Rivers Cuomo - 'asschun' correspondence

"...(asschun) started all this just by cooling out for 5 minutes and writing a decent
question, which inspired me to forward it to rivers".
- Karl Koch, 12/16/01 regarding how the fan correspondence started

Hello- well, you'll need to be more specific- can you categorize the songs into the different vocal styles you mean? which songs are which? like specifically, can you say "x, x and x all sound like [insert vocal style here] , whereas x, x and x sound more like [insert vocal style here]" ? that sort of info would help rivers answer your question, seriously...also if you could explain how the different styles sound different to you...the more details you can provide about this, the better the answer will be.

Hey bro. just passing along some comments from Rivers- he thanks you for your info so far. your comments are actually good for him, and he wants people to know that he is in fact pretty "clueless" about this stuff, beleive it or not. i guess as the actual guy writing and singing, you might not sense the change, as it maybe is gradual- anyway, he speculated as to why there is a different style more recently: less "deep" lyrics, the braces thing (correcting his lisp), recent "riffy" songs taking more of his attention toward working out the guitar parts, rushing the work put into the vocal parts before starting to record, and not listening critically enough to the recordings of his singing. He talked about singing the songs like a singer now as opposed to singing like an actor before. He says hes been really concentrating on singing the parts "right" and musically, as the expense of adding personality. He is reconsidering that approach now.

you mention "Velouria" being like the 'old' way. but he sez he doesnt even know what those lyrics mean- so how could they sound "right" to you?

you rate the summersongs2k in the "gay" category, but he was singing those with intense emotion. so...?

also, what about the old live version of butterfly thats out there, clearly from the "old" period, but rivers cant see how that singing style could be anything but "gay" by your definition.

...blue and pinkerton had very similar vocals. honestly, i cant tell much difference at all. the pre-blue demos had an awesome voice too. i would not mind the return of that at all.

are you seriously clueless to what im talking about? the best way to listen to the difference in voice is by comparing the My Name Is Jonas/Only In Dreams/Falling For You/Velouria vocals to O Girlfriend/December/Always. the way he sings is just different, it's hard to explain. then listen to pre blue demos and then the green album. see? i think the old school voice is more natural. why doesnt he ever sing softly one part and nearly scream in the next line? i dont understand why change...also, his new voice shakes way too much in my opinion. i associate that with cheesy. the new voice ruins all the new stuff for me. if only rivers, sung like he used to...i dont know what i...

#1: listen (really listen dont just think about them) to the following songs, and then rank them, just in terms of your favorite vocal performances- NOT by which songs are your favorite, but by which vocal performances are best in your opinion.

O girlfreind
the world has turned
slave
superstar
velouria
acoustic butterfly (1996)
I Do

as you listen, try listening to them and comparing them "head to head", like o girlfreind vs world has turned, i do vs butterfly,. etc. the idea is to listen to them with fresh ears and not necessarily hear what you know youre going to hear.

#2 what is your opinion of the current, 2001 performances of the blue album songs (vocally)?

From: xxxxx [mailto:xxx@XAVIER.XU.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 9:50 AM
To: karl@weezer
Subject: Re: Rivers's voice,

i took the time to listen to all the songs again, toÝrepressÝany bias i had toward my favorite songs. it's not to say that i can repress all of my bias, so i dont know how accurate my opinion can be...

some songs were very difficult to find a difference in. others...eh let's just say not so hard.

1) velouria
2) the world has turned
3) butterfly
4) superstar (sounds like punk singing, i had no idea where to put this.)
5) slave
6) i do
7) o girlfriend

you see, 2 and 3 are very close. there is a huge gap betweenÝ3 and 4. i must have switched the last 4 10x...when i started comparing them one by one. as i write this i am considering switching....

at some points duringÝ'slave' it sound like he is singing slightly off key which hurts my ears. it happens when his voice sounds like it breaks on purpose...do you understand? "...no way, youre on your own, you can see things" this line is sung almost annoyingly. o girlfriend and i do were just obvious new style. excessive quivering, some voice breaks, same voice throughout.

another thing: it sounds like he sings without as much energy now, not necessarily emotion. he doesnt go from soft to loud much. i couldnt tell you where he has in recently written songs.

ah the blue songs: i switched from listening for 20 minutesÝofÝ#4-7Ýto a 9-20-01 bootleg.Ýpretty soon i will listen to a 11-22-96 boot for comparison....i am glad those songs were not sung with the new voice. that would be butchery. of course vocally, it is missing the matt sharp falsettos but i tried to ignore that fact and just listen to Rivers. his voice was a lot more raspier in the day. it worked really well with the soft/loud dynamics when he had bursts of 'loud'.

PS concerning the falsetto, it's fine that most of green lacked falsettos because the type of music in general would probably not work together with that voice.

From: karl@weezer
To: xxx@XAVIER.XU.EDU
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 7:30 PM
Subject: FW: Rivers's voice,

I'm not hearing what you're hearing on Slave.Ý Can you explain your view a little more?

I'm sorry for all these questions but I can't resist the urge to ask.Ý I'm a little obsessive sometimes.

I don't necessarily agree with all of your views but they've certainly helped me to see things that I want to fix.

One other thought:Ý I went through a massive Oasis phase in 97-99.Ý I bet Liam rubbed off on me.Ý He's a very non-dynamic singer.Ý PerhapsÝhis influence wasn't a good thing.

One other question (so I can better understand your biases):Ý what recently released albums do you love?

*Note - asschun's full reply to the above message is currently unavailable. The following quotes are taken from The Rebel Weezer Board:

"i emailed him back as soon as i received the email(which i check nearly every time i am at the computer now)"

"i wont tell you all that i listed, (im ashamed of some of them)but i said the radiohead albums, the smashing pumpkins hit cd, the D...."

then there is the green album....i dont love it. let's just say it was a disappointment. from the first mp3 that was released, teenage victory song, to the last track. i really dont think i hate it. i just like to think i do. its not a bad album, it was just nothing special compared to anything i had heard recently. i cant even compare it to blue/pinkerton, for obvious reasons. it was just disappointing, and i dont like to admit that. but i can live with 2 awesome =w= albums on my own. rock.

From: "karl@weezer" <karl@weezer.net>
To: xxx@XAVIER.XU.EDU
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2001 2:05 AM
Subject: FW: Rivers's voice: Dear Rivers,

Thanks for the help. I honestly prefer talking to people like yourself rather than a producer, a manager, or a record executive. You make suggestions motivated by artistic concerns, you posess greater knowledge of weezer-music, and you notice the tiny details those other hired-hands miss.

I wish I could grasp the rock entirely on my own, but the truth is, I, and most other musicians, need some sort of advising--whether it be from a manager, a girlfriend, or, in my case, an ex-fan, so . . . as long as you're willing to give the criticism, I'm willing to take it.

i dont know if i really helped you that much, i just pointed out facts and gave you my opinion on those facts. but im still a weezer fan even though the new stuff doesnt interest me. at least i consider myself a weezer fanhave you decided on anything about your voice? are you going to consider concentrating on it?