OK Human

by Weezer

Overview

OK Human is a quintessential Weezer title, a joke that camouflages sincere intent. By winking at Radiohead's classic OK Computer, it also acknowledges that this album is inherently human music, a collection of songs that tug at sometimes complicated emotions. Loneliness lingers at the margins of OK Human but the album never feels lonesome due to how the songs are dressed by a large orchestra, their strings softening the edges of Rivers Cuomo's compositions and underscoring their essential warmth. As Cuomo elliptically acknowledges on "Playing My Piano," these songs were largely written on a keyboard, a shift away from his trusty guitar. Occasionally, the instrumental transition results in a different kind of song for Cuomo: moody, contemplative pieces that seem to hang suspended, such as the ballads "Bird with a Broken Wing" and "Dead Roses." Just as often, the orchestral arrangements have the effect of reinvigorating familiar Weezer tricks. Listen closely and it's possible to hear how the four-piece rock band would've barreled through "All My Favorite Songs" or how they would've functioned as a boisterous counterpoint to the riffing misanthropy of "Aloo Gobi" and "Grapes of Wrath," but the lack of a guitar roar helps steer attention to Cuomo's melodicism and how his barbed humor can intertwine deeply with his feelings, resulting in pop songs that simultaneously prick and soothe. Cuomo's dedication to his comfortable tropes means OK Human doesn't sound like a radical departure for Weezer. Nevertheless, the album feels like a departure: with its soft orchestral balm and sweet melancholic undertow, OK Human offers a singular, complete listening experience unlike anything else in their catalog. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	02/12/2021
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	0075678645853
Rank:	169888

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Weezer   Primary Artist
Anne Sharer   French Horn
John Romano   Trombone
Joel Noyes   Viola
Jung Sun Yoo   Violin
Michael Roth   Viola
Tara Helen O'Connor   Flute,Piccolo
Alan Stepansky   Cello
Pavel Vinitsky   Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Rob Mathes   Horn Conductor,String Conductor
Sharon Yamada   Violin
Ryan Keberle   Trombone
Tony Kadleck   Trumpet
Lisa Kim   Violin
Becky Young   Viola
Keisuke Ikuma   Oboe,Horn (English)
Joanna Maurer   Violin
Matt Lehmann   Violin
Peter Bahng   Violin
Ann Lehmann   Violin
Dan Shelly   Bassoon
Will Frampton   Viola
Erik Ralske   French Horn
Raymond Riccomini   Trumpet

Technical Credits

William Carroll   Engineer
Jonathan Allen   Engineer
Branko Presley   Assistant Engineer
Ben Johnson   Composer
Rob Mathes   Arranger,Woodwind Arrangement
Pete Lyman   Mastering
Ashley Gorley   Composer
Paul Pritchard   Engineer
Rivers Cuomo   Composer
Maureen Sickler   Engineer
William Wittman   Engineer
Ilsey Juber   Composer
Zach Fisher   Engineer
Jake Sinclair   Producer
Perry Margouleff   Engineer
Ashley Glenn Gorely   Composer
Suzy Shinn   Engineer,Vocal Producer
John Sinclair   Mixing
Karl Wingate   Assistant Engineer
Rachel White   Engineer
Lazaro Zarate   Assistant Engineer
Andy Maxwell   Assistant Engineer
Lawton Burris   Assistant Engineer
Brian Fombona   Engineer