I hope you don't mind another voice email. Asschun (DJ) is bringing up some stuff and I'd like to put in my two cents on what's being said, if I may.

Rivers's voice has changed three times in all the songs I've heard. The first, and I guess, original voice, was during the kitchen tapes and first weezer demo. He screams a lot more and it's more shaky, I guess you could say. Like...untamed. Paperface, anyone?

The second voice was during the blue album/pinkerton, it sounded slightly deeper and way more controlled and even smoothed over, if you will. There were noted VERY slight lisps, also. Only in Dreams or Say it Aint So are the best "demos" of this voice, methinks.

The third started I guess around the summer 2000 songs and has continued until now. It's slightly higher. The green album songs demonstrate it best (O Girlfriend), or On the Edge.

These differences are in no way bad. I like all of them. Rivers could never have a bad singing voice. I think there are some factors at play as to why this 'issue' has been raised: a lot of fans are newer to the fanbase and haven't been to a live show and don't know that any songs sung live by any band are slightly different than the album versions. The only way to contest directly would be to re-record an old song. Rivers sings the old songs pretty much just like the album versions anyway. Here's an example of a slight difference though: when rivers says "i hate to see you" during undone at the 9.26.2001 philadelphia spectrum show. I think his voice cracked but God forbid his voice change slightly for his rabid fans! ha.

Another reason for the change is obviously his singing lessons to tame the voice (I was told he has had them but I never did confirm) and the braces.

This is basically about fan nit-picking (sic?). I'm not apart of it but I see it being discussed a lot lately. Rivers, and the rest of the band, are doing a tremendous job and these new songs are a real improvement. Which is awesome because there's no such thing as a bad weezer song. I'm not saying that because of blind adoration either. Improving on something that's good already is beyond good. But that's stating the obvious.

Dear xxx,

Do you think the difference is really in my vocal approach or is it in the melodies themselves? Paperface is kind of a screamer melody; Blue and Pink are broad, almost instrumental-style melodies; Green are much smaller, more manageable, vocal-style melodies (a la Oasis). Do you think the simpler melodies are what's turning people off? I tell you one thing: they're a lot funner to sing.

Sincerely,

Rivers Cuomo

P.S. It's interesting that most people perceive the Green melodies as higher; they're actually lower.