Album of the Day

After Weezer's first two albums, bassist Matt Sharp headed out on his own; despite what the title may imply, RETURN OF THE RENTALS is his band's debut. The retro-futuristic typeface on the cover of the 1995 Maverick/Reprise collection is reflected by the use of Moogs, though that synthetic sound is leavened by endearing male-female vocals. Among the hook-filled originals are “The Love I'm Searching For,” “Waiting” and Modern Rock hit “Friends of P.,” an ode to Paulina Porizkova, whose husband Ric Ocasek had produced Weezer's “Blue” album. Ocasek's band, The Cars, is a good point of comparison for The Rentals, whose music is also a quirky, energetic and fun take on new wave. As RETURN OF THE RENTALS celebrates its 25th anniversary, its status as a lost '90s classic is clearer than ever.