“Don’t Let Go” expresses commitment to a partner. Like a cheerleader specializing in matters of the heart, Weezer points out that love is available for anyone willing to “grab it . . . show it . . . grow it” (“Photograph”). The joys of recreation and companionship inhabit “Island in the Sun.” On “Knock-Down Drag-Out,” the singer wants to reconcile a romance and pledges to make up for bad behavior. The love songs “Smile” and “Simple Pages” offer and seek affection, respectively. A man dreams of making a home with the girl he loves, one that includes “glorious children” (“Glorious Day”).
“O Girlfriend” fondly recalls the calming effects of recreational drug use. Possibly meant as a bleak cautionary tale of prostitution in Los Angeles, “Hash Pipe”’s drug and sex-for-sale lyrics are disturbingly ambiguous. A line on “Don’t Let Go” alludes to polytheism.
It’s easy to get caught up in Weezer’s upbeat grind of adrenalized guitars—a dynamic blend of ’60s beach music, British invasion riffs and congenial punk. Green has some great messages, but families wanting to avoid the few glitches should check out CCM’s All Star United.
