Make Believe
by Weezer
  • Record Label: Geffen
  • Release Date: May 10, 2005
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 25
  3. Negative: 8 out of 25
  1. Rolling Stone
    80
    A breakthrough for Weezer... Cuomo's songs are his most plaintive and brilliant since Pinkerton. [19 May 2005, p.74]
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  2. AllMusic
    80
    It may be a spiritual cousin to Pinkerton, yet it's far removed from the raw, nervy immediacy of that album.... This has a lighter, brighter feel than any of its predecessors, not just in the music but in its outlook.
  3. Dot Music
    80
    "Make Believe" is classic Weezer, further refining the template of unthreatening heavy metal riffs... welded to smart lyrics, largely of satirical nature, and infectious melody.
  5. Q Magazine
    80
    Hints that Cuomo may be approaching some sort of personal epiphany about his place in the world. [Jun 2005, p.116]
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  6. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    Weezer's most conventional disc... a cleaner-sounding record heavy on way-earnest power ballads. [13 May 2005, p.85]
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  7. E! Online
    67
    You can hear them struggling on Make Believe to keep fans bouncing along to the power-pop anthems but also keep it interesting for themselves so frontman Rivers Cuomo won't put the whole thing on hiatus again.
  8. Filter
    64
    The thread that made Weezer everyone's favorite nerd-rock quartet--the soul and core behind the dramatic guitar crescendos--has unraveled completely, leaving us with a record full of, well, a lot of dramatic guitar crescendos. [#16, p.87]
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2005
86
#86 Most Shared Album of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 325 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 183 out of 325
  2. Mixed: 45 out of 325
  3. Negative: 97 out of 325
  1. kirsten123
    Nov 24, 2017
    8
    A very belated review of a very unfairly criticized album. MB is the sound of Weezer nailing the near perfect power pop aesthetic. ForgetA very belated review of a very unfairly criticized album. MB is the sound of Weezer nailing the near perfect power pop aesthetic. Forget Pacific Daydream which is trite rubbish by comparison and give this a try.… Full Review »
  2. Rhaith
    May 5, 2016
    8
    Easily one of the most under-appreciated Weezer albums. While the lyrical work doesn't come close to anything from Pinkerton or Blue, everEasily one of the most under-appreciated Weezer albums. While the lyrical work doesn't come close to anything from Pinkerton or Blue, ever song fits so well together in that buttery alt-rock-pop zone.… Full Review »
  3. bleed0range
    Oct 15, 2014
    9
    I'll never understand why so many people give this album such a hard time. I'll admit it's a little too mid-tempo at times and could haveI'll never understand why so many people give this album such a hard time. I'll admit it's a little too mid-tempo at times and could have been better, but it's a pretty solid and "classic" Weezer album imo.… Full Review »
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