Difference between revisions of "Homie"

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(See also)
(I was the one who speculated that "Chess" may be "Never You Mind" - a theory Karl shot down.)
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==Fan Demand==
 
==Fan Demand==
Like ''Songs from the Black Hole'', the Homie album is a holy grail for Weezer fans.  Weezer fans often debate which album should be finished or released.  Unlike ''The Black Hole'', many believe that the Homie album actually is finished and is sitting in the Weezer archives.  Of course, this claim is unverified.  Others simply hope for the Homie demos Rivers recorded.  Many fans joke about the album comparing it to Brian Wilson's ''SMiLE'', and say that "Rivers will probably finish it when he's older and his voice is shot."  In 2006, [[User:Ohjonas (admin)|ohjonas]] made cover art for the Homie album, parodying the "SMiLE" artwork.  Unfortunately, the actual Homie album may never see the light of day.  Despite this, some Homie demos have been leaked or released, but none from the actual era.  "Wanda (You're My Only Love)", "Chess" (which is presumed to be "Never You Mind"), and "Longtime Sunshine" were all released on ''[[Alone]]'', but in their original incarnations rather than in their Homie form.  Furthermore, "I'll Think About You" is scheduled to appear on ''[[Alone II]]'', but also in it's original form rather than it's Homie form.
+
Like ''Songs from the Black Hole'', the Homie album is a holy grail for Weezer fans.  Weezer fans often debate which album should be finished or released.  Unlike ''The Black Hole'', many believe that the Homie album actually is finished and is sitting in the Weezer archives.  Of course, this claim is unverified.  Others simply hope for the Homie demos Rivers recorded.  Many fans joke about the album comparing it to Brian Wilson's ''SMiLE'', and say that "Rivers will probably finish it when he's older and his voice is shot."  In 2006, [[User:Ohjonas (admin)|ohjonas]] made cover art for the Homie album, parodying the "SMiLE" artwork.  Unfortunately, the actual Homie album may never see the light of day.  Despite this, some Homie demos have been leaked or released, but none from the actual era.  "Wanda (You're My Only Love)", and "Longtime Sunshine" were all released on ''[[Alone]]'', but in their original incarnations rather than in their Homie form.  Furthermore, "I'll Think About You" is scheduled to appear on ''[[Alone II]]'', but also in it's original form rather than it's Homie form.
  
 
It is most likely that all songs that were adapted to Homie were altered.  There are only two songs for which fans have original versions and Homie versions: "Hot Tub" and "Wanda (You're My Only Love)".  In both cases, the songs were given a more "goofball" sound.  In "Hot Tub", the entire bridge was rewritten.  In conclusion, even if the songs are heard, it is likely that almost half will not be heard in their Homie form.
 
It is most likely that all songs that were adapted to Homie were altered.  There are only two songs for which fans have original versions and Homie versions: "Hot Tub" and "Wanda (You're My Only Love)".  In both cases, the songs were given a more "goofball" sound.  In "Hot Tub", the entire bridge was rewritten.  In conclusion, even if the songs are heard, it is likely that almost half will not be heard in their Homie form.

Revision as of 08:17, 3 January 2009

Homie
Rivers Cuomo playing RISK.jpg
Background information
Origin Boston, MA
Years active 1997 - 1998
Website www.weezer.com
Former Members
Rivers Cuomo

Keven Stevenson
Greg Brown
Matt Sharp
Adam Orth
Yuval Gabay
Patrick Wilson

Todd Sullivan

Homie is a side project of Rivers Cuomo. Homie has released just one song, "American Girls", for the soundtrack of the 1998 film Meet the Deedles. For this recording, Cuomo was joined by Greg Brown member of Cake, Matt Sharp (formerly of Weezer, lead singer of The Rentals), Adam Orth of Shufflepuck and Yuval Gabay of Soul Coughing.

The Homie project began during Weezer's hiatus after the release of Pinkerton. Cuomo tried out several musicians, including Weezer's second bass player, Mikey Welsh before settling on a final lineup.

Weezer fans sometimes erroneously apply the Homie moniker to a totally different Cuomo-led group of Boston-area musicians that played several shows while Rivers took time off from Harvard. This group was not Homie, but were played under the guise of "solo" shows, and the material played at these shows were songs Rivers had written for the third Weezer album at the time. The material played at Homie shows were exclusive to the Homie project and are assumed to have been intended for the Homie album which was worked on in 1997 and 1998.

The song " Wanda", although originally written as a Weezer song for the movie Angus, is considered to be a Homie song since it was played during the Homie shows. The song "Wanda" was later released on Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, as "Wanda (You're My Only Love)".

According to Cuomo's blog, master tapes of recording sessions made during the Homie-era exist, but are largely unfinished, with only drum tracks put down. Bootlegs of their live shows have been available online since 1997 and played a small role in Weezer's resurgence following their second album, Pinkerton.

Beginnings

After the somewhat disappointing success of 1996's Pinkerton, the members of Weezer each separated to pursue their own projects. Rivers dropped out of Harvard and moved to Boston to be closer to his family. Upon his arrival, he recorded the demo tape of what would become the Homie album.

Demo Tape

These are home demos recorded in Boston by Rivers on his DA-88 machine.

  1. American Girls
  2. Rosemary
  3. Autumn In Jane
  4. Hey M'Darlin'
  5. Think About You
  6. Shelia Can Do (It)
  7. I'll Stay Right Here
  8. Longtime Sunshine

These songs are exclusively done by Rivers. "American Girls" was a fast paced rock number. Rosemary was a ballad that slowly built up in dynamics. Autumn in Jayne is a self-described "country song". "Hey M'Darlin'" and "I'll Think About You" are both old demos from before Weezer's formation that Rivers never used with Weezer. It is uncertain exactly what about the songs has been reworked in these versions. Finally, "Longtime Sunshine" was a reworking of the old fallen Songs from the Black Hole track. It is uncertain exactly what is different about it. Karl has said in an email exchange, "I don't remember anything in particular...but it was probably given the 'Homie treatment.'"

Live Performances

In late 1997 and early 1998, Rivers played five solo shows in Boston clubs. Three of these shows were "Weezer Tryouts", two of these shows were "Homie Tryouts". Karl has said, "According to various conversations with Rivers at the time, the new material showcased at these shows was both "in consideration for new Weezer songs " and, paradoxically also "goofy country songs that are not Weezer" (i.e the Rivers-fronted project band, Homie). While songs from both "bands" (Weezer and Homie) seem to be mixed into all 5 shows."

Homie Show #1, 11/4/97 at The Middle East, Boston, MA

The following is the first "Homie Tryout" show, which took place on November 4, 1997. In addition to Rivers, Kevin Stevenson of the Shods plays guitar. A bootleg tape exists.

  1. Autumn Jane
  2. Hey M'Darlin'
  3. Sheila Can Do (It)
  4. I'll Think About You
  5. No One Else
  6. Wanda (You're My Only Love)
  7. Sunshine O
  8. Stay There
  9. Hot Tub

Homie Show #2, 11/21/97 at TT & the Bear's, Boston, MA

The following is the second "Homie Tryout" show, which took place on November 21, 1997. In addition to Rivers, Kevin Stevenson of the Shods plays guitar. A bootleg tape exists.

  1. Autumn Jane
  2. Hey M'Darlin'
  3. Sheila Can Do (It)
  4. Think About (AKA' sesame street')
  5. The Good Life
  6. Stay There
  7. Wanda
  8. Sunshine O
  9. Fun Time
  10. American Girls
  11. Hot Tub -- Encore
  12. No One Else

Homie Album

Following the live performances of the Homie material, a Rehearsal tape was recorded. It is uncertain as to who played what.

  1. Autumn in Jayne
  2. Hey My Darlin'
  3. I'll Think About You
  4. Wanda, You're My Only Love
  5. Sheila Can Do (It)
  6. Sunshine Oh Sunshine
  7. Stay Right Here
  8. Hot Tub
  9. No One Else
  10. Long Time Sunshine
  11. Never You Mind

Shortly after, Rivers entered a pro studio with a group of unknown musicians (but presumably those from the shows above and the rehearsal tape). Together, they recorded two professional studio recordings of Homie material. Ross Humpheries engineered.

  1. American Girls
  2. Think About You

Recording the Final Album

In December of 1997 and January of 1998, Rivers Cuomo entered the studio with "Fred" (from the Gigolo Aunts) on drums and "Drew" (from the Tracy Bonham band) on bass and recorded a Homie album. There is some debate as to what actually happened. According to Rivers in a 2006 Fan Interview, only the drums were tracked. However, according to Karl, this was the actual Homie album, completely finished except for a final mix. Karl writes, "He recorded an entire album's worth of Homie songs , I believe at Fort Apache in Boston. The song listing will be posted here "ASAP", as track sheets for the sessions have turned up. The tapes were never mixed down, however, so there is no listening copy available at this time. This session includes such "solo" show songs as "Hey M'Darlin'" , "Think About", and "Fun Time". According to Rivers, he considers the recording to be a completed album, and at the time he had hoped to someday release it as Homie."

Later, in an email exchange, Karl said "Unfortunately, I was never able to re-find those track sheets. Actually, Rivers either hid them or lost them, and that was 6+ years ago now. And the tapes are either in Boston at a studio or are missing. "Shadows in the dark.." as Gandalf said..."

Meet the Deedles Soundtrack

Around this time, Rivers recorded what would become the only released Homie song, "American Girls". The song was recorded in Boston at a professional studio, but no one seems to remember where. Karl wrote, "The older version of the song was a very up-tempo rocking song. When the "deedles" version was released (on March 24, 1998), many were surprised to find that it was now a much slower song, smoothed out on the R-n-B / country tip with a pop feel appeal to it."

Fan Demand

Like Songs from the Black Hole, the Homie album is a holy grail for Weezer fans. Weezer fans often debate which album should be finished or released. Unlike The Black Hole, many believe that the Homie album actually is finished and is sitting in the Weezer archives. Of course, this claim is unverified. Others simply hope for the Homie demos Rivers recorded. Many fans joke about the album comparing it to Brian Wilson's SMiLE, and say that "Rivers will probably finish it when he's older and his voice is shot." In 2006, ohjonas made cover art for the Homie album, parodying the "SMiLE" artwork. Unfortunately, the actual Homie album may never see the light of day. Despite this, some Homie demos have been leaked or released, but none from the actual era. "Wanda (You're My Only Love)", and "Longtime Sunshine" were all released on Alone, but in their original incarnations rather than in their Homie form. Furthermore, "I'll Think About You" is scheduled to appear on Alone II, but also in it's original form rather than it's Homie form.

It is most likely that all songs that were adapted to Homie were altered. There are only two songs for which fans have original versions and Homie versions: "Hot Tub" and "Wanda (You're My Only Love)". In both cases, the songs were given a more "goofball" sound. In "Hot Tub", the entire bridge was rewritten. In conclusion, even if the songs are heard, it is likely that almost half will not be heard in their Homie form.

Discography

See also