The Pinkerton Diaries and Alone III box set

Rivers Cuomo announced via his online store details to his long-awaited “Pinkerton Diaries” detailing the years between 1994-1997. Fellow music news sites and blogs (Consequence of Sound and Stereogum) have already written about this, which is no surprise considering that no website having anything to do with indie rock should overlook what might be the best Weezer related release in several years.

According to his website the release contains, in his words,

a collection of my journals, emails, letters, photos, and school papers — so you get an inside look as to exactly what I was thinking (when I wrote Pinkerton)

While salacious insight into Cuomo’s relationship during this period with original bassist Matt Sharp may be absent, one at least hopes that insight can be gained by exploring the contents of The Pinkerton Diaries and the companion Alone III demos. It will be interesting to see where this guys head was at while penning indie masterpieces such as “Tired of Sex” and “Across the Sea”; as well as the abandoned Weezer rock opera “Songs From The Black Hole” that birthed what was to become Pinkerton. While shunned by Cuomo for years after it’s release, Pinkerton became an underground cult fave and eventually the indie rock blueprint to follow. The album influenced everyone from The Get Up Kids to Jimmy Eat World, Saves the Day and even David Bazan. After all this time, it seems as though Rivers has come to grips with the albums impact and it’s genesis or he realizes he can cash in on its legacy with The Pinkerton Diaries and Alone III. Either way, I’m buying.

A box set is available for pre-order on his site for $75. Here’s the track list for Alone III:

01. I’m So Lonely
02. Getchoo
03. Lisa
04. Negativland
05. You Gave Your Love to Me Softly
06. When You’re Alone
07. Susanne
08. There Is No Other One
09. Let Me Wash at Your Sink
10. Waiting on You

Suite From the Black Hole
11. Oh No, This Is Not For Me
12. Tired of Sex
13. She’s Had a Girl
14. What Is This I Find?
15. Now I Finally See
16. Longtime Sunshine

Fulton Avenue Suite
17. I’m Lonely on a Saturday Night
18. Oh God I’m Hungry
19. I’m on Fire, You’re a Liar
20. The End of My String
21. I Can’t Break Your Heart Slow
22. Money Makes Me Happy
23. My Mind’s on You

24. Defeat on the Hill
25. Clarinet Waltz
26. A Glorious Moment

Sock Monkey Sound

Former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh passed away this last Saturday on the eve of Weezer’s headlining gig at this years Riot Fest. According to his Facebook page (which I follow), Welsh posted on Oct. 1st (below) that he was going on vacation and that he was looking forward to seeing “the mighty =w= rock out”.

Mikey replaced Matt Sharp as the bassist for the band between 1998-2001 and recorded with them on their mainstream comeback “The Green Album”. After some time with the band, Welsh quit due to what he said in a 2007 interview with Rock Salt Plum as “a lifetime of doing drugs and being undiagnosed as having bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder finally caught up with me when I was 30 yrs old”. After he left Weezer, Welsh quit music and dedicated himself to painting and fine art, selling paintings through his Facebook page and website as well as commissions for tattoos and Skateboard companies. He had said many times that his art was his therapy and helped him deal with his own personal issues.

Long time Weezer web master Karl Koch had this to say about Welsh in a blog post on Sunday via the Weezer website:

“Dear friends and fans,
It saddens me and the guys in Weezer so much to say that our beautiful, creative, hilarious and sweet friend Mikey Welsh has passed away at the very young age of 40. A unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist is gone, but we will never forget him. His chapter in the weezer story (’98 – ’01) was vital, essential, wild, and amazing.”

While the cause of death is unknown at the moment, it is suspected to be drug related. It really sucks because having followed him for a few months now, he came off as someone who really enjoyed life in spite of his troubles and was a gracious artist who really gave back to his fans. He seemed to be truly appreciative of his online fans and followers, even reaching out to those online in his times of need for encouragement and support. I like to think he knew how much his fans loved and appreciated his humor, spirit and talent. I know I did.

Thanks Mikey.

Sock Monkey Sound