organs operate in the spaces usually dominated by guitars, OK Human still sounds very much like a Weezer record in its ability to coalesce pop sensibility and thoughtful reflection. Weezer’s best music has always come when Cuomo’s songwriting is vulnerable, and OK Human takes a step in the right direction on that front. – Dominick (7.5/10)
Enth: 8/10 | Dominick: 7.8/10 | Cam: 7.3/10
Hadley: 7/10 | Alan: 6/10 | Jared: 6/10
