SZNZ: Winter is the nineteenth studio album by American rock band Weezer, and the last of four albums in their SZNZ (pronounced "seasons") project, originally designated as EPs. 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.
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".
Weezer, under their Goat Punishment pseudonym, performed SZNZ: Winter in its entirety at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California on September 19, 2022.
Release The lead single, "I Want a Dog", was released on December 9, 2022, with a live performance of the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on December 16, 2022.
SZNZ: Winter officially released on December 21, 2022, alongside a video for "Dark Enough to See the Stars".
Critical reception
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." 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."
Track listing
Notes
Personnel
Weezer Brian Bell Rivers Cuomo Scott Shriner Patrick Wilson
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
Charts + Chart performance for SZNZ: Winter Chart (2023) Peakposition Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) 38 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 97 UK Physical Albums (OCC) 89 UK Sales Albums (OCC) 96
References