Weezer – Pinkerton

Pinkerton is the second studio album by the American rock band Weezer, released on September 24, 1996 by DGC Records. The album is a departure from the power pop sound of their self-titled debut album, and features a darker, more abrasive, and more personal style of music. Weezer produced the album themselves, without the help of a professional producer, and recorded it in various studios across the United States. The album is named after the character B.F. Pinkerton from the opera Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, who is a symbol of the band’s leader Rivers Cuomo’s loneliness and alienation.

The album consists of 10 tracks, including the singles “El Scorcho”, “The Good Life”, and “Pink Triangle”. The songs deal with themes such as sex, love, betrayal, and self-doubt. Cuomo wrote most of the songs while he was studying at Harvard University, and was influenced by his experiences with fans, critics, and women.

The album received mixed reviews from critics and fans when it was released, and was considered a commercial failure. It sold poorly compared to their debut album, and was voted as the third worst album of 1996 by Rolling Stone readers. Cuomo was embarrassed by the album and its reception, and decided to change his musical direction for Weezer’s next albums. However, over time, Pinkerton gained a cult following and critical acclaim, and is now regarded as one of Weezer’s best albums and one of the greatest albums of all time. It has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2016. Pinkerton is a masterpiece of alternative rock and emo music, and a testament to Weezer’s artistic vision.