Weezer have released an optimistic new single called ‘Shine Again’, produced by Kenny Beats.
The track is the first from the LA rockers since 2022, and sees them return to the fuzzy, post-grunge sound that they captured in their early days.
Centring around a heavily distorted guitar riff, the track kicks off with a fragmented vocal melody from frontman Rivers Cuomo, before gradually building up to an epic, pop-tinged climax.
“The dog-walk/ The dishes/The good-morning kisses/ I’m nailing each task on my list,” he sings, before erupting into the feel-good chorus: “And I will tell you once again/You were always great/Remember how it feels to know and see/And be so great again/The sun inside will shine/Shine again, shine again.”
The song is the lead single from Weezer’s upcoming 16th studio album, although the band have not yet officially revealed the title or release date.
The record is produced by Kenneth Blume (A.K.A. Kenny Beats) and Klas Åhlund, with the latter having also recently produced Robyn’s new album.
The new single arrives just days after Weezer played a pop-up rooftop gig in Los Angeles. The gig was part of the “initiation” events they have planned in the run up to their huge 2026 US tour.
Other events as part of the “initiation shows” have also included an appearance at a pickleball tournament and an intimate gig at the chain restaurant Barney’s Beanery.
‘The Gathering’ tour kicks off September 8 in Sacramento and spans 32 shows, before concluding in Los Angeles on October 24. Visit here for tickets and more information.
As well as gearing up for a new album and North American tour, Weezer have also revealed that a newly-unearthed album consisting of early demos and rarities will be released on Record Store Day 2026.
NME last spoke to Weezer in 2024, and Rivers Cuomo looked back at the process of making their 1994 debut album – three decades after it was released.
“The one thing that struck me was how physically close we all were, not just the four of us, but there was a whole crowd of young men, packed into very small apartments in a very small part of Los Angeles,” he shared. “[We] were just constantly hanging out and talking, debating and discussing music and style, and we didn’t even have television sets back then so there was very little to distract us… And obviously we had no wives, children or girlfriends.”
He continued: “When we released the ‘Blue’ album, I definitely felt like it was the greatest album of all time. I figured there was a chance I was wrong, but to me, it was my favourite album of all time and I assumed other people would feel the same way.”
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