"OK Human" is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Weezer. The album was released on January 29, 2021. The title of the album is derived from Radiohead's monumental album "OK Computer", as well as from the band’s fascination with technology and how it intersects with humanity. It borrows from themes of isolation and longing for connection that have been a common occurrence in the time of its conception.
Weezer's frontman Rivers Cuomo, inspired by the chamber pop of the Beach Boys' 1966 album "Pet Sounds", composed the music for the album on piano rather than the guitar, which constitutes a departure from the band's usual method of songwriting. The album includes a 38-piece orchestra, highlighting the band's experiment with their sound in a shift toward strings and acoustic instruments.
"OK Human" was well-received upon its release, with critics praising its instrumentation, melodies and a refreshing departure from the band's previous efforts. The first single, "All My Favorite Songs," encapsulates the album’s themes of yearning for connection and true sentiment in the digital age. Other popular tracks include "Numbers," a song about the pressure to live up to unattainable metrics, and "La Brea Tar Pits," which draws on metaphors of being stuck.
The album was initially delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic gave Cuomo the time to delve deeper into his piano playing and led to the band experimenting with different instruments and orchestration. Despite the departure from the band's conventional sound, "OK Human" still possesses the distinctive Weezer charm and lyrical cleverness.
