Pitchfork

[Updated Monday, February 2nd, 2004 03:30:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Back with another burst of flaming W's, Weezer are planning to release the long awaited deluxe edition of the self-titled 'Blue Album' from 1994, with a b-side and rarity-jammed bonus disc that's actually longer than the now 10-year-old album it purports to glorify. The bonus disc, lustily subtitled Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets, consists almost entirely of alternate versions of 'Blue Album' classics, including some of the infamous 'kitchen tape' demos, 'pre-production' rehearsals, and the original album mix of Alternative Nation megasmash "Say It Ain't So," presumably before Ric Ocasek graced it with his trademark sledgehammer choruses. The Blue Album: Deluxe Edition is out March 23rd. Tracklist:

Disc one: Weezer (The Blue Album):
01 My Name Is Jonas
02 No One Else
03 The World Has Turned And Left Me Here
04 Buddy Holly
05 Undone (The Sweater Song)
06 Surfwax America
07 Say It Ain't So
08 In The Garage
09 Holiday
10 Only In Dreams

Disc two: Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets:
01 Mykel and Carli [b-side]
02 Susanne [b-side]
03 My Evaline [b-side]
04 Jamie [from DGC Rarities, Vol. 1]
05 My Name Is Jonas [live b-side]
06 Surfwax America [live b-side]
07 Jamie [live acoustic b-side]
08 No One Else (live acoustic b-side)
09 Undone [previously unreleased kitchen tapes]
10 Paperface [previously unreleased kitchen tapes]
11 Only In Dreams [previously unreleased kitchen tapes]
12 Lullaby For Wayne [previously unreleased pre-production recording]
13 I Swear It's True [previously unreleased pre-production recording]
14 Say It Ain't So [original album mix]

Also due on March 23rd is Video Capture Device, a DVD featuring "three hours of videos, mini-documentaries, live footage, and behind the scenes action from 1991-2002" as well as band member commentary on some pieces. It's sure to satisfy the Scarlet Huntsville in us all. Or maybe it's the little James Hepler who wants more Weezer? I know, "who the fuck are they?" Well, according to a list of "random Weezer sightings" posted on the band's official website, 6th grader "Emma G." of the Pineland Public School in Ontario, Canada has published a touching short story, "The Losing of Pinkerton," which is actually available in outline and rough draft forms as well as the thrilling "final edit" which details, in unflinching detail, the anguish experienced by youth over borrowed CD's that never get returned (I love how Weezer has time to search for and list 12 random Weezer sightings, including a mention on Vancouver station CFOX's 99 Must-Have CD's list right alongside Nickelback and 3 Doors Down, but no fucking time to e-mail Pitchfork back).

In other W news, the boys are currently in the studio, deep in "preproduction days," which will hopefully be followed by "recording phase two," according to the continually quixotic Weezer.com. Perhaps the boys will eventually use their sonic gifts to cure world hunger? Or as an excuse to dress up in sandman uniforms from Logan's Run and chase feather-haired Farrah Fawcetts across the Mojave desert in a totally retro video? Whatever direction they decide upon will be guided by producer Rick Rubin, who has the band working on a large number of new songs for album number five (the mauve album?), possibly to be ready by the end of the year.