You probably clicked on this article because you thought the headline was funny. “Weezer? That awful band that makes incel music?”

I’m begging you: Just hear me out.

Weezer, a Los Angeles-based rock band that first rose to prominence in the mid-’90s, has somewhat of a negative reputation among most people from my generation. If you’re around my age, there’s a good chance you share the same opinion as almost all of my friends I’ve talked to about music: Weezer sucks.

Except, how much Weezer have you actually listened to? I’m sure you’ve heard “Island in the Sun” and “Buddy Holly,” but which other songs led you to the conclusion that the band isn’t worth listening to? Are there any? Or did you see a few “Weezer bad” memes and just go along with it?

Today, I’m putting an end to — or, at least, speaking out against — the anti-Weezer propaganda that has plagued the minds of youth across the country. Because, dear reader, as painful as it is to admit, I must tell you the truth: I am a Weezer fan.

In fact, Weezer is my all-time favorite band; they have been since I started paying attention to music beyond whatever was playing on the radio.

I was first introduced to Weezer by the song “My Name Is Jonas,” featured on “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” as part of the greatest video game soundtrack ever assembled. My dad, a diehard Weezer fan himself, slowly began to sneak more and more of the band’s discography into road trips until I found myself making a Spotify account in 2018 so I could listen to more.

Fast-forward to today, where I’ve seen Weezer in concert four separate times — accounting for roughly half of my lifetime concert visits — and consistently find the group among the top artists on my Spotify Wrapped, year after year.

But why, you ask, would I subject myself to so much awful music? The answer is simple: It’s not that bad — at least, not if you know where to look.

For starters, the band’s self-titled debut album — typically referred to as the “Blue Album” from its iconic cover — consistently ranks among the best rock albums of all time, even placing at No. 294 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

While songs like “Say It Ain’t So” and “Buddy Holly” have rightfully earned their status as household names, my personal favorite off the album is the eight-minute closer “Only in Dreams,” which spends nearly half of that time slowly crescendoing into a ridiculous climax you have to hear to believe. Seriously, go listen to this song right now and tell me you didn’t get chills from the ending. I won’t believe you.

Weezer’s cult-classic sophomore effort, “Pinkerton,” is a must-have for all the indie heads out there looking to add another vinyl cover to their bedroom walls. The album has a rough, angry sound that completely stands out against much of the band’s newer music, featuring highly personal lyrics about frontman Rivers Cuomo’s struggles with relationships and his identity.

“Pinkerton” certainly isn’t the most radio-friendly collection of music, and I wouldn’t suggest queuing anything from it the next time your friend with a car starts a Spotify Jam. That being said, this is a perfect album to put in your AirPods and jam out to with some absolutely killer songs like “Across the Sea” and “El Scorcho” that make me wish I knew how to play guitar.

In the eyes of many music fans — Weezer enthusiasts and haters alike — “Blue” and “Pinkerton” are far and away the band’s two best albums, with every subsequent project failing to recreate what made the first two work. 

For my taste, however, their best work to date is much more recent: 2016’s “White Album,” Weezer’s fourth of six self-titled albums.

Inspired by Cuomo’s experiences living in L.A., the album delivers a pop-rock blend fairly reminiscent of the Beach Boys, highlighted by feel-good songs like “California Kids” and “King of the World” that could easily find their way onto your summer road trip playlist. Despite its goofy name, “L.A. Girlz” is a powerful, emotional song with one of my all-time favorite bridges and guitar solos. It might be my favorite song, Weezer or otherwise.

If your aversion to Weezer stems from a dislike of ’90s-style alternative rock — or a desire to reject everything your middle-aged dad likes — I truly think you should try out the “White Album.” It won’t get you any attention from the music major in a Radiohead shirt, but it’s a fun, earnest love letter to California that I guarantee you’ll get something out of.

Even so, I’m not going to tell you Weezer doesn’t have any bad music; that would be a lie. Most of their albums have at least a couple of pretty bad songs, and a few are downright unlistenable. Don’t ever listen to their 2009 album “Raditude.” Trust me.

If you dig a little deeper, though, there’s plenty of music in their discography more than worth your time — and this article barely scratches the surface. “The Angel and the One” is a gorgeous ballad where every single line rhymes and somehow still works; “Perfect Situation” has a stupidly simple chorus with the catchiest melody I’ve ever heard; “OK Human” is an entire album recorded with a 38-piece orchestra. 

There’s a little bit of something for everyone; you just have to let yourself find it.

Will this column convince anyone to give Weezer a chance? Probably not. Which is why I’ve kept one final trick up my sleeve: the music video for their 2004 song “Keep Fishin’,” featuring none other than the Muppets. No, really, the actual Muppets. Kermit the Frog wears a Weezer shirt. Animal plays the drums. Miss Piggy falls in love with one of the band members.

If that doesn’t convince you to give them a shot, what will?

“Jam Journal” is a rotating column featuring a new Daily Trojan editor in each installment commenting on the music most important to them. Bennett Christofferson is a sports editor at the Daily Trojan.