Don't get us wrong. We like Weezer as much as the next guy. Sometimes, though, we wonder what all the fuss is about.

Sure, Rivers Cuomo has written some catchy tunes. Much as we dug Buddy Holly, Dope Nose and Hash Pipe, however, we've never wanted to listen to a Weezer disc more than a few times. That changed with Make Believe, the band's fifth release and the followup to 2002's Maladroit.

This 45-minute set -- the Weez's longest yet -- is the album we hoped Cuomo had in him: A smart, direct and consistently rockin' set of instantly addictive power-pop, unencumbered by self-doubt or high-concept blather.

From the funk-metal dinosaur-stomp of Beverly Hills to the staccato crunch of My Best Friend, from the robo-rock punch and wah-wah solo of We Are All on Drugs to the churning power chords of Perfect Situation, from the Cars-y new wave of This is Such a Pity to the skittish Freak Me Out, Cuomo has never sounded more together -- even when he's spewing self-loathing like "I know that I can be the meanest person in the world."

Who knows what's behind it. Maybe producer Rick Rubin gave him a much-needed slap upside the head. Or maybe Rivers just got tired of being his own worst enemy.

All we know is from stem to stern, Make Believe is the real deal.

Now we get what all the fuss is about.

Track Listing:

1. Beverly Hills
2. Perfect Situation
3. This Is Such A Pity
4. Hold Me
5. Peace
6. We Are All On Drugs
7. Damage In Your Heart
8. Pardon Me
9. My Best Friend
10. Other Way
11. Frak Me Out
12. Haunt You Every Day