Weezer rehearsed 15 songs in New York in preparation for the Electric Lady Studios recording sessions. Four songs from this rehearsal would not be attempted for the album: "I Swear It's True", "Getting Up and Leaving" (which would both later appear on the deluxe edition of the band's second album Pinkerton), and a reprise version of "In the Garage". Another song, "Mykel and Carli", an ode to two women who ran the Weezer fanclub, was recorded. Weezer later recorded another version of "Mykel and Carli" as a B-side for the single " Undone – The Sweater Song", with close friend of Cuomo, actor and songwriter Karl Koch, which is also included on the album's deluxe edition. [14]

Top 101–200 Albums of All Time". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016 . Retrieved February 5, 2007.Weezer ranked 294th greatest album by Rolling Stone magazine". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020 . Retrieved February 25, 2021.

a b c Mapes, Jillian (February 26, 2017). "Weezer: Weezer (Blue Album)". Pitchfork . Retrieved February 26, 2017. Weezer formed in Los Angeles in 1992, and initially struggled to engage audiences, who were more interested in grunge. In November, they recorded a demo, The Kitchen Tape, which brought them to the attention of DGC owner Geffen Records. Weezer selected Ocasek to produce because of his work with the Cars. Most of the album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City between August and September 1993. The group treated the guitars and bass as a single, 10-string instrument, playing in unison. Guitarist Jason Cropper was fired during recording, as the band felt he was threatening their chemistry; he was replaced by Brian Bell.

Notes

The Blue Album was released on May 10, 1994. [33] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) just under seven months later on December 1, 1994, and was certified platinum by the RIAA on January 13, 1995. The Blue Album was certified 2× platinum by the RIAA on August 8, 1995. The album was certified 3× platinum by the RIAA on November 13, 1998. The album peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. [34] As a single, "Undone – The Sweater Song" peaked at No. 35 on the UK Top 40, and "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So" peaked at No. 12 and No. 37 on the UK Top 40 respectively. [35] In the U.S., "Buddy Holly" peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. [36] Weezer: Weezer (The Blue Album)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 19 May 2016. While preparing for the studio sessions, Weezer focused on their vocal interplay by practicing barbershop quartet-style songs, which helped Cuomo and Sharp feel more comfortable collaborating during rehearsals. Sharp, who had never sung before joining Weezer, developed his falsetto: "I had to sing an octave higher than Rivers. After a lot of practice, I started to get it down." [13] Weezer (1994)". Tower Records. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007 . Retrieved September 4, 2007. Pappademas, Alex (April 2004). "Rhapsody in Blue". Spin. Vol.20, no.4. pp.87–88 . Retrieved November 16, 2015.

Christgau, Robert (2000). "Weezer: Weezer". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-24560-2 . Retrieved May 3, 2012. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "SZNZ: Spring Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic . Retrieved March 30, 2022. Viola – Brian Sherwood, Carrie Campbell, Cat Gray, John Batchelder, Kayleigh 'Kmizzle' Miller*, Kellen McDanielThe Blue Album received critical acclaim. [49] Rolling Stone praised the album in their year-end review, saying "Weezer's Rivers Cuomo is great at sketching vignettes (the Dungeons & Dragons games and Kiss posters that inspire the hapless daydreamer of 'In the Garage'), and with sweet inspiration like the waltz tempo of 'My Name Is Jonas' and the self-deprecating humor of lines like "I look just like Buddy Holly / And you're Mary Tyler Moore", his songs easily ingratiate." [50] Robert Christgau of The Village Voice was less complimentary and awarded the album a "neither" rating. [51] The "Buddy Holly" video won four awards at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, including prizes for Breakthrough Video and Best Alternative Video. [52] In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked it number 294 on its updated “ 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list. [53] Legacy [ edit ] Adobe Imagination Challenge "Meet the Judges" ". Adobe. Archived from the original on September 23, 2011 . Retrieved August 11, 2011.