Weezer’s 1996 record Pinkerton is known primarily for how mysterious frontman Rivers Cuomo came off on it. Instead of the soul baring of “Undone (The Sweater Song)” from the group’s self-titled debut, Cuomo offered up simple songs about oceans, butterflies, and the wrestler New Jack. For years, fans have been wanting to know even the slightest details about the singer’s frame of mind during the album’s creation. Legend has it that Cuomo had all his memories surgically removed and locked in a vault miles beneath Tokyo. “The rumors about me storing my memories of the period from 1994 to 1997 in a vault miles beneath Tokyo are certainly untrue,” said Cuomo. “But what if if they aren’t?”
Vault or no vault, NME reports that Cuomo’s memories of the period will be on sale through The Pinkerton Diaries, a 237-page book due out December 12. The book documents Cuomo’s life from the release of Weezer’s debut on May 10, 1994 to 1997, through a collection of the singer’s journal entries, emails, letters, school papers, and photos. In addition to all the personal Rivers Cuomo information, the book includes actual information about the Pinkerton album in the form of compositions, notebooks of lyrics, and studio notes. Including unused scats from “El Scorcho”! That doesn’t exist.
The Pinkerton Diaries also comes with Alone III, Cuomo’s third collection of home recordings. This time around, the collection is particularly Pinkerton-themed. Many of the collection’s tracks are Pinkerton demos and recordings from Weezer’s unfinished second record Songs from the Black Hole. Then there are songs that aren’t demos or from unfinished alternative universe albums. Those songs are just regular, never-before-heard songs. Likely, they are all about a frustrated Japanese butterfly who has never heard Green Day.
Alone III tracklist:
01. I’m So Lonely
02. Getchoo
03. Lisa
04. Negativland
05. You Gave Your Love to Me Softly
06. When You’re Alone
07. Susanne
08. There Is No Other One
09. Let Me Wash at Your Sink
10. Waiting on You
11. Oh No, This Is Not for Me
12. Tired of Sex
13. She’s Had a Girl
14. What Is This I Find?
15. Now I Finally See
16. Longtime Sunshine
17. I’m Lonely on a Saturday Night
18. Oh God I’m Hungry
19. I’m on Fire, You’re a Liar
20. The End of My String
21. I Can’t Break Your Heart Slow
22. Money Makes Me Happy
23. My Mind’s on You
24. Defeat on the Hill
25. Clarinet Waltz
26. A Glorious Moment
• Rivers Cuomo: http://riverscuomo.cinderblock.com
