Review: Weezer’s ‘OK Human’ is more than okay

“OK Human” is the newest album from the alt-rock band Weezer. This album includes twelve dazzling displays of lead singer Rivers Cuomo’s vocal talents and the imagination of the band. “OK Human” is the Los Angeles based band’s fourteenth studio album, and the title is a play on the Radiohead album “OK Computer”.

This album is very eccentric and focuses heavily on strings and piano; the orchestral elements bring beauty to the power of Cuomo’s voice, adding an element rarely seen in the band’s usual albums.

Every song on this album is immaculate. Each song keeps the same pace or slows it down, giving the listener a reason to keep listening.

The best songs on this album are “Aloo Gobi”, “Grapes of Wrath”, “Playing my Piano” and “Mirror Image”. Each song adds its own feeling to the album, with “Playing my Piano” and “Mirror Image” coming together as two parts of one song.

These two songs play off one another, right at the end of “Playing my Piano” there is no pause between the end as it transitions into “Mirror Image”, picking up the pace and bringing some sad vibes. The song “Mirror Image” is Cuomo becoming complete with his wife and the fact that one day he could have to watch her die. “Playing My Piano” is about the escape he feels when he plays his piano, losing track of time and neglecting self-care.

The album gives the feeling of isolation, especially in “Playing My Piano”, when Cuomo mentions Zoom interviews and being by himself downstairs instead of upstairs with his family. The imagery in “Aloo Gobi” seems to be a man who feels isolated or distanced by people in his hometown.

The overall feel of this album is melancholic, the sadness that is deep inside anyone who feels isolated, but there are also small bits of happiness and hope that shine through with the songs “Everything Happens for a Reason” and “Here Comes the Rain”. These songs bring a happier beat than the other songs on the album.  This album is the perfect listen for a rainy day or just a day to close off from the world.

“OK Human” is the predecessor to the band’s upcoming album, “Van Weezer”. “Van Weezer” would have been the fourteenth studio album, but the band was delayed due to COVID-19 and decided to prioritize “OK Human”.

This is a beautiful album, and it shows that Weezer is not done growing yet.