SZNZ: Winter is the tenth EP by American rock band Weezer, and the last of four EPs in their SZNZ (pronounced "seasons") project. 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
Personnel
Weezer
Rivers Cuomo – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars, production
Brian Bell – guitars, backing vocals
Patrick Wilson – drums
Scott Shriner – bass guitar, backing vocals
Additional musicians
Max Bernstein – music direction
Jonathan Dreyfus – banjo, cello, double bass, harmonium, harpsichord, Mellotron, orchestral arrangement, theremin, viola, violin Amy Andersen – backing vocals Jean-Louise Parker – backing vocals, viola, violin Harry Cooper – clarinet Jonathan Leahy – string arrangement Kelly O'Donohue – trumpet Jake Sinclair – additional vocals, synthesizer (track 1) Efe Cakar – additional guitar (2) Suzy Shinn – additional vocals (3)