Ahead of a tour commemorating the 30th anniversary of Weezer (b.k.a. the “Blue Album”), the group is planning a gargantuan reissue of the album. The reissue contains the album remastered as well as 36 previously unreleased demos, live recordings, and curiosities (including the fabled “Kitchen Tape” demos). It arrives in a variety of formats on Nov. 1.
The band is teasing the release with what it calls the “third practice” recording of “Undone — The Sweater Song.” The recording sounds fittingly frayed as they rap and sing the song’s lyrics over its eerie guitar line. It all comes un-undone about halfway through, though, and they sound comfortable enough to sing about lying on the floor naked with one another. There’s even a ragged guitar solo and some growly vocals that reveal Rivers Cuomo’s heavy-metal roots. Listening, you get the sense that they’re having so much fun that they know this could be a hit.
“We decided that there was no need to simply repackage what’s already been uncovered (with the deluxe edition), when there was so much unreleased cool stuff still to reveal,” the band said in a statement. “Some of which has been buried for 3 decades, un-listened to!”
The reissue will be available in a variety of formats, including an ultra-limited edition packaged in an actual sweater. That edition, available only to 100 people who visit the band’s webstore, includes a certificate signed by the band members.
The Super Deluxe Edition, which without a sweater (i.e., naked, lying on the floor) includes the original album and all of the outtakes stretched across four LPs, a 10-inch EP (containing BBC recordings), and a seven-inch (with the LMU Sessions). The band’s “de facto historian,” Karl Koch, wrote the liner notes. The graphics include a pullable and retractable thread, lithographs, posters, stickers, a 12-sided die, and an enamel Bokkus pin.
Other permutations of the reissue include a double-LP edition, a zoetrope picture disc, and single LP editions on ghostly blue and clear color vinyl. These are available variously at the website of the band’s label, their own webstore, and indie retailers.
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The Blue Album came out on May 10, 1994, and has since been certified triple platinum, thanks to “Undone,” “Buddy Holly,” and “Say It Ain’t So.”
The band is kicking off its Voyage to the Blue Planet tour, which features support from the Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr., on Wednesday in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It will conclude next month with an L.A. area show at Inglewood, California’s Intuit Dome.
Blue Album 30th Anniversary Track List
Disc One
1. “My Name Is Jonas”
2. “No One Else”
3. “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here”
4. “Buddy Holly”
5. “Undone – The Sweater Song”
6. “Surf Wax America”
7. “Say It Ain’t So”
8. “In the Garage”
9. “Holiday”
10. “Only in Dreams”
11. “My Name Is Jonas” (Live on BBC Evening Sessions) *
12. “In the Garage” (Live on BBC Evening Sessions) *
13. “No One Else” (Live on BBC Evening Sessions) *
14. “Surf Wax America” (Live on BBC Evening Sessions) *
15. “Buddy Holly” (Acoustic – Live on Greater London Radio) *
16. “Undone – The Sweater Song” (Acoustic – Live on Greater London Radio) *
Disc Two
1. “Say It Ain’t So” (The Kitchen Tape Demos) *
2. “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here” (The Kitchen Tape Demos) *
3. “Paperface” (The Kitchen Tape Demos)
4. “Undone – The Sweater Song” (The Kitchen Tape Demos)
5. “Thief, You’ve Taken All That Was Me” (The Kitchen Tape Demos) *
6. “My Name Is Jonas” (The Kitchen Tape Demos) *
7. “Let’s Sew Our Pants Together” (The Kitchen Tape Demos) *
8. “Only in Dreams” (The Kitchen Tape Demos)
9. “I Can’t Forget the Way” (Third Practice) *
10. “Undone – The Sweater Song” (Third Practice) *
11. “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here” (Third Practice) *
12. “Windows Down” (Garage Practice) *
13. “My Name Is Jonas” (Garage Practice) *
14. “Only in Dreams” (Garage Practice) *
15. “Superman” (Garage Practice) *
16. “Dawn Sets Upon Us” (Garage Practice) *
17. “Just What I Needed” (Rehearsal Demo) *
18. “Buddy Holly” (Rehearsal Demo) *
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Disc Three
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1. “Let’s Sew Our Pants Together” (Live at 8121 Club) *
2. “Paperface” (Live at 8121 Club) *
3. “Only in Dreams” (Live at 8121 Club) *
4. “Conversationalist” (Wax Cover/Adaptation)” (Live at Coconut Teaszer) *
5. “Undone – The Sweater Song” (Live at English Acid) *
6. “My Name Is Jonas” (Live at English Acid) *
7. “No One Else” (Live at Club Lingerie) *
8. “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here” (Live at Club Lingerie) *
9. “Jamie” (Live at Club Lingerie) *
10. “Lullabye for Wayne” (Live at Club Lingerie) *
11. “Say It Ain’t So” (Live at Club Lingerie) *
12. “China Grove” (Live at Club Lingerie) *
13. “Jamie” (Take 6 – LMU Sessions)
14. “My Name Is Jonas” (LMU Sessions) *
15. “Jamie” (Take 5 – LMU Sessions) *
16. “Lullabye for Wayne” (LMU Sessions) *
* Previously unreleased tracks