Weezer - SZNZ: Spring (EP) - 45RPM

Weezer’s SZNZ: Spring arrived on 20 March 2022 to line up with the spring equinox, and it feels every bit like a warm change after a cool front. The band framed SZNZ as a four-part cycle spread across the 2022 equinoxes and solstices, each release tapping a different mood and palette. Spring was the scene-setter, and it leans into pastoral colours and breezy hooks with a confidence that will feel familiar if you’ve followed them since the days of harmonies and power-pop economy.

The opener, aptly titled Opening Night, lays out the manifesto straight away. It’s cheeky and charming, folding in a melody from Vivaldi’s Spring from The Four Seasons while Rivers Cuomo sings about the thrill of the curtain rising. The classical lift isn’t a novelty gag, either. The band weave that baroque sparkle into their own grammar, balancing chiming guitars with bright strings and a whiff of folk. It is Weezer, but with flowers in the margins of the notebook.

A Little Bit of Love was the lead single that landed a few days before the EP, and it might be the sunniest thing they issued that year. It carries a campfire swing, the kind of track you can imagine floating over a festival lawn in late afternoon. Rivers’ vocal is earnest and unguarded, which suits the whole Spring brief. You can hear the band’s pop instincts at work in the arrangement, snapping into a compact chorus without feeling rushed. When people say Weezer are masters of the three-minute sugar hit, this is what they mean.

Angels on Vacation pushes the seasonal theme in a different direction, daydreaming about escape with a big grin and a bigger chorus. The band’s long-standing knack for stacking harmonies is front and centre, and the rhythm section keeps things light on its feet. If you came to Spring expecting fuzz pedals and squall, you get something gentler and brighter. There is still plenty of crunch, but it is tucked inside strummed acoustics, handclaps, and clean lines that feel more park than pit.

What makes SZNZ: Spring interesting in the broader Weezer run is how it follows the orchestral pop of OK Human and the riffy fun of Van Weezer. Rather than pick one path, they build a little world where both can coexist. Fans and critics noticed the concept and the commitment, and early coverage often highlighted the Vivaldi nod on Opening Night and the breezy thrust of A Little Bit of Love. The reception was mixed in places, as it often is with Weezer’s more playful turns, but the highlights are undeniable if you’re open to the premise.

Lyrically, there is a lightness that suits the season. Rivers sketches renewal, crushes, and wide-eyed optimism without tipping into saccharine. The references to classical music and theatre sit comfortably with the band’s geek-chic lineage. That blend has been part of Weezer since the Blue Album, and it still works here because the melodies are strong and the playing is tight. Brian Bell’s guitar figures add sparkle, Scott Shriner keeps the low end springy, and Patrick Wilson’s drumming is crisp and tasteful.

If you’re a crate digger, SZNZ: Spring is the kind of record that invites a second glance when you spot it in a Melbourne record store. The pastoral textures and stacked vocals feel lovely on wax, and the dynamic range gives the choruses a nice lift. Hunt around for Weezer vinyl and you’ll see how well their catalogue suits a turntable, from the punch of the Blue Album to the polish of later work. If you want to buy Weezer records online, it is worth adding SZNZ: Spring vinyl to your shortlist, especially if you collect Weezer albums on vinyl and enjoy the concept albums that reward repeat spins. It slots nicely alongside newer pressings and plays well in a Sunday morning stack, the kind of thing you’d throw on while sorting through a haul of vinyl records Australia sellers just posted.

Spring works as an entry point to the SZNZ cycle, but it also stands on its own as a compact burst of melodic joy. The songs feel of a piece, the sequencing flows, and the Vivaldi flourish gives it a hook in the broader pop landscape. If you have a soft spot for their melodic side and you like the idea of Weezer embracing a seasonal theme with heart and a wink, this is a charming chapter. Put it on, open a window, and let the first warm breeze of the year do the rest.