On this, Weezer's debut, you'll find some of the greatest melodies ever written. Rivers Cuomo at his young, neurotic best. Songs about alienation and anxiety, but always confident, with riffs that find a beautiful middle ground between the sweet sounds of the Beatles and the distorted aggression of Nirvana. You won't skip a song, and you'll never get tired of it. Unabashedly intelligent but never pretentious. What all pop music should be. Essential.

 

-Bill

 

I Saw Her Standing There:
This song features the famous "1,2,3,4" as counted off by McCartney to capture the feeling of a live performance on the album.  This is a catchy little number featuring McCartney on lead vocals with backing by Lennon.  It captures the classic rock and roll feeling!

 

Misery:
This song was originally written by Lennon/McCartney to be sung by Helen Shapiro, which unfortunately for her didn't work out.  The boys kept the song and did it themselves.  It's a catchy little ditty. 

 

Anna:
This is a cover of a classic R and B hit by Arthur Alexander.  Lennon sings it quite nicely, with excellent backup vocals by Paul and George. 

 

Chains:
Another cover songdone well by the boys. 

 

Boys:
This is Ringo's vocal debut.  He sounds pretty damn good if you ask me.  This, too, is a cover song and features Ringo saying "I need boys!"

 

Ask Me Why:
A love song mainly by Lennon.  It has a Smokey Robinson sound to it as Lennon was a big fan of his work.  It is a classic Lennon love ditty.

 

Please Please Me:
This song became known as Lennon's overt invitation to girls to give him pleasure.  Although this was not the case.  It was a song fashioned after Roy Orbison's sound that used the double use of please, which he liked the sound of in an earlier Bing Crosby hit.  You know the song, it is greatcome on.

 

Love Me Do:
This is one of Pauls.  It features a great harmonica part played by John.  This song does not feature Ringo on drums, but rather a studio musician.  Ringo is still pissed about that to this day (he told me so)

 

P.S. I Love You:
A sweet little love song of Paul's to his girlfriend Dot Rhone.  They broke up only a couple weeks after he wrote the song. 

 

Baby It's You:
A cover of the Shirelles (a woman's group.)  It is pretty good.  Sha la la la.

 

Do You Want To Know A Secret?:
This song is by Lennon, though George sings it.  George wasn't writing songs yet.  John let George sing it because it was only a couple notes and George wasn't yet regarded as the great singer he is today.

 

A Taste of Honey:
Its kinda mustymundane if you will.  I don't think they liked this song too much either.  Its done well. 

 

There's A Place:
You knowthey say John didn't write a non-love song until Rubber Soul (album 5) and Nowhere Man came out, but this is simply about John's introverted side where he escapes the world and does so by looking into his mind.  It doesn't sound like a ballad to me.  Either way, it's a great song. 

 

Twist and Shout:
You know this is a great song.

 

This is the first Beatles LP.  It was recorded in 1963, produced by, of course, George Martin.  I personally love the album.  It is the primitive Beatles, before all the overdubbing and drugs and Yoko (satin.)  It is raw and wonderful.  A great collectable and fun listen.  It's a great one to sing along too.  So many harmonies.  Get it.

 

-Nick