SZNZ: Winter

SZNZ: Winter
SZNZ: Winter
Studio album by Weezer
Released	December 21, 2022
Studios	Groove Masters (Santa Monica); The Village Recorders (Los Angeles); Funkhaus Berlin;
Genres	Power pop; pop rock;
Length	21:35
Labels	Atlantic; Crush;
Producers	Suzy Shinn; James Flannigan; Rivers Cuomo;
Weezer chronology
Singles from SZNZ: Winter
	"I Want a Dog"; Released: December 9, 2022;

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Blabbermouth.net	8/10
Exclaim!	6/10
Gigwise
Riff Magazine	7/10
Spectrum Culture	48%
Under the Radar

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

All tracks are written by Rivers Cuomo.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Want a Dog"	2:49
2.	"Iambic Pentameter"	3:52
3.	"Basketball"	2:47
4.	"Sheraton Commander"	2:04
5.	"Dark Enough to See the Stars"	2:37
6.	"The One That Got Away"	2:52
7.	"The Deep and Dreamless Sleep"	4:36
Total length:		21:35

Vinyl-exclusive bonus track
No.	Title	Length
7.	"Why Don't You Get Me"	3:10

Notes

↑ The vinyl version puts track 7 "The Deep and Dreamless Sleep" as track 8 on the tracklist.

Personnel

Weezer

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)	Peak position
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)	38
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)	97
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)	92
UK Album Downloads (Official Charts)	65
UK Physical Albums (OCC)	89
UK Sales Albums (OCC)	96

References

↑ Robinson, Ellie (December 21, 2022). "Weezer drop fourth and final 'SZNZ' EP, 'Winter'". NME. Retrieved February 8, 2023. ...the record's bulk comprising the angular power-pop sound that Weezer are synonymous with.
1 2 3 Erikson, Anne. "WEEZER SZNZ: Winter". Blabbermouth. Retrieved December 21, 2022. …writing songs with an adolescent outlook and guitar-driven, pop-rock approach.
↑ "weezer: SZNZ - Google Sheets". June 4, 2022. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
↑ Richard Bienstock (February 3, 2021). "Weezer have four – yes, four – new albums in the works". guitarworld. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
↑ Miller, Jeff (September 20, 2022). "Weezer Teases 'SZNZ: Winter' Album at Secret Club Show in Los Angeles". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
↑ Kreps, Daniel (December 9, 2022). "Weezer Pine for Canine Companionship on New Song "I Want a Dog"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
↑ Jones, Abby (December 16, 2022). "Weezer Ring in Winter with "I Want a Dog" on Kimmel". Consequence. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
↑ "Watch: Weezer release new 'SZNZ' EP, 'Dark Enough to See the Stars' video". MSN. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
↑ Hudson, Alex (December 22, 2022). "Weezer Retain Glimmers of Greatness on 'SZNZ: Winter'". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
↑ Wilson, Rob (January 4, 2023). "Album Review: Weezer - SZNZ: Winter". Gigwise. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
↑ Gill, David (December 19, 2022). "REVIEW: Weezer gives us closure on 'SZNZ: Winter'". Riff Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
↑ Korber, Kevin (January 5, 2023). "Weezer: SZNZ: Winter". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
1 2 Dalarossa, Michelle (January 5, 2023). "Weezer SZNZ: Winter". Under the Radar. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2023. 49. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2023/02/15 公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved February 15, 2023.
↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 17/2/2023 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 29/12/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
↑ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
↑ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 17, 2023.

[14] The vinyl version puts track 7 "The Deep and Dreamless Sleep" as track 8 on the tracklist.

[1] Robinson, Ellie (December 21, 2022). "Weezer drop fourth and final 'SZNZ' EP, 'Winter'". NME. Retrieved February 8, 2023. ...the record's bulk comprising the angular power-pop sound that Weezer are synonymous with.

[Blab-2] 1 2 3 Erikson, Anne. "WEEZER SZNZ: Winter". Blabbermouth. Retrieved December 21, 2022. …writing songs with an adolescent outlook and guitar-driven, pop-rock approach.

[3] "weezer: SZNZ - Google Sheets". June 4, 2022. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

[4] Richard Bienstock (February 3, 2021). "Weezer have four – yes, four – new albums in the works". guitarworld. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

[5] Miller, Jeff (September 20, 2022). "Weezer Teases 'SZNZ: Winter' Album at Secret Club Show in Los Angeles". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

[6] Kreps, Daniel (December 9, 2022). "Weezer Pine for Canine Companionship on New Song "I Want a Dog"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 27, 2022.

[7] Jones, Abby (December 16, 2022). "Weezer Ring in Winter with "I Want a Dog" on Kimmel". Consequence. Retrieved December 27, 2022.

[8] "Watch: Weezer release new 'SZNZ' EP, 'Dark Enough to See the Stars' video". MSN. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

[9] Hudson, Alex (December 22, 2022). "Weezer Retain Glimmers of Greatness on 'SZNZ: Winter'". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 24, 2022.

[10] Wilson, Rob (January 4, 2023). "Album Review: Weezer - SZNZ: Winter". Gigwise. Retrieved January 5, 2023.

[11] Gill, David (December 19, 2022). "REVIEW: Weezer gives us closure on 'SZNZ: Winter'". Riff Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2022.

[12] Korber, Kevin (January 5, 2023). "Weezer: SZNZ: Winter". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved July 15, 2026.

[Under-13] 1 2 Dalarossa, Michelle (January 5, 2023). "Weezer SZNZ: Winter". Under the Radar. Retrieved February 8, 2023.

[15] "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2023. 49. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved December 14, 2023.

[16] "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2023/02/15 公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved February 15, 2023.

[ac_Scotland_-17] "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 17/2/2023 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[ac_UKDigital_-18] "Official Album Downloads Chart on 29/12/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2026.

[19] "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 17, 2023.

[20] "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 17, 2023.