SZNZ: Winter
2022 EP by Weezer
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SZNZ: Winter is the tenth EP by American rock band Weezer, and the last of four EPs in their SZNZ (pronounced "seasons") project. It was released digitally on December 21, 2022, coinciding with the December solstice. It spawned a single, "I Want a Dog", released on December 9, 2022.
- Groove Masters (Santa Monica)
- The Village Recorders (Los Angeles)
- Funkhaus Berlin
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| Released | December 21, 2022 | |||
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| Length | 21:35 | |||
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| Singles from SZNZ: Winter | ||||
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Background
Rivers Cuomo described the project's overall emotion as sadness. Cuomo said that the songwriting would be stylistically similar to Elliott Smith featuring "lots of loss and despair".[3][4]
Weezer, under their Goat Punishment pseudonym, performed SZNZ: Winter in its entirety at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California on September 19, 2022.[5]
Release
The lead single, "I Want a Dog", was released on December 9, 2022,[6] with a live performance of the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on December 16, 2022.[7]
SZNZ: Winter officially released on December 21, 2022, alongside a video for "Dark Enough to See the Stars".[8]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 8/10[2] |
| Exclaim! | 6/10[9] |
| Gigwise |   [10] |
| Riff Magazine | 7/10[11] |
| Under the Radar |  [12] |
Anne Erikson at Blabbermouth.net opined that the album "proves" that Weezer "can still churn out music that's as strong as their mid-1990s debut."[2] However, Michelle Dalarossa from Under the Radar was more critical of the album, stating "Unfortunately, the combination of Christmas kitsch and Weezer kitsch makes for a grating mishmash of tackiness, angst, and blown-out fuzz that ultimately falls flat." Nonetheless, Dalarossa notes instances of "knack for ear worm vocal melodies and exhilarating power-pop guitar riffs glimmer."[12]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Rivers Cuomo.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Want a Dog" | 2:49 |
| 2. | "Iambic Pentameter" | 3:52 |
| 3. | "Basketball" | 2:47 |
| 4. | "Sheraton Commander" | 2:04 |
| 5. | "Dark Enough to See the Stars" | 2:37 |
| 6. | "The One That Got Away" | 2:52 |
| 7. | "The Deep and Dreamless Sleep" | 4:36 |
| Total length: | 21:35 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 7. | "Why Don't You Get Me[a]" | 3:10 |
Notes
- The vinyl version puts track 7 "The Deep and Dreamless Sleep" as track 8 on the tracklist.
Personnel
Weezer
Additional musicians
- Jonathan Dreyfus – violin, viola, cello, double bass, orchestral arrangement, banjo, harmonium, harpsichord, Mellotron, theremin
- Jean-Louise Parker – violin, viola, recorder, backing vocals
- Max Bernstein – music direction
- Jonathan Leahy – string arrangement
- Amy Andersen – backing vocals
- Harry Cooper – clarinet
- Kelly O'Donohue – trumpet
- Jake Sinclair – additional vocals and synthesizer on "I Want a Dog"
- Efe Cakar – additional guitar on "Iambic Pentameter"
- Suzy Shinn – additional vocals on "Basketball"
Technical
- Suzy Shinn – production
- James Flannigan – production
- Rivers Cuomo – production
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Chris Dugan – mixing
- Ivan Wayman – engineering
- Kevin Smith – engineering
- Jason Hiller – engineering
- Jonathan Dreyfus – engineering
- Peter Hanaman – engineering assistance
- Alissa Laymac – engineering assistance
- Alex Parker – engineering assistance
- Tori Newberry – engineering assistance
- Bella Corich – engineering assistance
- Matthew Harris – engineering assistance on "Basketball"
- Mike Fasano – drum technician
- Patrick Lehman – guitar technician
- Tension Division – art direction, design