Various

Various: Making Noise - Weezer TributeMaking Noise - Weezer Tribute (2001)
Skunk Ape

Reviewer Rating: 2

Contributed by: AubinAubin
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 15th 2001Before I go any further, let me say this; I don't know if this could be considered a "punk" record; the closest thing to punk on here, is the fact that a band on Kung Fu lent a singer to one of the tracks. It's mostly indie rock stuff. So, please, if you are virulent about punk-only, just stop re.

Before I go any further, let me say this; I don't know if this could be considered a "punk" record; the closest thing to punk on here, is the fact that a band on Kung Fu lent a singer to one of the tracks. It's mostly indie rock stuff. So, please, if you are virulent about punk-only, just stop reading now, and go read one of fathead's reviews instead. They're pretty good, especially that Jet's to Brazil one.

Anyway, back to business...

Tribute albums are a funny thing, but a great way to sell records. See, it works double. If you like the band being covered, you'll probably buy it; if you like the bands doing the covers, you'll probably buy it.

But getting people to buy it is only half way there.

The last tribute record I bought was the Where Is My Mind? Pixies tribute. The reason it was good enough to buy, was because the artists involved were confident enough to do something fresh with some timeless Pixies tracks. I generally fear Tribute records though, because in most cases, the people involved feel that re-recording an inferior version of a good song is all the effort they need to put it. It's not like they have to write a song or anything.

Anyway, this is the first of two planned Weezer tributes out this year, the other one is being released by Dead Droid and features covers by bands like Further Seems Forever and Elliott.

This one is about 50 percent original, and clever interpretations, and 50 percent boring - and inferior - rehashes of the original songs.

The good stuff includes a laid back, swingy rock version of "Getchoo" by Banner Day, and a soft acoustic version of "Say It Ain't So" by the Love Commanches. One of the standouts is a punked up version of "The Good Life" by Mi6. The highlight is almost definitely Contraband (featuring the vocalist from Ozma) covering "Devotion", a popular B-Side.

A few of the tracks are worth hearing for their re-imagination, like the Cake-styled version of "Pink Triangle" of Awkward.

That said, tracks like Acme Pop's Butterfly butcher otherwise beautiful songs with tone deaf vocals and identical song structures. It's painful to listen to, whether or not you like the original song. Velcro's version of "I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams" is similarly off key, and also adds nothing new to the original.

All in all, I wouldn't recommend this, there are two many weak interpretations, with few highlights intermingled among them. Unless you're a diehard Weezer completist, I'd recommend waiting for the dead droid compilation, which sounds great with bands like The Ataris, Grade, The Stereo, Dashboard Confessional and Midtown.

As an aside, the new Further Seems Forever LP includes "Say It Ain't So" as performed by Chris Carraba of FSF and Dashboard Confessional fame. It's a good track, and bodes well for the Dead Droid comp.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Aubin (September 23, 2001)

Someone submitted this to the front page, so I thought I'd put it here:
"The review given on this site is much like the reviews or inside scoops given in spin magazine...innacurate...I don't mean that the writer is incorrect in saying that only 50% of the =w= tribute in question is decent...what I mean to say is: there is a NEW version of the tribute, revamped, rereleased, they kept the best songs (the good 50%) dropped the worst songs and added mo' betta covers by mo' betta bands... 1. the review is of the initial pressing of Making Noise. 2. the Cover used is the 2nd edition of Making Noise with Better Bands etc. 3. Review the 2nd incarnation of the Tribute. 4. DD's tribute is MIA. =g= "

Anonymous (September 23, 2001)

punk, punk, punk, punk. what the fuck is punk? none of you dipshits know punk from your asshole.

Anonymous (September 19, 2001)

you gotta be kidding me! jawbreaker has a tribute! by the way, i live in the arm pit of america, so most good and rare albums are nowhere to be found.everyone has at least a couple shitty reviews, so don't call Scott out like that, mr.anonymous.- fathead

Anonymous (September 19, 2001)

scott's a real shitty reviewer fathead

Anonymous (September 19, 2001)

all those bands that fathead listed as bands that are more deserving of punk tributes.. well, they all have punk tributes, even lynnard skynnard.. i don't know if they're hard to find anywhere else, but i've seen almost all of those in circuit city a long time ago.. nirvana has a punk tribute, poison has one, ac dc has one.. everybody has one

coldjuly (September 18, 2001)

I have to agree with fathead...while weezer is a good band...I kinda feel they're more bands deserving of a record like this. This album came out way too soon.

and a punk lynyrd skynyrd tribute?? actually that might be cool.

Anonymous (September 17, 2001)

everyone read the Capdown review. pat is a knob.

Anonymous (September 17, 2001)

oh by the way, why the fuck does weezer have a tribute album already? Jawbreaker, Slapstick, GBH, Minor Threat, Sublime, Black Flag, hell, even a punk tribute to Lenard Skynard would have more reasoning behind it that a tribute to a band who just sold millions of copies of a NEW album.- fathead

Anonymous (September 17, 2001)

thanks for the promo Aubin. If i were only getting paid! HA! Anyway, I think punknews has been lucky enough to get some great reviewers. Sickboi, Coldjuly, Daniel, Scott, and of course Aubin. We all have our own style, but focus mainly on the most important thing, the ROCK! Thanks for posting nearly every review I've ever sent in. My goal is to be a writer someday, and reading all the posotive(and negative) comments everyone sends is great. best site on the net. ROCK ON- fathead

Anonymous (September 17, 2001)

the cover makes me want to vomit
-faceecaf

pat41 (September 16, 2001)

damn me always forget to change the rating... ill give it a 4 because the blue album was really good.

pat41 (September 16, 2001)

Weezer isnt a good band by any means unless you watch mtv religiously and have a shrine to carson daly in your bedroom. They used to be ok for like one album (the blue album) then they turned umm i dont even know what but THEN they turned very very very very very very emo. One good album is not worth "tributing" what is this world coming to!!

Anonymous (September 16, 2001)

weezer is one of the most over-rated bands ever. they're okay. not great and not too terribly bad. why anyone would want to make a tribute album for them is beyond me.

punk_kid (September 16, 2001)

i wish i could be an "emo kid"

Anonymous (September 16, 2001)

Sorry
I met not emo

Anonymous (September 16, 2001)

Weezer is emo man.
Do you understand what emo is.

sickboi (September 16, 2001)

Hah! Nice shout-out to Fathead, he's punker that my studded belt, doc martins, chain wallet and middle finger combined....

Anonymous (September 15, 2001)

It's ok. I always thought of weezer as emo though, i mean look at the cover of the cd, it's bunch of emo kids.