Since their debut on the scene in 1994, reviews of Weezer’s subsequent albums have paled in comparison. Fans, myself included, have stood by the band as Pinkerton, The Green Album, Maladroit and Make Believe saw occasional commercial success with pop-like singles but nothing lasting.

But we held out. We found and embraced the good stuff (Pinkerton’s been in my heavy rotation since high school) where snooty reviewers and the general public saw weak pet projects. And now, for Weezer and music fans alike, the long wait may be over.

A few days ago, the band released their 6th disc, (a third self-titled album dubbed The Red Album), and early reviews of the album are positive. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping Weezer may finally get the respect they deserve.

One telling lyric says it best, “Timbaland knows the way to reach the top of the charts/Maybe if I work with him I can perfect the art.” It didn’t take production mastermind Timbaland, just a return to the riffs, attitude and fun that made Weezer famous. In the same vein, the video for Pork And Beans celebrates YouTube superstars with a veritable galaxy of accidental celebrities. Perfect, for the band’s return to critical and hopefully commercial success.

Before diving in to the new disc, take some time to embrace how far these fellas have come. I put together a playlist of some of my favorite Weezer tracks and you can listen to it online. I promise you’ll be a believer in 40 minutes or less.

Is anyone else out there a long-time Weezer fan? Or do you have experience following a band religiously despite sour albums, or bad press (I’m talking to you Guns N Roses fans)? And is anyone else excited to to purchase the Weezer album and the new one from Journey today…not that I am…I’m just wondering if you are…oh gosh nevermind.

I am, however, really into music, and would give one of my limbs to have access to so many concerts this summer (does anyone need a leg, cause I REALLY want to go to Rock the Bells). Which is why I was inspired to suck it up, and enter this really awesome contest. It’s so cool, I almost don’t want to tell you guys about it cause as of right now, there aren’t that many entries…. My chances are looking good. So don’t enter. Please.

LG has paired up with Billboard to give 30 people new camera phones, access to some of the hottest shows of the summer, and the forum to share your thoughts with the massive world of the blogosphere. All you have to do is write a 100 word essay about why you would make a great blogger, send them a “photo mash up”— which I hope I did properly— and you could be selected to cover shows across the country this summer. You use your new phone to take pictures, write your blog, and it will be posted on your own personal Billboard webpage. I would seriously pay them to let me do this.

At the end of the summer, three finalists are selected based on their number of hits, and then you, the people, get to vote for whose work is the best.

LG has realized that us 20 somethings have a hard time living without our phones these days. I left my phone at home yesterday, and thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I thought I was going to have a worse one when I got home and only one person had called me. I’m so cool.

LG is cashing in on this trend with all the cool contests they’ve held this year, all at the same time creating a buzz about their products. Sounds like someone over there is pretty smart, huh?