About a week ago, a mysterious item appeared on Amazon.com -- a treat scheduled to be arriving a couple days before Thanksgiving and a couple days after Chinese Democracy. Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, an 11-month follow-up to the Weezer frontman's solo project, is due in stores November 25.

Cuomo and his posse have had a rocky career since they creatively peaked 12 years ago with Pinkerton, although part of the blame should be ascribed to stubborn record producer Rick Rubin.

Cuomo may be further alienating himself from his core audience, but at least he's had a prolific year. The experimental Weezer (The Red Album), which dropped in June, saw the band members mixing up their instruments and Cuomo attempting to go falsetto and perform a rap in the same song.

Last December, Cuomo released an introspective home demo LP, Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo. It was rough around the edges, like most solo demo projects, but it was the closest he had come to the awesomeness of his band's '90s work in quite some time.

Considering Cuomo has been all over the place lately touring, talking to fans via YouTube and recording with his band, fans should be excited for a solo follow-up so soon. Come on, it's got to be better than Weezer (The Red Album).

Another Weezer news bit: Spike Jonze, responsible for the genius music video and visual staple of the '90s, "Buddy Holly," will direct the music video for Weezer's next single, "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)."

- Mark