Rivers Cuomo doesn't care what anyone thinks.  He's never cared.  He's going to write songs that he wants to write.  If he wants to write pop songs that include lyrics like "What's with these homies dissin' my girl," and if he figures out a way to rhyme the words bitch and kids, then that's what he's going to do.  Weezer's seventh studio album Raditude follows that same trend.  Continuing where The Red Album left off, Weezer are journeying further into a more pop rock sound and the result is pure pop rock bliss.

The most striking difference about Raditude compared with Weezer's past efforts is that Cuomo decided to bring in some outside sources for collaborations.  He is still the main songwriter in the band, but this time Rivers collaborated with the likes of Butch Walker, Jermaine Dupri, Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler from the All American Rejects, and Lil' Wayne.  These collaborations, especially the ones with Jermaine Dupri and Lil' Wayne may sound a bit odd, and they certainly are, but in the end they work, and the band is all the better for it.  Weezer tried this out for the first time with The Red Album when Cuomo gave each other band member, guitarist Brian Bell, drummer Pat Wilson, and bassist Scott Shriner, their own track to write and even sing lead vocals.  I don't think that was as much of a success as this time around is, but at least they were expanding their music from just having Cuomo write and sing each and every song.

Raditude begins with lead single '(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To' and it will grab you right off the bat.  Listening to this track makes me think I'm sitting in a 1950s diner enjoying a malted milkshake.  I've always felt this was Weezer's strength and the reason so many were attracted to them.  To me they always had that old school doo-wop sound that everyone could sing along to.  'I'm Your Daddy' and 'The Girl Got Hot' continue that infectious pop with chugging guitars and although they may sound a little different and more poppy, if you listen closely, you'll still hear that classic Weezer that we've all grown accustomed to.  'Can't Stop Partying' is where things get a little crazy.  This is the song with Dupri and Lil' Wayne and even includes a rap interlude from the latter.  It's a synthesized mid-tempo beat that is extremely catchy, but a lot of long time Weezer fans are going to absolutely hate this track.  I applaud the band for thinking outside the box and trying something different. I was actually expecting a song like this at some point as Cuomo has said in the past few years that he'd like to rap.  As different as this song is from typical Weezer, I wouldn't be surprised to hear this song being played in dance clubs at some point in the future. 

As we continue through the rest of Raditude, we're treated to a more familiar Weezer with the songs 'Put Me Back Together,' 'Trippin' Down the Freeway,' and 'Let It All Hang Out'.  Old school Weezer fans will probably appreciate these three songs more than everything else on this album.  'Put Me Back Together' is the collaboration with the All American Rejects and you can certainly hear the influence.  The weird thing about 'Let It All Hang Out,' which in my opinion is probably the best track on the album, is that it was co-written with Jermaine Dupri.  I say it's weird because it just might be the most familiar Weezer song on Raditude, even with Dupri's input.  Outside of some lyrics that include name dropping Jay-Z and "going out with the homies", this is the most guitar rocking song here and if you're not singing along with it after the first chorus, there's something wrong with you. 

A lot of people are not going to like Raditude on first listen.  YOU may not like Raditude on first listen or even at all.  But I urge you to give it time.  Listen to it a few times over and then make your decision.  It is infectious pop rock that will find a way to catch a hold of you.  Remember, everyone hated Pinkerton when it first came out and now it's considered Weezer's masterpiece.  And to all of you hardcore Pinkerton fans out there, it's time to move on.  Weezer is never going to release another Pinkerton.  It's time to get over it.  Weezer has never released the same album twice, so why would they start now?  And if you're not going to take my advice and move on, then you need a Raditude adjustment.

Check these out: (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To, Trippin' Down the Freeway, Let It All Hang Out