by Aaron Ross, news editor

When people say they like Weezer, they usually follow it up with: “I mean, their old stuff.” The band’s had a rocky ride since releasing their critically and commercially successful platinum debut. Weezer’s next album, upon release, was panned by critics and completely failed to meet commercial expectations (though nowadays it’s praised by both critics and fans). Each of Weezer’s following albums has received lackluster reviews and have had only varying degrees of success. But Weezer’s most recent album, “Everything Will Be Alright In The End,” surprises greatly by showing that Weezer has still got something left in the tank.

Weezer’s members have never been known for their great musicianship, lyrically or instrumentally. At its best, Weezer’s music is relatable, heavy and catchy, and there’s nothing wrong with that. For the most part, this album meets those expectations. Lyrically, the album is flat-out cliché: lines like “Kick in the door / more hardcore / rockin’ out like it’s ’94” and “I’m lonely / so hold me” are just the tip of the iceberg.

Despite this, the songs are still enjoyable because they’re so well-produced. The guitars, the drums,the bass and Rivers Cuomo’s vocals sound like candy on every song. It’s impossible to not bob your head along to the album — even to songs that are undoubtedly simple and repetitive. Everything’s extremely poppy and yet still manages to rock heavy, and every single song has an enjoyable moment — be it a short solo, a drum beat, or a chest-pounding chorus.

This is album may not be Weezer going back to their 90s sound. It may not be smart — heck, it may be even kind of dumb. Regardless, it’s definitely enjoyable. It’s Weezer doing what they do best: writing solid power pop for 14-year-olds.

Photo from Republic Records.