Rivers Cuomo - Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo

ALONE THE HOME RECORDINGS OFRIVERS CUOMO - FIRST TIME MADE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE!

WEEZER's frontman & songwriter / visionary Rivers Cuomo releases a very special album of home demos. "Buddy Holly" became a Weezer song, while others remained in his personal vault. A true treasure chest for Weezer fans and fans of great Modern Rock songs. Album Description

Demo Weezer

So, a lot of this material was already released, but still if you are a fan of Weezer, this is a definite must-own.

These demos are really great and fun to listen to, plus if you are able to get the cd booklet, it really contains a lot of fun and interesting information of songwriting and Rivers' own thoughts on the tunes.

I really enjoy listening to to quite often, but I am a huge Weezer fan. If you are not a huge Weezer fan, then you can pass on this disc.

The song "Chess" is flippin' amazing. June 9, 2008

Essential for any serious Weezer fan

The ebb-and-flow of Rivers Cuomo's creative streak over the years has been interesting to follow, for as much as we the public at large can follow is (mostly by seeing how good or not so good a Weezer album is, and how long it takes for a new Weezer album to materialize). But Rivers has taken this to an entirely new level by digging into his musical treasure chest and sharing a bunch of demos, of old and previously unheard songs alike.

"Alone: The Home Recording of Rivers Cuomo" (18 tracks; 47 min.) is not only a fascinating look into the writing process of Rivers, but on top of that brings some pretty good music too. Most interesting are the demos of songs intended for the eventually shelved second album "Songs from the Black Hole" (instead "Pinkerton" was released), which as they are heard here almost play like a musical ("Blast Off", "Dude, We're Finally Landing", "Superfriend" and "Lover in the Snow"). In spirit they certainly are closer to Pinkerton than the Blue Album. Other interesting items: the 1995 track "Wanda (You're My Only Love)", a rejected song for the "Angus" movie soundtrack (instead "You Gave Your Love" made it on the soundtrack); "This Is the Way", cut from the "Make Believe" album; the cover "Little Diane" (recorded in 2003); and the closing track "I Was Made for You" (from 2004").

In all, this album plays surprisingly well, even if obviously the recording quality is not optimal. But a contributing factor to making this album so enjoyable are the lines notes from Rivers. And no, they are not just a line or two pre song, they fill pages and pages as Rivers explains in detail the background of each song (and the lyrics are also printed). In all, while of course this does not break any new musical ground as such, this set is essential for any serious Weezer fan. April 1, 2008

Amazing Home Recording CD

I must say I was pleasantly suprised at how well some of these songs song for being a B side style CD. Some of these songs give you a good inside look at how Rivers writes and thinks. Buying the actual CD is a must, DO NOT download this CD as you will be missing the best part. The CD case has interesting insight on each some and when, why or were it was produced. I definitely wish that the Black Hole album would have been created. I am super excited about the next Weezer CD and maybe some more home records for Rivers. March 18, 2008

great!

Be sure to keep in mind that these aren't studio recordings as your listening. Some of the songs are raw, but if you're a huge weezer fan, you'll love this album, just like I do. February 24, 2008

The Weezer we all miss

I had heard the buzz but was still somewhat dubious about Cuomo's new album. I was the lover scorned; having enjoyed Pinkerton and the Blue Album immensely, I've since been very disappointed in everything Weezer.

However, my fears were groundless as this is Rivers in his (I believe) truest form. This album showcases him when he wasn't afraid to take some chances with his music by making it nerdy or over-the-top or slightly experimental. For me, these moments are what truly define this album, and it serves as a refreshing reminder of his fantastic musical aptitude. Not all songs in here are polished, nor are all of them stellar compositions, but there are several standout tracks that tie the album together in a very compelling package.

I heartily endorse this album and hope that you give it a chance. Less production is more in this case, and with that sheen removed, you find that the music still shines through. February 24, 2008

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