There’s no mistaking it, Christmas With Weezer may be comprised of Yuletide requirements, however from the opening riff of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” it’s unquestionably a present from the kings of nerd rock. Launched on December 16, 2008, the six-song digital EP was initially conceived as an unique for the sport Faucet Faucet Revenge, an iOS app on the iPod Contact (bear in mind these?) and iPhones. Although Faucet Faucet Revenge, which was like Dance Dance Revolution for the fingers, had beforehand partnered with artists like 9 Inch Nails, The Chemical Brothers, and Daft Punk (and would go on to create a Woman Gaga version, themed round The Fame), Weezer had been the primary artists to file music solely for the favored sport.
Hearken to Christmas With Weezer now.
An exception within the group’s catalog
Because of the shortly evolving intersection of music and expertise, Christmas With Weezer additionally marked the primary time {that a} group recorded songs particularly for listening to inside an app that wasn’t a digital service supplier (like iTunes or Spotify). Nevertheless, because of an amazing response from followers following the discharge of Faucet Faucet Revenge’s Christmas With Weezer version, the group determined to make the songs out there to buy on a large foundation, in order that non-app customers may benefit from the vacation goodness as nicely.
The thought of partnering with the sport for unique content material was conceived of by drummer Pat Wilson, who was an avid fan of the brand new iPhone, which was starting to switch extra rudimentary smartphone choices just like the Sidekick and the BlackBerry. In an uncommon transfer for Weezer, Wilson not solely laid down the songs’ drum tracks, but additionally recorded all of the guitars himself, making Christmas With Weezer an exception within the group’s catalog. (Wilson would additionally play guitar for almost all of the group’s 2009 Troublemaker tour, with seasoned percussionist Josh Freese taking up drum duties.) To prep for the extensive launch of Christmas With Weezer later that month, the band went again into the studio to remix the songs, revising a few of frontman Rivers Cuomo’s lead vocals and including further thrives, together with backing vocals from lead guitarist Brian Bell.
A sonic return
Although Christmas With Weezer was sandwiched in between Weezer’s “Red Album” and Raditude – each poppier outliers within the band’s catalog – the festive assortment provided a sonic return to the basic “Blue Album” period, a lot to the delight of many followers.
For the digital Christmas outing, Weezer lined six basic vacation tracks: “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “The First Noel,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” The latter was the one monitor to be made out there on a bodily launch, when it appeared on a CD compilation the next 12 months: JDRF’s Hope For The Holidays, which benefited the Junior Diabetes Analysis Basis.
Although the album’s preparations are pretty easy, staying true to the songs’ lyrics and melody strains, Weezer applies their signature guitar-driven power-pop to every of the songs. Quick and candy, the EP clocks in at simply round quarter-hour.
Vacation power-pop
Christmas With Weezer adopted just one different vacation effort by the group, a 2000 radio promo (and fan membership unique) which was merely referred to as Christmas CD, and which featured two unique tracks by the band, “The Christmas Song” and “Christmas Celebration.” The 2 songs had been additionally briefly reissued as Winter Weezerland, an iTunes unique launched in 2005.
Although solely six songs lengthy, Christmas With Weezer was a welcome digital stocking-stuffer for the band’s followers. Yr after 12 months, it provides simply the correct quantity of edge to any vacation playlist.
Christmas With Weezer can purchased right here.
