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SZNZ: Spring

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SZNZ: Spring
EP by
Weezer
ReleasedMarch 20, 2022 (2022-03-20)
Genre
Length20:51
Label
Producer
Weezer chronology
Van Weezer
(2021) 		SZNZ: Spring
(2022) 		SZNZ: Summer
(2022)
Singles from SZNZ: Spring
  1. "A Little Bit of Love"
    Released: March 16, 2022[4]

SZNZ: Spring is the seventh EP by American rock band Weezer, and the first of four EPs in their SZNZ (pronounced "seasons") project. It was released digitally on March 20, 2022, coinciding with the spring equinox.[5] A physical version was released on CD later the same year,[6] with a vinyl release in early 2023.[7] The album produced one single, titled "A Little Bit of Love".[8]

Background

[edit]

The SZNZ concept was first revealed by Rivers Cuomo in an interview in January 2021.[9] Cuomo stated that he wanted the Spring album to feature a "Happy, chill, stress-free" theme, later expressing a desire for an "acoustic, breezy" song in a similar vein to "Island in the Sun."[10]

On February 2, 2022, Cuomo shared a Google spreadsheet with fans which included the release dates, possible producers, overall emotion, spirituality tone, planned genre, and planned singles for each of the SZNZ EP. Spring's emotion was set to be optimistic sorrow.[11] The spreadsheet also included the band's look and the aesthetic era the clothes and EP are based on. Aesthetically, the band linked SZNZ: Spring to a pre-Christian era with influences from Celts, Paganism, and Wicca.

Release

[edit]

On March 16, 2022, Weezer released the lead single, "A Little Bit Of Love".[12] On March 16, Cuomo used his game, Weezle (a Weezer-themed spin on the popular web game Wordle), to preview snippets of the forthcoming Spring songs.[13]

SZNZ: Spring was officially released on March 20, 2022, the day of the Spring Equinox.

Critical reception

[edit]
SZNZ: Spring ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic63/100[14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
The A.V. ClubB−[16]
Exclaim!5/10[17]
Pitchfork4.4/10[18]
Riff Magazine[19]
Rolling Stone[20]

SZNZ: Spring received generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 63 based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[14] In a mixed review, Alex Hudson at Exclaim! stated that, while not the worst Weezer album, "it's frustrating to hear them sabotaging their own songs in a futile attempt to pin down the sound of a season. So far, SZNZ feels less like a lofty concept and more like silly gimmick."[17] Brady Gerber of Pitchfork was more critical, opining "unlike the expensive-sounding and often pretty OK Human—and a rarity for any proper Weezer release—SZNZ sounds cheap." However, Gerber considered the tracks "A Little Bit of Love" and "Wild at Heart" highlights of the album.[18]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Rivers Cuomo, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Opening Night" 2:27
2."Angels on Vacation" 3:25
3."A Little Bit of Love"
2:44
4."The Garden of Eden" 3:15
5."The Sound of Drums"
  • Cuomo
  • Abigail Spinner McBride
3:16
6."All This Love"
2:50
7."Wild at Heart" 2:54
Total length:20:51
Vinyl-exclusive bonus track[22]
No.TitleLength
7."Across the Meadow[1]"2:59

Notes

1.^ The Vinyl version puts track 7 "Wild at Heart" as track 8 on the tracklist.

Personnel

[edit]

Weezer

Technical

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for SZNZ: Spring
Chart (2022) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[23] 37

Notes

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Houghton, Harley (March 22, 2022). "Review: Weezer's SZNZ: Spring". Music Talkers - Latest Music News & Artist Exposure.
  2. ^ "Nové desky 11/2022 - od Charli XCX přes Weezer po Little Boots". musicserver.cz.
  3. ^ "Weezer Set Fire to 'Summer' with Their Heaviest Album Ever | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca.
  4. ^ "Weezer shares more SZNZ details; first single due out next week". 105.7 The Point. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Deville, Chris (March 20, 2022). "Stream Weezer's New EP SZNZ: Spring". Stereogum. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "SZNZ: Spring CD". Weezer.
  7. ^ "SZNZ: Spring Little Bit of Love Transparent Red Vinyl (Pre Order) | Featured".
  8. ^ "Weezer Announce 'SZNZ' EP Project: Listen To 'Spring's "A Little Bit of Love". March 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Goggins, Joe (January 21, 2021). "Weezer: 'Our fans don't seem to age out. We must be doing something right'". inews.co.uk. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  10. ^ "Weezer: "I'm very anxious right now about what it means to be human"". Upset. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "weezer: SZNS - Google Sheets". February 17, 2022. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "NEW SONG: "A Little Bit Of Love" Out Now". Weezer. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  13. ^ @riverscuomo (March 17, 2022). "Register" (Tweet). Retrieved July 30, 2023 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ a b "SZNZ: Spring [EP] by Weezer" – via www.metacritic.com.
  15. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "SZNZ: Spring Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  16. ^ "Weezer's Spring EP has some of the band's best songs in years". The A.V. Club.
  17. ^ a b "Weezer's 'SZNZ: Spring' Is as Annoying as Renaissance Faire Cosplay | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca.
  18. ^ a b Gerber, Brady (March 29, 2022). "Rivers Cuomo toys with Renaissance Faire shtick on the first of four planned EPs inspired by Vivaldi's The Four Seasons". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  19. ^ "REVIEW: Weezer brings a lot of good cheer on 'SZNZ: Spring'". March 17, 2022.
  20. ^ Grow, Kory (March 18, 2022). "Are Weezer a Band for All Seasons? Their new EP Spring Suggests … Maybe?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  21. ^ "Weezer - SZNZ: Spring".
  22. ^ "SZNZ: Spring Light Blue Vinyl (Pre Order)".
  23. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
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