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'{{Featured article}} {{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> | Name = Pinkerton | Type = studio | Artist = [[Weezer]] | Cover = Pinkerton cover.jpg | Alt = A village in a mountainous landscape during night. A man with a conical hat and a cane, and a saddled horse can be seen in the foreground. At the top left corner of the image is written "Weezer", and at top right is "Pinkerton". | Released = {{startdate|1996|9|24|mf=yes}} | Recorded = September 1995, January&nbsp;– June 1996 | Studio = [[Sound City Studios|Sound City]], [[Los Angeles]]; [[Fort Apache Studios]], [[Boston]]; Hollywood Sound Recorders, Los Angeles; Rumbo Recorders, [[Canoga Park, Los Angeles|Canoga Park]]; [[Electric Lady Studios]], [[New York City]] | Genre = {{flatlist| * [[Emo]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20437325,00.html |title=''Pinkerton'': Deluxe Edition Review |last=Vozick-Levinson |first=Simon |date=November 3, 2010 |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |accessdate=June 4, 2013}}</ref><ref name="MTVimportant">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/enwiki/w/weezer/news_feature_102504 |title=mtv.com: Weezer Are the Most Important Band of the Last 10 Years |last=Montgomery |first=James |work=[[MTV|mtv.com]] |publisher=[[MTV Networks]] |accessdate=June 4, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525215050/http://www.mtv.com/bands/enwiki/w/weezer/news_feature_102504/ |archivedate=May 25, 2013 |df= }}</ref> * [[alternative rock]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/11/02/weezers-pinkerton-reissue-rivers-cuomo/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105204748/http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/11/02/weezers-pinkerton-reissue-rivers-cuomo/ |dead-url=yes |archive-date=November 5, 2010 |title=Weezer's 'Pinkerton' reissue: Read the 2001 EW story where Rivers Cuomo called the now-classic album a 'hugely painful mistake' |last=Highfill |first=Samantha |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=November 2, 2010 |accessdate=August 15, 2014 }}</ref> * [[power pop]]<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/pinkerton-mw0000646499 |title=''Pinkerton'' – Weezer |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |work=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[AllRovi]] |accessdate=June 4, 2013}}</ref> * [[pop punk]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/sacred-cows-weezers-pinkerton-is-not-a-masterpiece-its-creepy |title=Sacred Cows – Weezer's 'Pinkerton' Is Not A Masterpiece, It's Creepy |last=MacKay |first=Emily |work=[[NME]] |date=November 12, 2010 |accessdate=April 10, 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107181303/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/sacred-cows-weezers-pinkerton-is-not-a-masterpiece-its-creepy |archivedate=November 7, 2014 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> }} | Length = {{duration|m=34|s=36}} | Label = [[DGC Records|DGC]] | Producer = Weezer | Last album = ''[[Weezer (1994 album)|Weezer]]''<br />(1994) | This album = '''''Pinkerton'''''<br />(1996) | Next album = ''[[Weezer (2001 album)|Weezer]]''<br />(2001) | Misc = {{singles | Name = Pinkerton | Type = studio | single 1 = [[El Scorcho]] | single 1 date = September 19, 1996 | single 2 = [[The Good Life (Weezer song)|The Good Life]] | single 2 date = October 29, 1996 | single 3 = [[Pink Triangle (song)|Pink Triangle]] | single 3 date = May 20, 1997 }} }} '''''Pinkerton''''' is the second studio album by American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Weezer]], released on September 24, 1996 on [[DGC Records]]. After abandoning plans for a [[rock opera]], ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]'', Weezer recorded ''Pinkerton'' between songwriter [[Rivers Cuomo]]'s terms at [[Harvard University]], where he wrote much of the album. It is the last Weezer album to feature bassist [[Matt Sharp]]. To better capture their live sound, Weezer self-produced ''Pinkerton'', creating a darker, more abrasive album than their 1994 [[Weezer (1994 album)|self-titled debut]]. Cuomo's lyrics express disillusionment with the rock lifestyle; the album is named after the character BF Pinkerton from [[Giacomo Puccini]]'s 1904 opera ''[[Madama Butterfly]]'', whom Cuomo described as an "asshole American sailor similar to a touring rock star". Like the opera, the album contains references to [[Japanese culture]]. ''Pinkerton'' produced three singles: "[[El Scorcho]]", "[[The Good Life (Weezer song)|The Good Life]]" and "[[Pink Triangle (song)|Pink Triangle]]". It debuted at number 19 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and fell short of sales expectations after the success of Weezer's debut. It initially received mixed reviews, but achieved [[cult following|cult status]] and wide acclaim years later. It was certified [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]] on 16 September 2016. == Background == [[File:Rivers Cuomo in Thailand.jpg|alt=|thumb|upright|Frontman Rivers Cuomo's struggles with rock and roll success influenced the writing of ''Pinkerton''.]] In 1994, after the multi-platinum success of Weezer's [[Weezer (1994 album)|self-titled debut album]], Weezer took a break from touring for the Christmas holidays.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 137}} In his home state of Connecticut, songwriter [[Rivers Cuomo]] began preparing material for Weezer's next album using an [[Multitrack recording|8-track]] recorder.<ref name="weezerofficalpage">{{cite web |url=http://www.weezer.com/info/recording/WeezRecHist7.htm |title=Weezer Record History Page 7|date=March 2006 |work=weezer.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515090914/http://www.weezer.com/info/recording/WeezRecHist7.htm|archivedate=May 15, 2007 |accessdate=June 4, 2013}}</ref> His original concept was a [[science fiction]] [[rock opera]] titled ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]] ''that expressed his mixed feelings about success.<ref name="weezerofficalpage"/> Weezer developed ''Songs from the Black Hole'' through intermittent recording sessions throughout 1995.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 139}} In March, Cuomo, who was born with one leg shorter than the other, had [[Limb lengthening methods|extensive leg surgery to lengthen his right leg]], followed by painful [[physiotherapy]] sessions. This affected his songwriting, as he would spend long periods hospitalized, unable to walk without the use of a cane, and under the influence of painkillers.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|pp = 148–149}} In the same period, Cuomo applied to study classical composition at [[Harvard University]] with an application letter describing his disillusionment with the rock lifestyle, writing: <blockquote>Fans ask me all the time what it is like to be a rock star. I can tell that they are dreaming, as I dreamed, when I was a kid, of someday ruling the world with a rock band. I tell them the same thing I would tell any young rock-star-to-be [...] you will get lonely. You will meet two hundred people every night, but each conversation will generally last approximately thirty seconds, and consist of you trying to convince them that no, you do not want their underwear. Then you will be alone again, in your motel room. Or you will be on your bus, in your little space, trying to kill the nine hours it takes to get to the next city, whichever city it is. This is the life of a rock star.{{sfn|Cuomo|2011|p = 41}}</blockquote> Cuomo felt frustrated by the "limitations of rock". Every night after performing with Weezer, he would listen to [[Giacomo Puccini]]'s 1904 opera ''[[Madama Butterfly]]; ''the "depth of emotion and sadness and tragedy" inspired him to go further with his music.<ref name="5-10">{{Cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/9590-rivers-cuomo/ |title=Rivers Cuomo |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=February 9, 2015 |accessdate=February 15, 2015 |last=Cohen |first=Ian}}</ref> By May 1996, Cuomo's songwriting had become "darker, more visceral and exposed, less playful", and the ''Songs from the Black Hole'' concept was abandoned.<ref name="PinkertonDeluxe">''Pinkerton Deluxe'' liner notes</ref> Weezer's second album would instead feature songs written while Cuomo was at Harvard, chronicling his loneliness and frustration, or what Cuomo referred to as his "dark side".<ref name="weezerofficalpage" />{{sfn|Cuomo|2011|p = 170}} == Recording == {{see also|Songs from the Black Hole#Recording and abandonment}} In 1995, a few days before Cuomo left to study at Harvard University, Weezer gathered for two weeks of recording at New York City's [[Electric Lady Studios]] where they had recorded their debut, and tracked the songs "[[Why Bother? (Song)|Why Bother?]]", "[[Getchoo]]", "No Other One" and "Tired of Sex".{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 158}}{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 157}} Weezer hoped to explore "deeper, darker, more experimental stuff"{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 157}} which would better resemble the band's live sound;{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 191}} to this end, they decided against hiring a [[record producer|producer]], feeling that "the best way for us to sound like ourselves is to record on our own."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 190}} To give the album a live, "raw" feel, Cuomo, guitarist [[Brian Bell]] and bassist [[Matt Sharp]] recorded their vocals in tandem around three microphones rather than [[overdubbing]] them separately.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 192}} While Cuomo was at Harvard other Weezer members worked on side projects.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 159}} Sharp promoted the [[Return of the Rentals|debut album]] by his band [[The Rentals]].{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 159}} Bell and drummer [[Patrick Wilson (musician)|Patrick Wilson]] worked on material for their bands the [[Space Twins]] and the [[The Special Goodness|Special Goodness]], respectively.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 158}}{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 159}} In January 1996, during Cuomo's winter break, Weezer regrouped for a two-week recording session at [[Sound City Studios]] in Van Nuys, California to complete the songs they had worked on the previous August.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 176}} After recording new songs "[[El Scorcho]]" and "[[Pink Triangle (song)|Pink Triangle]]", Weezer separated again while Cuomo returned to Harvard.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 176}} During Cuomo's 1996 spring break, Weezer regrouped at Sound City Studios and recorded three new songs, "[[The Good Life (Weezer song)|The Good Life]]", "Across the Sea" and "Falling for You", before Cuomo returned to Harvard for his university finals.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 187}} The band completed the album in mid-1996 in Los Angeles. Two additional tracks, "I Swear It's True" and "Getting Up and Leaving", were abandoned prior to the [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] process.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 189}} == Writing and composition == ''Pinkerton'' features a darker, more abrasive sound than Weezer's debut.<ref name="AllMusic" /><ref name="Tiny Mix Tapes">{{cite web|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Weezer,631 |title=Tiny Mix Tapes Reviews: Weezer – ''Pinkerton'' |work=[[Tiny Mix Tapes]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018131019/http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Weezer%2C631 |archivedate=October 18, 2007 |accessdate=June 4, 2013 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> Writing from a more direct and personal perspective,{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 202}} Cuomo wrote of his [[Relational aggression|dysfunctional relationships]], [[sexual frustration]], and struggles with [[Personal identity|identity]].{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 192}}{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 193}}{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 194}}{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 195}}{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 196}} The album charts his "cycle between 'lame-o and partier'."<ref>Edwars, Gavin. ''Rivers' Edge''. Details Magazine, 1997, Volume 15, number nine.</ref> At just under thirty-five minutes, ''Pinkerton'' is, according to Cuomo, "short by design."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 192}} The album's first song, "Tired of Sex", written before the release of the ''Blue Album'',{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 105}} has Cuomo describing meaningless sex encounters with [[groupies]], reciting his list of encounters and wondering why true love eludes him.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 192}} "Across the Sea" was inspired by a letter Cuomo received from a Japanese fan: "When I got the letter, I fell in love with her. It was such a great letter. I was very lonely at the time, but at the same time I was very depressed that I would never meet her."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 195}} Second single "[[The Good Life (Weezer song)|The Good Life]]" chronicles the rebirth of Cuomo after an identity crisis as an [[Ivy League]] loner. Cuomo, who felt isolated at Harvard, wrote the song after "becoming frustrated with that hermit's life I was leading, the ascetic life. And I think I was starting to become frustrated with my whole dream about purifying myself and trying to live like a monk or an intellectual and going to school and holding out for this perfect, ideal woman. And so I wrote the song. And I started to turn around and come back the other way."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 194}}{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 195}} Lead single "[[El Scorcho]]" addresses Cuomo's shyness and inability to approach a girl while at Harvard; he explained that the song "is more about me, because at that point I hadn't even talked to the girl, I didn't really know much about her."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 195}} The album's final single, "[[Pink Triangle (song)|Pink Triangle]]", describes a man who falls in love and wants to get married, but discovers the object of his devotion is a [[lesbian]].{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 196}} == Themes == {{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center | quote = There are some lyrics on the album that you might think are mean or sexist. I will feel genuinely bad if anyone feels hurt by my lyrics but I really wanted these songs to be an exploration of my "dark side" - all the parts of myself that I was either afraid or embarrassed to think about before. So there's some pretty nasty stuff on there. You may be more willing to forgive the lyrics if you see them as passing low points in a larger story. And this album really is a story: the story of the last 2 years of my life. And as you're probably well aware, these have been two very weird years. | source = Rivers Cuomo's letter to the Weezer fan club (July 10, 1996)<ref name="lori">{{cite web |url=http://www.inkblotmagazine.com/rev-archive/Weezer_Pinkerton.htm |title=Weezer: ''Pinkerton'' ---Ink Blot Magazine |last=Latimer |first=Lori |work=inkblotmagazine.com |accessdate=June 4, 2013}}</ref> | align = left | width = 25%}} ''Pinkerton'' is named after the character BF Pinkerton from ''Madama Butterfly'', who marries a Japanese woman named Butterfly.<ref name="lori">{{cite web |url=http://www.inkblotmagazine.com/rev-archive/Weezer_Pinkerton.htm |title=Weezer: ''Pinkerton'' ---Ink Blot Magazine |last=Latimer |first=Lori |work=inkblotmagazine.com |accessdate=June 4, 2013}}</ref> Calling him an "asshole American sailor similar to a touring rock star", Cuomo felt the character was "the perfect symbol for the part of myself that I am trying to come to terms with on this album."{{sfn|Cuomo|2011}} Other titles considered included ''Playboy'' and ''Diving into the Wreck'' (after a poem by [[Adrienne Rich]]).{{sfn|Cuomo|2011}} Like ''Madama Butterfly'', ''Pinkerton'' views Japanese culture from the perspective of an outsider who considers Japan fragile and sensual;<ref name="trackingchocho">{{cite web |url=http://japanreview.net/review_madame.htm |title=Reviews ''Madame Butterfly'' |work=japanreview.net |accessdate=June 4, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030033130/http://www.japanreview.net/review_madame.htm |archivedate=October 30, 2012 |df= }}</ref> the album infuses the Japanese allusions with its narrator's romantic disappointments and sexual frustration.<ref name="Tiny Mix Tapes" /> Cuomo wrote that ''Pinkerton'' "is really the clash of East vs West. My hindu, zen, kyokushin, self-denial, self-abnegation, no-emotion, cool-faced side versus my Italian-American heavy metal side."{{sfn|Cuomo|2011|p = 158}} He stated that "the ten songs are sequenced in the order in which I wrote them (with two minor exceptions). So as a whole, the album kind of tells the story of my struggle with my inner Pinkerton."<ref name="Wstory">{{cite web |url=http://home.pacbell.net/wepeel/weezer101/weezer1.htm |title=:::The =W= Story::: |work=home.pacbell.net |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022194039/http://home.pacbell.net/wepeel/weezer101/weezer1.htm |archivedate=October 22, 2007 |accessdate=June 4, 2013}}</ref> === Artwork === [[File:Hiroshige nuit de neige à Kambara.JPG|thumb|The artwork for ''Pinkerton'' is from an ukiyo-e print by [[Hiroshige]].|alt= A village in a mountainous landscape. A man with a conical hat and a cane, and a saddled horse can be seen in the foreground. Japanese characters are seen in the down left and top central parts of the image.]] The artwork on the album's cover is ''Kambara yoru no yuki'' ("Night snow at Kambara"), print number 16 in Japanese [[ukiyo-e]] artist [[Hiroshige]]'s popular [[The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō|''53 Stations of the Tōkaidō'']] series.<ref name="Kambara">{{cite web |url=http://www.davidrumsey.com/amica/amico519412-46347.html#record |title=Hiroshige / Evening Snow at Kambara (''Kambara yoru no yuki''), no. 16 from the Series ''Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido'' (''Tokaido gosantsugi no uchi'') / 1832 – 1833 |work=daviddrumsey.com |accessdate=June 4, 2013}}</ref> Lyrics from ''Madama Butterfly'' are printed on the ''Pinkerton'' CD in their original Italian: "Everywhere in the world, the roving Yankee takes his pleasure and his profit, indifferent to all risks. He drops anchor at random..."<ref name="booklet">{{cite AV media notes |title=Pinkerton |others=[[Weezer]] |year=1996 |publisher=[[DGC Records]]}}</ref> Behind the album's CD tray is a map with the title "Isola della farfalla e penisola di cane" (Italian for "Island of the Butterfly and Peninsula of Dog");<ref name="booklet" /> on the map are a ship named USS Pinkerton and "[[Hear You Me! A Tribute to Mykel and Carli|Mykel and Carli]] Island", an allusion to Weezer's fan club founders. The map includes the names of some of Cuomo's influences, including [[Howard Stern]], [[Yngwie Malmsteen]], [[Brian Wilson]], [[Lou Barlow]], [[Joe Matt]], [[Camille Paglia]] and [[Ace Frehley]].<ref name="booklet" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1129521600 |title=Howard Stern.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024021313/http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1129521600 |archivedate=October 24, 2007 |accessdate=June 4, 2013}}</ref>{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 215}} == Release and promotion == [[Geffen Records|Geffen]] A&R rep Todd Sullivan described ''Pinkerton'' as a "very brave record," but worried: "What sort of light does this put the band in? It could have been interpreted as them being a disposable pop band."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 196}} The label was pleased with the record and felt that "no one's going to be disappointed".{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 196}} Weezer turned down a video treatment for lead single "El Scorcho" proposed by [[Spike Jonze]], who had previously helped raise the band's status with his videos for "[[Undone – The Sweater Song]]" and "Buddy Holly". Cuomo explained: "I really don't want the songs to come across untainted this time around... I really want to communicate my feelings directly and because I was so careful in writing that way. I'd hate for the video to kinda misrepresent the song, or exaggerate certain aspects."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 202}} The final video featured the band playing in an assembly hall in Los Angeles, surrounded by light fixtures flashing in time to the music.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 195}} [[Mark Romanek]], the video's director, quit after numerous arguments with Cuomo, leaving Cuomo to edit the video himself.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 200}} The video debuted on [[MTV]]'s [[120 Minutes]] and received moderate airplay.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 202}} A day before ''Pinkerton'' was to be released on September 24, 1996, a [[restraining order]] was obtained against the band and Geffen by [[Encino, California]]-based security firm [[Pinkerton National Detective Agency|Pinkerton's Inc]]. The company sued Weezer and Geffen for alleged [[United States federal law|federal]] [[trademark infringement]], claiming they were trying to capitalize on the company's reputation.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 203}} Under the terms of the restraining order, which had Pinkerton's Inc seeking two million dollars in damages, Weezer would be kept from "selling, distributing, or advertising an album with the name ''Pinkerton''."<ref>{{cite web | last = Andrade | first = Dereck | url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Pinkerton+obtains+temporary+restraining+order+against+major+U.S....-a018707555 | title = Pinkerton obtains temporary restraining order against major U.S. record company; suit alleges trademark infringement by Los Angeles-based Geffen Records | work = | publisher =[[Business Wire]] | date = September 24, 1996 | accessdate = September 24, 2007}}</ref> Geffen spokesman Dennis Dennehy defended the title, arguing that "to Weezer, Pinkerton is a character in Puccini's opera ''Madama Butterfly''...&nbsp;It was not meant to be aimed at any sort of corporate entity."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 204}} Cuomo wrote a six-page paper defending his choice of the title, explaining "why I chose it, and how it works for the album, and how it's essential."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 205}} The case was thrown out of court after the judge determined that "the hardship of not issuing the ''Pinkerton'' disc would be greater for Geffen than any hardship Pinkerton's Inc or its shareholders might incur from consumers who mistakenly presume the company has anything to do with the album."{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 205}} [[Image:Thegoodlifemusicvideo.png|right|thumb|"The Good Life" music video|alt=Three men in a recording studio. The screen is split in three parts, the left one showing the guitarist, the middle another guitarist, and the right the drummer.]] As it became apparent that ''Pinkerton'' was not meeting expected sales figures, Weezer felt pressure to make another music video more to the liking of MTV.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 221}} The music video for "[[The Good Life (Weezer song)|The Good Life]]", directed by [[Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris]], stars [[Mary Lynn Rajskub]] as a pizza delivery girl and uses simultaneous camera angles appearing on screen as a fractured full image.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 221}} Geffen rush-released the video to try to save the commercially failing album, but was not successful.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 222}} In October 1996, the band toured the [[Far East]] with concert appearances in Australia, New Zealand and Japan.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 219}} Afterwards, the band flew home to [[Los Angeles]], where Patrick Wilson and Matt Sharp made a promotional appearance on the nationally syndicated radio show Modern Rock Live'' ''in an attempt to improve the album's standing on the US album charts.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 219}} A few days later, on November 1, Weezer launched its tour of North America at the Ventura Theatre in [[Ventura, California]].{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 219}} On November 6, Weezer performed an acoustic set at [[Shorecrest High School]] in [[Seattle]] due to a contest won by a student.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 222}} A few of the songs performed at the acoustic set were released in 1997 on the ''[[The Good Life (EP)|Good Life]]'' EP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://makebelieve.weezer.com/info/tunes/index02.html|title=Pinkerton era releases (1996–1999)|accessdate=September 24, 2007|publisher=''Weezer.com''}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Weezer continued to tour until Christmas 1996.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 223}} == Critical reception == {{Album reviews | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic" /> | rev2 = ''[[American Songwriter]]'' | rev2Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://americansongwriter.com/2010/12/weezer-pinkerton-deluxe-edition/|title=Weezer: ''Pinkerton'' [Deluxe Edition]|work=[[American Songwriter]]|date=December 15, 2010|accessdate=December 15, 2010|last=Gold|first=Adam}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev3Score = B<ref name="EW1996">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,294340,00.html|title=Sugar Bare: Weezer's 'Pinkerton' Could Use The Sweet Relief of Their Debut|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|issue=346|page=78|date=September 27, 1996|accessdate=September 26, 2007|last=Gordinier|first=Jeff}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1996-11-06/entertainment/ca-61631_1_weezer-stars-cuomo|title=Weezer, 'Pinkerton,' DGC|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|page=4, Calendar F: Entertainment|date=November 6, 1996|accessdate=August 18, 2016|last=Appleford|first=Steve}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[NME]]'' | rev5Score = 7/10<ref name="NME1996">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101001163reviews.html|title=Weezer – ''Pinkerton''|work=[[NME]]|page=57|date=September 28, 1996|accessdate=August 18, 2016|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|authorlink=Mark Beaumont (journalist)|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817105959/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101001163reviews.html|archivedate=August 17, 2000}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' | rev6Score = 10/10<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14817-weezer-pinkerton-deluxe-edition-death-to-false-metal/|title=Weezer: ''Pinkerton'' [Deluxe Edition] / ''Death to False Metal''|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=November 3, 2010|accessdate=February 5, 2018|last=Cohen|first=Ian}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' | rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Weezer: ''Pinkerton''|work=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|page=138|issue=122|date=November 1996}}</ref> | rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=RS1996/> | rev9 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | rev9Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Weezer|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|authorlink=Rob Sheffield|title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]]|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=865–66}}</ref> | rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' | rev10Score = 7/10<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dgSxMMIfuU8C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA120#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Weezer: ''Pinkerton''|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|volume=12|issue=8|pages=120–121|date=November 1996|accessdate=November 21, 2009|last=Berrett|first=Jesse}}</ref> }} ''Pinkerton'' debuted and peaked at number 19 on the US ''Billboard'' charts, selling 47,000 copies its first week,<ref name="billboard">{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=weezer|chart=all}}|title=Billboard 200|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=Billboard|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071023222814/{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=weezer|chart=all}} |archivedate = October 23, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</ref><ref name="Billboard2">{{cite web |first= Kenneth |last=Partridge |title=Weezer's 'Pinkerton' Turns 20: Why the Landmark, Raw Album Wasn't a Big Hit for the Band|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7517890/weezer-pinkerton-anniversary|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=September 26, 2016 }}</ref> falling far short of sales of its multi-platinum predecessor, ''[[Weezer (1994 album)|The Blue Album]]''.<ref name="WeezerStatisics">{{cite web | url = http://www.gloriousnoise.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3940 | title = For The Statistically Minded | publisher =Glorious Noise | accessdate = 2007-02-06}}</ref> Initial reviews were mixed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tower.com/details/details.cfm?wapi=105768883|title=Pinkerton|accessdate=2007-09-25|publisher=[[Tower Records]]|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024033118/http://www.tower.com/details/details.cfm?wapi=105768883|archivedate=2007-10-24|df=}}</ref>{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 206}} Jeff Gordinier of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' criticized Weezer's choice to self-produce the album and dismissed it as "a collection of get-down party anthems for agoraphobics".<ref name="EW1996"/> Writing for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', Rob O'Connor called the songwriting "juvenile" and described the song "Tired of Sex" as "aimless".<ref name="RS1996">{{Cite news |newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=746 |date=October 31, 1996 |page=66 |first=Rob |last=O'Connor |editor-first=David |editor-last=Fricke |editor-link=David Fricke |title=Recordings: ''Pinkerton'' Weezer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pinkerton-19980202 |accessdate=June 30, 2005 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106061850/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/weezer/albums/album/301487/review/5945269/pinkerton |archivedate=January 6, 2007}} Posted on February 2, 1998.</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' readers voted the album the third worst of 1996.{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 228}} Some listeners were perturbed by the sexual nature of the lyrics;<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/how-weezers-pinkerton-went-from-embarrassing-to-essential-w441144|title=How Weezer's 'Pinkerton' Went From Embarrassing to Essential|newspaper=Rolling Stone|date=September 23, 2016|access-date=December 29, 2016|last=Braun|first=Laura Marie}}</ref> ''[[Melody Maker]]'' praised ''Pinkerton'''<nowiki/>''s'' music, but advised the listener "to ignore the lyrics entirely."<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Weezer: Pinkerton|work=[[Melody Maker]]|page=78|date=October 5, 1996}}</ref> [[Mark Beaumont (journalist)|Mark Beaumont]] of ''[[NME]]'' praised the album, writing that "by the time the affecting acoustic lament 'Butterfly' wafts in like [[Big Star]] at a wildlife protection meeting, ''Pinkerton'' starts feeling like a truly moving album."<ref name="NME1996"/> Ryan Schreiber of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' awarded the album 7.5 out of 10, writing that "''Pinkerton'' might actually be a bit much for fans who were wooed with the clean production and immediately accessible sound of these guys' debut, but if given a chance, it might surprise even some anti-Weezer folk."<ref name="Pitch">{{cite web|first=Ryan |last=Schreiber |title=Weezer: ''Pinkerton'' |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/23115-pinkerton |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |accessdate=9 October 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307031531/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/23115-pinkerton |archivedate=7 March 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> == Legacy== Despite ''Pinkerton''<nowiki/>'s mixed reception, in later years it garnered enduring sales, critical acclaim and [[cult status]] through internet [[Word of mouth|word-of-mouth]],<ref name="college rock">{{cite web|url=http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/06/14/LifeArts/5.More.College.Rock.Albums.For.Your.Inner.Indie.Snob-2915124.shtml|title=5 more college rock albums for your inner indie snob|last=Ramirez|first=Ramon|work=[[The Daily Texan]]|accessdate=October 1, 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023222341/http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/06/14/LifeArts/5.More.College.Rock.Albums.For.Your.Inner.Indie.Snob-2915124.shtml|archivedate=October 23, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</ref>{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 307}} and eventually came to be considered among Weezer's best work by fans and critics.<ref name="AllMusic" /><ref name="NudeAsTheNews">{{cite web|url=http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/1220 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221161309/http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/1220 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2006-02-21 |title=Nude as the News: Weezer: Pinkerton |last=Donohue |first=Mark |publisher=[[Nude as the News]] |work= |accessdate=2007-10-01 |df= }}</ref> Cuomo was embarrassed by ''Pinkerton's'' reception and the [[confessional poetry|confessional]] nature of its songs. In August 1997, he wrote: "This has been a tough year. It's not just that the world has said ''Pinkerton'' isn't worth a shit, but that the ''Blue'' album wasn't either. It was a fluke. It was the [[Buddy Holly (song)#Music video|["Buddy Holly"] video]]. I'm a shitty songwriter."{{sfn|Cuomo|2011|p = 232}} In 2001, he told ''Entertainment Weekly'': "It's a hideous record... It was such a hugely painful mistake that happened in front of hundreds of thousands of people and continues to happen on a grander and grander scale and just won't go away. It's like getting really drunk at a party and spilling your guts in front of everyone and feeling incredibly great and cathartic about it, and then waking up the next morning and realizing what a complete fool you made of yourself."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,256491,00.html|title=Older & Weezer|last=Brunner|first=Rob|date=May 25, 2001|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|issue=597|pages=40–43|accessdate=November 16, 2011}}</ref>{{sfn|Luerssen|2004|p = 348}} After the ''Pinkerton'' tour, Sharp left the band and Weezer went on a five-year hiatus.<ref name=":2" /> Cuomo moved to simpler songwriting with less personal lyrics; he stated that Weezer's subsequent albums the ''[[Weezer (2001 album)|Green Album]]'' (2001) and ''[[Maladroit]]'' (2002) were "very intentionally not about me. Not about what was going on in my life, at least in a conscious way."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/4/26/rivers-end-the-directors-cut-the/|title=Rivers' End: The Director's Cut {{!}} Arts {{!}} The Harvard Crimson|website=www.thecrimson.com|accessdate=2015-07-20}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' described the "squeaky-clean [[power pop]]" ''Green Album'' as the "anti-''Pinkerton''", with album art and a production style that recalled the band's debut.<ref name=":2" /> Despite ''Pinkerton'''s initial failure, during Weezer's hiatus the album amassed a [[cult following]]. By the time of the release of the ''Green Album'' in 2001, a wave of mainstream [[emo]] bands including [[Jimmy Eat World]], [[Saves the Day]], [[Dashboard Confessional]] and [[Motion City Soundtrack]] had cited it as a major influence.<ref name=":2" /> Cuomo was not comforted by this development, and told ''Rolling Stone'' in 2001: "The most painful thing in my life these days is the cult around ''Pinkerton.'' It's just a sick album, sick in a diseased sort of way. It's such a source of anxiety because all the fans we have right now have stuck around because of that album. But, honestly, I never want to play those songs again; I never want to hear them again."<ref name=":2" /> ''Pinkerton''<nowiki/>'s critical standing continued to rise. In 2002, ''Rolling Stone'' readers voted it the 16th greatest album of all time.<ref name="Readers16">{{cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#Readers%20100 | title = 2002 Rolling Stone Readers' 100 | work = | publisher =Rolling Stone | accessdate = 2007-03-08}}</ref> In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' gave the album a new review, awarding it five stars out of five and adding it to the "''Rolling Stone'' Hall of Fame".<ref name="RS2004">{{Cite news |newspaper=Rolling Stone |issue=963 |date=December 9, 2004 |page=185 |last=Edwards |first=Gavin |title=The Rolling Stone Hall of Fame: Weezer ''Pinkerton'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/weezer/albums/album/301487/review/6635729/pinkerton |accessdate={{date|2006-05-15}} |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005045759/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/weezer/albums/album/301487/review/6635729/pinkerton |archivedate={{date|2006-10-05}} }}</ref> In 2005, ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' named it number 61 in its list of the 100 best albums from 1985 to 2005.<ref name="SpinMagazine">{{Cite journal |magazine=Spin |volume=21 |issue=7 |date=July 2005 |page=87 |title=100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p6-UYTO7l1MC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA87#v=onepage&q&f=false | accessdate = 2007-02-06}}</ref> In 2003, Pitchfork placed ''Pinkerton'' at #53 on their "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s" list, and gave it a perfect rating.<ref name="Pitchfork2003" /> In 2007, [[Drowned in Sound]] praised it as "the ultimate break-up album, the best unrequited love album and the greatest collection of confused emotions captured in the universe... EVER!"<ref>{{cite web | last =Adams | first =Sean | url = http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/4819 | title = Drowned in Sound&nbsp;— Reviews&nbsp;— Weezer&nbsp;— Pinkerton| work = | publisher = [[Drowned in Sound]] | accessdate = 2007-09-25 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070908050025/http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/4819 <!-- Added by H3llBot --> | archivedate = 2007-09-08}}</ref> ''[[Guitar World]]'' ranked it #76 on its list of the "Top 100 Guitar Albums of All-Time".<ref name="Guitarworld">{{cite web | last = | first = | url = http://chud.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93854 | title = Top 100 Guitar Albums of All-Time | work = | publisher =[[Guitar World]] | accessdate = 2007-03-08|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070823050531/http://chud.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93854 |archivedate = August 23, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</ref> New Zealand's ''The Movement'' placed it #12 on its list of "The 101 Best Albums of the 90s"<ref name="themovement">{{cite web | last = | first = | url = http://acclaimedmusic.net/061024/movement.htm | title = The 101 Best Albums of the 90s | work = | publisher =The Movement | accessdate = 2007-02-06}}</ref> and ''Pure Pop'' of Mexico ranked it #21 on its list of "The 50 Best Albums of the 90s."<ref name="PurePop">{{cite web| last =| first =| url =http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/pure%20pop.htm| title =The 50 Best Albums of the 90s| work =| publisher =Pure Pop| accessdate =2007-09-25| deadurl =yes| archiveurl =http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20070925055732/http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/pure%20pop.htm| archivedate =2007-09-25| df =}}</ref> It received perfect scores from both [[AllMusic]]<ref name="AllMusic" /> and ''[[Tiny Mix Tapes]]'', the latter calling it "one of the best albums of the 20th century."<ref name="Tiny Mix Tapes" /> The 2010 "Deluxe Edition" reissue holds a perfect 100 out of 100 score (indicating "universal acclaim") on aggregate review website [[Metacritic]].<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/pinkerton-deluxe-edition|title=Reviews for ''Pinkerton'' (Deluxe Edition) by Weezer|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=November 11, 2011}}</ref> By 2008, Cuomo had reconsidered the album, saying: "''Pinkerton''<nowiki/>'s great. It's super-deep, brave, and authentic. Listening to it, I can tell that I was really going for it when I wrote and recorded a lot of those songs."<ref>{{cite web |date=January 28, 2008 | last =Crock | first =Jason | url = http://www.pitchfork.com/features/interviews/6773-rivers-cuomo/ | title = Interview: Rivers Cuomo | publisher=Pitchfork Media |work=[[pitchfork.com]] | accessdate = 2008-02-01}}</ref> In 2010, Bell told ''[[The Aquarian Weekly]]'': "''Pinkerton'' has definitely taken on a life of its own and became more successful and more accepted ... As an artist, you just have to do what you believe in at the time, whether it’s accepted or not. You just have to keep going with it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaquarian.com/2010/04/29/interview-weezer-they-want-you-to/ |title=Interview with Weezer: They Want You To &#124; The Aquarian Weekly |publisher=Theaquarian.com |date=2010-04-29 |accessdate=2011-08-16}}</ref> In 2015, following the ''Pinkerton'' reissue and the "Memories" tour, in which Weezer performed ''Blue'' and ''Pinkerton'' in their entirety, Cuomo said:<blockquote>The experience of learning those songs again, singing them every night, working on them with the guys, and then being in a relatively small venue with 1,000 of the most hardcore Weezer fans and hearing them sing every syllable, seeing them air-drum all the fills—it was such an amazing experience and so different from what we'd been doing the years before that ... So it was a great feeling of validation from the fans, for this album that was so personal to me and had been such a source of pain for years.<ref name="5-10" /></blockquote> By August 2009, ''Pinkerton'' had sold 852,000 copies in the United States<ref name="billboardraditude">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267638/weezer-filled-with-raditude-this-fall|title=Weezer Filled With 'Raditude' This Fall|last=Ayers|first=Michael D.|date=2009-08-21|work=Billboard|accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref> and was [[Music recording sales certification|certified gold]].<ref name="riaagold">{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Weezer&perPage=50|title=Gold & Platinum|publisher=RIAA|accessdate=2007-03-08|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017054917/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Weezer&perPage=50|archivedate=2015-10-17|df=}}</ref> It was certified platinum on 16 September 2016, almost 20 years after its release.<ref name="riaaplat">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=WEEZER&ti=PINKERTON|title=Gold & Platinum|publisher=RIAA|accessdate=2016-09-19}}</ref> === Accolades === ''Pinkerton'' has featured in several music publication "best of" lists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A1728.htm|title=List of Pinkerton Accolades|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=[[Acclaimed Music]]|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20070920004755/http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A1728.htm|archivedate=2007-09-20|df=}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Publication ! Country ! Accolade ! Year ! Rank |- | ''[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]]'' | rowspan="2"| United States | Top 60 Albums 1993–2003<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | url = http://acclaimedmusic.net/061024/magnet2003.htm | title = Top 60 Albums 1993–2003 | work = | publisher =[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]] | accessdate = 2007-02-06}}</ref> | 2003 | #17 |- | ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' | 100 Greatest Albums, 1985–2005<ref name="SpinMagazine" /> | 2005 | #61 |- | ''The Movement'' | New Zealand | The 101 Best Albums of the 90s<ref name="themovement" /> | 2004 | #12 |- | [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] | rowspan="4"| United States | Top 100 Albums of the 1990s<ref name="Pitchfork2003">{{Cite web |url =http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/5/ |title=Top 100 Albums of the 1990s: 053: Weezer ''Pinkerton'' |work=Pitchfork |publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=November 17, 2003 |first=Rob |last=Mitchum |accessdate={{date|2007-03-08}} }}</ref> | 2003 | #53 |- | ''[[Guitar World]]'' | Top 100 Guitar Albums of All-Time<ref name="Guitarworld" /> | 2005 | #76 |- | ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | 100 Greatest Albums of the '90s | 2010 | #48 |- | ''[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' | One of the 10 Essential Albums of 1996 ("Class Reunion of '96" issue) | 2006 | |} == Reissues and demo releases == On November 20, 2010, DGC released a "deluxe" ''Pinkerton'' reissue with an additional disc containing live performances, B-sides, and previously unreleased songs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/40201-weezer-reveal-pinkerton-reissue-details/|title=Weezer Reveal Pinkerton Reissue Details {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> The reissue debuted at number six on the ''Billboard'' [[Top Pop Catalog Albums|Catalog Albums]] chart<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=weezer|chart=all}}|title=Pinkerton – Weezer|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=2011-01-10}}</ref> and achieved a perfect score on the aggregate review website [[Metacritic]].<ref name="Metacritic" /> In 2010 and 2011, Weezer performed the ''Blue Album'' and ''Pinkerton'' in their entirety on the "Memories" tour.<ref name=":0" /> On December 12, 2011, Cuomo released the third album of his demos, ''[[Alone III: The Pinkerton Years]]''. It comprises demos recorded between 1993 and 1996, when Cuomo was studying at Harvard and writing material for ''Pinkerton'' and the abandoned ''Songs from the Black Hole'' project. The album was included with a book, ''The Pinkerton Diaries'', which collects Cuomo's writings from the era.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/44605-rivers-cuomo-releasing-pinkerton-diaries-book-and-demos-comp-alone-iii/|title=Rivers Cuomo Releasing Pinkerton Diaries Book and Demos Comp Alone III|last=Pelly|first=Jenn|date=November 11, 2011|website=|publisher=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=July 13, 2014}}</ref> In May 2016, ''Pinkerton'' was reissued on [[Gramophone record|vinyl]] by the record subscription service [[Vinyl Me, Please]]. The album is pressed on "dark blue translucent vinyl with black marbling" and is packaged in a custom sleeve with pop-out art, a custom lyric sheet, artwork by Japanese painter Fuco Ueda, and a sake cocktail recipe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/65107-weezers-new-pinkerton-reissue-comes-with-a-sake-cocktail-recipe/|title=Weezer's New Pinkerton Reissue Comes with a Sake Cocktail Recipe {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> == Track listing == {{tracklist | headline = | total_length = 34:36 | all_writing = [[Rivers Cuomo]], except where noted | title1 = Tired of Sex | length1 = 3:01 | title2 = Getchoo | length2 = 2:52 | title3 = No Other One | length3 = 3:01 | title4 = Why Bother? | length4 = 2:08 | title5 = Across the Sea | length5 = 4:32 | title6 = [[The Good Life (Weezer song)|The Good Life]] | length6 = 4:17 | title7 = [[El Scorcho]] | length7 = 4:03 | title8 = [[Pink Triangle (song)|Pink Triangle]] | length8 = 3:58 | title9 = Falling for You | length9 = 3:47 | title10 = Butterfly | length10 = 2:53 }} === Deluxe Edition === {{Track listing | collapsed = yes | headline = Disc one bonus tracks<ref name="punknews-reissue">{{cite web| last = Paul| first = Aubin| title = Weezer's deluxe "Pinkerton" reissue detailed| work = Punknews.org| date = September 27, 2010| url = http://www.punknews.org/article/39970| accessdate = September 27, 2010}}</ref> | title11 = You Gave Your Love to Me Softly | note11 = | length11 = 1:57 | title12 = Devotion | note12 = | length12 = 3:11 | title13 = The Good Life | note13 = radio remix | length13 = 4:08 | title14 = Waiting on You | note14 = | length14 = 4:13 | title15 = I Just Threw out the Love of My Dreams | note15 = | length15 = 2:39 | title16 = The Good Life | note16 = live and acoustic | length16 = 4:40 | title17 = Pink Triangle | note17 = radio remix | length17 = 4:02 | title18 = I Swear It's True | note18 = | length18 = 3:19 | title19 = Pink Triangle | note19 = live and acoustic | length19 = 4:18 | title20 = Interview – 107.7 The End – Blue vs. Pinkerton | note20 = unlisted track | length20 =1:32 }} {{tracklist|writing_credits=yes | collapsed = yes | headline = Disc two<ref name="punknews-reissue"/> | title1 = You Won't Get With Me Tonight | note1 = | length1 = 3:29 | title2 = The Good Life | note2 = live at Y100 Sonic Session | length2 = 4:37 | title3 = El Scorcho | note3 = live at Y100 Sonic Session | length3 = 4:07 | title4 = Pink Triangle | note4 = live at Y100 Sonic Session | length4 = 4:10 | title5 = Why Bother? | note5 = live at Reading Festival 1996 | length5 = 2:18 | title6 = El Scorcho | note6 = live at Reading Festival 1996 | length6 = 4:09 | title7 = Pink Triangle | note7 = live at Reading Festival 1996 | length7 = 4:52 | title8 = The Good Life | note8 = live at X96 | length8 = 4:13 | title9 = El Scorcho | note9 = live and acoustic | length9 = 4:26 | title10 = Across the Sea Piano Noodles | note10 = | length10 = 0:38 | title11 = Butterfly | note11 = alternate take | length11 = 2:48 | title12 = Long Time Sunshine | note12 = | length12 = 4:17 | title13 = Getting Up and Leaving | note13 = | writer13 = Cuomo, [[Patrick Wilson (musician)|Patrick Wilson]] | length13 = 3:28 | title14 = Tired of Sex | note14 = tracking rough | length14 = 2:58 | title15 = Getchoo | note15 = tracking rough | length15 = 2:57 | title16 = Tragic Girl | note16 = | length16 = 5:26 }} == Personnel == Adapted from the booklet enclosed with the album.</small><ref name="booklet" /> '''Weezer''' * [[Rivers Cuomo]]&nbsp;– guitar, vocals, keyboards, xylophone * [[Patrick Wilson (musician)|Patrick Wilson]]&nbsp;– drums * [[Brian Bell]] – guitar, backing vocals * [[Matt Sharp]]&nbsp;– bass, backing vocals * Karl Koch&nbsp;– percussion on "Butterfly" '''Production''' {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * [[Joe Barresi]]– engineer * Billy Bowers– engineer * Jim Champagne&nbsp;– engineer * David Dominguez&nbsp;– engineer * [[Greg Fidelman]]&nbsp;– engineer * [[Dave Fridmann]]&nbsp;– engineer * [[Hiroshige]]&nbsp;– cover art * Rob Jacobs&nbsp;– engineer * [[Spike Jonze]]&nbsp;– photography * [[Adam Kasper]]&nbsp;– engineer * Karl Koch&nbsp;– webmaster * George Marino&nbsp;– mastering * Dan McLaughlin&nbsp;– engineer * [[Shawn Everett]]&nbsp;– engineer, mixer * [[Clif Norrell]]&nbsp;– engineer * [[Jack Joseph Puig]]&nbsp;– engineer, mixing * Jim Rondinelli&nbsp;– engineer * Janet Wolsborn&nbsp;– art assistant {{div col end}} == Charts == === Album === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Chart !style="width:5em; line-height:1.3"| Peak position |- | U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] | style="text-align: center; " | 19<ref name="billboard" /> |- | Austria | style="text-align: center; " | 41<ref name="Austrianalbum">{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Weezer&titel=Pinkerton&cat=a|title=Austria album chart archives|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=austriancharts.at}}</ref> |- | Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' [[Canadian Albums Chart|Albums Chart]] | style="text-align: center; " | 15<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9827&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5 |title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 64, No. 8, October 07 1996 |publisher=''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' |accessdate=2010-09-30 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019082234/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9827&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5 |archivedate=2012-10-19 |df= }}</ref> |- | New Zealand | style="text-align: center; " | 11<ref name="nzalbum">{{cite web|url=http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Weezer&titel=Pinkerton&cat=a|title=New Zealand album chart archives|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=charts.org.nz}}</ref> |- | Norway | style="text-align: center; " | 18<ref name="Norway">{{cite web|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Weezer&titel=Pinkerton&cat=a|title=Norway Chart Archives|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=norwegiancharts.com}}</ref> |- | Finland | style="text-align: center; " | 35<ref name="finland">{{cite web|url=http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Weezer&titel=Pinkerton&cat=a|title=Finnish Chart Archives|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=finnishcharts.com}}</ref> |- | Sweden | style="text-align: center; " | 4<ref name="Sweden">{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Weezer&titel=Pinkerton&cat=a|title=Sweden Chart Archives|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=swedishcharts.com}}</ref> |} === Singles === {| class="wikitable" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Song !colspan="8"| Peak positions |- style="font-size:85%;line-height:1.3;vertical-align: top" ! style="width:4em" | [[Modern Rock Tracks|US Modern Rock]]<br /><ref name="billboardsinglesweez">{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=weezer|chart=all}}|title=Weezer Artist Chart History|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=''Billboard''}}</ref> ! style="width:4em" | Sweden<br /><ref name="swedenalbum">{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Weezer&titel=El+scorcho&cat=s|title=Swedish album chart archives|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=hitparad.se}}</ref> ! style="width:4em" | Finland<br /><ref name="Finlandcharts">{{cite web|url=http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Weezer&titel=El+scorcho&cat=s|title=Finland Charts|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=finnishcharts.com}}</ref> |- | 1996 | "[[El Scorcho]]" | style="text-align: center; "| 19 | style="text-align: center; "| 10 | style="text-align: center; "| 18 |- | 1996 | "[[The Good Life (Weezer song)|The Good Life]]" | style="text-align: center; "| 32 | style="text-align: center; "| – | style="text-align: center; "| – |- | 1997 | "[[Pink Triangle (song)|Pink Triangle]]" | style="text-align: center; "| – | style="text-align: center; "| – | style="text-align: center; "| – |} == See also == * ''[[Songs from the Black Hole]]'' == References == {{reflist|30em}} '''Works cited''' * {{cite book |last=Luerssen |first=John D. |year=2004 |title=Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=1-55022-619-3 |ref=harv}} * {{cite book |last=Cuomo |first=Rivers |authorlink=Rivers Cuomo |year=2011 |title=The Pinkerton Diaries |ref=harv}} ==External links== <!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices --> *[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC2qC-e5YikfyU3PmYBqMMzEL4cJ1b0Kr ''Pinkerton''] at [[YouTube]] (streamed copy where licensed) * {{Discogs master|35071}} {{Weezer}} {{Madama Butterfly}} [[Category:1996 albums]] [[Category:Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios]] [[Category:DGC Records albums]] [[Category:Geffen Records albums]] [[Category:Weezer albums]] [[Category:Emo albums]] [[Category:Concept albums]]'