Driving around on Sunday afternoon I was punching the presets on my radio when I came across an interview with Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, one of my all time favorite bands. It was on 90.7 wfuv out of Fordam University, which I have selected for my love of public radio but find the offerings heavy on 'folky crap' with Celtic music over the weekend. (Yes, it does have an 'Alternative Side' show from 10 to 12 pm weeknights but after a few listens I found I only cared for half of the tunes on the playlist. Plus, I had already heard of those bands so there was no learning curve which was a disappointment.) Anyway, the interview was part of Sound Opinions, a music show I'd heard of out of Chicago Public Radio but didn't know it played around here -- apparently every Sunday from 5 to 6 pm on wfuv -- I was thrilled.
Rivers sounded so relaxed and open to interrogation. Here's a guy who flew off into a ditch in the tour bus during a trip on icy roads back in December and is known for being a recluse for years at a time in the past, even to his band. But he openly spoke of the disappointment of the second album Pinkerton then how he knew how it had became a cult favorite, a great story. He also described the thought process behind "Beverly Hills" which like most Weezer songs was written from a Rivers Cuomo viewpoint, this time about being a rock star unnoticed in a town of stars. And he answered critics about lyrics that sound adolescent: he personally travels back into that period without wanting to return there. I was so mesmerized I sat in the driveway until one of the streamlined Weezer songs played, then ran inside to find it online at wfuv.org (easier than playing the actual radio in my house!)
You can listen to the full interview at the link below listed under show #221 -- http://www.soundopinions.org/