Album review: Weezer’s 10th album shows why the band have lasted so long

Commonly referred to as The White Album, due to its – you guessed it – white cover, the 10th album and fourth self-titled release (can somebody please help the poor fellas with their album names?) from American geek rockers Weezer sees Rivers Cuomo & Co in fine summer spirits. Ten albums is a pretty decent stretch by anyone’s standards but, although their colourful power-pop is more tuneful than that of the average college-radio rocker, Weezer haven’t changed much over the past decade. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, and what you see is definitely what you get, which is why they are guaranteed to draw another enthusiastic crowd at Japan’s Summersonic festival next month. Inspired by the warmth of the West Coast, opening track California Kids, an arena-friendly anthem co-written by Adele songwriter Dan Wilson, sets the sun-and-surf tone, with a chorus worthy of the Beach Boys. The carefree vibe continues with the equally catchy Wind in our Sail, but it’s the oddball track Thank God for Girls and the poignant Endless Bummer that remind us why Weezer have stuck around for so long.