From: xxx
[mailto:xxx@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 4:47 PM
To: karl@weezer.net
Subject: Madison, WI Show Report; Bonus Rivers Note
Hey Karl,
[edit]
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On a separate note, as I mentioned, I had the hope that you might be able to pass on a note to Rivers as you have done with several other message from the Rebel Weezer Board. It has to do with changes made to several songs during the Madison, WI show (I'm not sure if he did these for other shows, I've only heard of the Don't Let Go changes).
Anyway, in all the Green Album songs (and during a few Blue Album tracks such as Only In Dreams) you started extending certain words. For example, in Don't Let Go, when you would begin the chorus, instead of simply singing "Don't let it go, ooo-ohh-oh, don't let it go" you'd bust it out as "Don't let iiiiiitttttt go, ooo-ohh-oh, don't let iiiiiiiitttttt go".
Another example would be in Crab -- "Crab if you want it, she won't cominnnnngggg down."
I realize that you have been making an attempt to make some changes to Green Album tracks more interesting to listen to live (the new non-melodic solos, for one), but I'm not sure that extending the chorus lines is really making any sort of substantial improvement; if anything, it is only throwing off people trying to sing along (a negligible point, really, but). :)
It might make more sense if it was only featured in a few of the songs, instead of spreading it to each and every Green Album song, and the few Blue Album tracks it did leak on to did not flow well, in my opinion the songs were perfect as they were.
I will commend you, however, for the changes made to Don't Let Go. From being a likeable, albeit slightly generic, track on the album, the song sounds a thousand times better with the changes in place. It definitely brought the rock home a lot harder.
The new vibe felt much more like the classic, old school Weezer sound.
Other than that, simply fantastic show -- loved the line you made about the security guards and their rubber gloves. I'm sure they appreciated that!
Thanks very much for listening. I hope I have helped in any sort of way.
-----Original Message-----
Dear Mr. Klepek,
Regarding the extended words in Don't Let Go and other songs, this is just happening by itself, without my willing it. I realize that it's pissing people off, but I'm loathe to resist something that's happening so naturally. Do you think that the extensions might actually be improvements, but that because everyone's so used to the original vocals, it irritates them? Or do you think that the extensions are just plain bad? Maybe we should live with the extensions for a while and then go back to the original and compare. Please keep me updated on your opinion. This is weighing heavily on my mind these days.
Sincerely,
Rivers Cuomo
From: xxx [mailto:xxx@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 5:19 PM
To: karl@weezer
Subject: Re: FW: Madison, WI Show Report; Bonus Rivers Note
Dear Mr. Cuomo,
Thank you for listening to my comments. For someone such as you to take the time to take such a consideration, it is a great honor. And Karl, thank you helping to make this possible -- you have my gratitude. Now then...
I have to admit: at the actual Madison, WI show, besides Don't Let Go, the changes made to the Green Album tracks had not seemed to flow as well upon my initial listening. Upon downloading the recently released bootlegs on weezer.com, however, it's certainly apparent that the changes have, in my opinion, significantly improved their quality. In actuality, your stretching of the chorus line seems appropriate in tracks like Donít Let Go and Crab. You were right -- my initial opinion had more to do with irritation from an unexpected change than anything else.
I do still stand by my opinion that after the changes in your voice subside (if they do), it would be preferable to tweak it out of Blue Album tracks. With the tracks from the Green Album, however, it seems to add more direction and purpose and adds that extra twinkle of emotion that some fans were searching for.
I also cannot stress how much improved Donít Let Go sounds. Sadly, I do not have much technical musical know-how, but from a casual listener point-of-view, it most definitely sounds, to put it bluntly, a hell of a lot more kick ass. Continued listening has made it my favorite Green Album track next to Island in the Sun, and if the albumís sound continues to evolve in the way it has (and even if it does stop here, the improvement is apparent), Iíll definitely be burning a Green Album Version 2.0 CD in the near future.
It's understandable that attempting to meld your voice into a new shape will have its share of side effects. If you believe the stretched chorus lines are a part of that, then more power to you -- that means that there is a sign that a change *is* happening ‚ if change is in your intention. Would this, by chance, have something to do with the suggestions made by others that you need to ěbelt out the lyrics/push out more emotion/try singing from the stomach, not nasalî or something along those lines? If so, I believe your attempts are not in vein ‚ the difference between bootlegs now and from a few months ago are noticeable.
Besides that, Weezer is certainly sounding better than ever before. The Washington D.C. demos had some serious highlights (what happened to Puerto Vajarta? very unique tune!), but these new tracks blow them away in terms of style and musical arrangement. The recent additions of new verses to songs like Fall Together help the tracks become better rounded, I think.
Anyway, I have talked for far too long already. I do not want to come off as someone who is trying to fit Weezer into a personal image conjured in my mind. Iím an enormous fan of the band for a reason. Weezer is who they are because of what you, Patrick, Brian, Scott, Mikey and Matt have done with the music, and I can only hope my comments can help in some way.
Thanks again for listening, and please continue the rawk!
-xxx
From: "karl@weezer" karl@weezer.net
To: xxx@yahoo.com
Subject: FW: FW: Madison, WI Show Report; Bonus Rivers Note
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 18:21:44 -0500
-----Original Message-----
Dear Mr. xxx,
Please keep me updated on your opinion of the extended melodies--for Blue, Green, and the new songs.
Sincerely,
Rivers Cuomo