Alone is flawed, (but not awful)

Cuomo is all alone and Alone is all Cuomo

By Joey Vergara

Published Jan. 25, 2008

Not quite a solo record and not quite a B-sides collection, Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo is a different take on both concepts by the Weezer frontman.

Made up of 18 demos spanning a 15-year period that begins before the Blue Album's creation, Alone chronicles Cuomo's progression and interests as a songwriter throughout his career through some of the Weezer hits that never were.

Considering just how notoriously prolific a songwriter Cuomo is, it makes perfect sense to release a collection of his demos and unreleased songs. It is also clear on Alone that being prolific does not make you flawless.

By far the best treat of the record is the inclusion of four tracks from the fabled (read: fan-exaggerated) Songs from the Black Hole, an unfinished musical-influenced album Cuomo worked on prior to Weezer's Pinkerton. These songs feature Cuomo's special brand of theatrics with multiple points of view ("Blast Off!") and over-the-top vocal melodies ("Who You Callin' Bitch?").

Alone isn't the prettiest or best-recorded album by any means, but it still has its own quirky charm amid the questionable choices Cuomo made when putting it together. "The World We Love So Much" and "The Bomb," covers by Gregg Alexander and Ice Cube respectively, sound straight-up ridiculous.

But others, even with the lo-fi production quality that comes with home recordings like these, stand out for their honesty or playfulness. "Longtime Sunshine" is a departure from the bulk of Cuomo's previously released material with a piano leading the song, but it's also one of the best songs he has ever released. "Chess" and "Lemonade" are examples of Cuomo's sugary pop at its best. They might be lighter fare, but are no less great than the emotional heavy-hitters on Alone.

For what it is, or more importantly what it could have been (absolute trash), the rather enjoyable Alone is another important piece in any Weezer collection.