Weezer have confirmed that ‘Troublemaker’, the lead track from the band’s eponymous sixth album, ‘Weezer (The Red Album)’, will become its second single on 29th September.
It comes hot on the heels of the YouTube-propelled phenomenon ‘Pork & Beans’ and its meme-filled video, which has now passed 10 million views and continues to spread across the web like a rock n’ roll rash.
The video for Troublemaker is still in production, but if past promos for ‘Buddy Holly’, ‘Keep Fishin’, ‘Hash Pipe’ and ‘Beverley Hills’ are anything to go by, you’ll do well toHills watch this space.
Written by singer-guitarist Rivers Cuomo, ‘Troublemaker’ is a tongue-in-cheek two-fingered salute to normality from an outlaw guitar hero.
Recorded in Malibu and Santa Monica with producer Jacknife Lee, it proudly plays on Cuomo's enigmatic image, marrying punchy chords and a deft melody to satirical wit and geeky bravado:
Following the release of ‘The Red Album’, Weezer hit the road for a US tour that was as innovative as it was intimate. The band posted a video on YouTube inviting fans in five major cities to pick up an instrument, learn the Weezer greatest hits (and ‘Creep’ by Radiohead for good measure) and join them for an almighty ‘Hootenanny’.
The resulting shows were a triumphant mix of high school music class, campfire singalong and exclusive fan club show where everyone went home with a smile plastered across their faces.