Few albums in rock history have enjoyed as complete a critical and popular turnaround as Weezer's Pinkerton. Though tagged a disappointment upon its 1996 release, today Pinkerton is considered one of the most influential and important albums of that decade and beyond. In 2004, Rolling Stone even felt compelled to re-review the album, raising it from three stars to the ultimate five. Spin has since honored Pinkerton as among the 100 best albums of 1985-2005 and Guitar World ranks it among the top 100 guitar albums of all-time. Essentially as well-veiled concept album - Pinkerton was a brave departure from the power pop of Weezer's first album and was ambitious in its loose basis on Puccini's Madame Butterfly (Pinkerton is a main character from the Opera). It's legacy is strong - with bands like Saves The Day, Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday attributing the album as exceedingly influential. Now the two-CD Pinkerton - Deluxe Edition adds color to the band's musical journey with the original Weezer-produced album remastered and 25 contemporaneous bonus tracks, including every official B-side and 16 previously unreleased recordings. Among the latter are the newly-discovered gem "Tragic Girl," unreleased B-side "I Swear It's True" and numerous live performances, particularly noteworthy given that the band rarely played Pinkerton songs after the album tour. The 1996-1997 concert tracks were taken from the massive Reading Festival in the UK, radio station sessions in Philadelphia and Salt Lake City, and a lunchtime performance won in a contest by Shorecrest High School near Seattle. Accompanying the package is a booklet with numerous photos and an essay by band compatriot Karl Koch, who reveals how the glorious "Tragic Girl" was recorded at the last minute but left undocumented, causing many to forget its existence.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

Disc 2:

1. Original Album:
2. Tired Of Sex
3. Getchoo
4. No Other One
5. Why Bother?
6. Across The Sea
7. The Good Life
8. El Scorcho
9. Pink Triangle
10. Falling For You
11. Butterfly

B-Sides and More

1. You Gave Your Love To Me Softly
2. Devotion
3. The Good Life (Radio Remix)
4. Waiting On You
5. I Just Threw Out The Love Of My Dreams
6. The Good Life (Live and Acoustic)
7. Pink Triangle (Radio Remix)
8. I Swear It's True
9. Pink Triangle (Live and Acoustic)

Disc 4:

1. You Won't Get With Me Tonight
2. The Good Life (Live at Y100 Sonic Session)
3. El Scorcho (Live at Y100 Sonic Session)
4. Pink Triangle (Live at Y100 Sonic Session)
5. Why Bother? (Live at Reading Festival 1996)
6. El Scorcho (Live at Reading Festival 1996)
7. Pink Triangle (Live at Reading Festival 1996)
8. The Good Life (Live at X96)
9. El Scorcho (Live and Acoustic)
10. Across The Sea Piano Noodles
11. Butterfly (Alternate Take)
12. Long Time Sunshine
13. Getting Up And Leaving
14. Tired Of Sex (Tracking Rough)
15. Getchoo (Tracking Rough)
16. Tragic Girl