The arrival of a new Weezer album is always a cause for joyous celebration, well in my house anyway, especially as they had spoiled fans with two albums in two years in the shape of 2001's "Green" and 2002's "Maladroit", and have since made us wait another three years for their next slice of Emo/Pop/Indie/Rock/Punk pie (delete as applicable).

This new record is right up my street as I've always been a fan of Weezer's poppier tinged rock stuff and never really identified with the more introspective side of Rivers Cuomo's song writing. I've only played "Pinkerton" twice in nine years, although I might have to invest some more time in it if everyone else's opinion is to be believed.

Anyway, onto the new stuff, the album opens with the future classic and first single "Beverly Hills" amazing what you can do with an old Wheatus verse and a Joan Jett riff isn't it?!? Anyway this is vintage Weezer, sing-along chorus, sarcastic lyrics, great talk box guitar solo, truly excellent stuff!

The other highlights from the more rock end of the spectrum are "We Are All On Drugs" with its keen observational lyrics about recreational drug use but absolute classic chorus married to some great guitar riffs, "This Is Such A Pity" which comes over all 80's rock on us with dashes of synth and a bass line reminiscent of Billy Idols "White Wedding" and "My Best Friend" with its choppy rhythm work and keyboard lines.

There are also the now obligatory songs about Coumo's inability to find happiness in relationships, with him apologising to everyone on "Pardon Me", threatening almost stalker-like behaviour on "Haunt You" and just begging to be loved on "Hold Me". This is unfortunately where the album loses its balance somewhat, with there being too much material in this vein and not enough of the more upbeat rockier tracks to even things out.

That said it is certainly a very good album and if the right choices of single are made will very likely go on to be Weezer's biggest selling yet ("Beverly Hills" has already eclipsed their previous best selling single "Buddy Holly").