With the exception of the news of the Weezer Cruise returning in 2014, all has been quiet in camp Weezer. That's about to change: At a fan event in Los Angeles on Oct. 25, frontman Rivers Cuomo answered questions about the band's upcoming plans, and according to multiple attendees, he said the band will begin working on their ninth proper full-length in January with none other than Ric Ocasek, who is responsible for producing two of Weezer's most commercially successful albums, 1994's triple platinum Weezer (aka the Blue Album) and 2001's platinum Weezer (aka the Green Album). Best known as the frontman of ’80s new-wave band the Cars, Ocasek has also produced work by Motion City Soundtrack, Bad Religion and No Doubt. AltPress has learned that the sessions are tentatively booked through the summer, meaning this will be the longest time the band have spent in the studio since creating 2008's Weezer (aka the Red Album).

In addition to the news of a new album, Cuomo reportedly commented that a greatest hits album is also in the works, as is the possiblity of a fourth installment of his Alone series, which compiles rarities, demos and outtakes from the prolific songwriter's deep catalog. There's no word on what label might be releasing any of these records, although it's assumed Geffen will handle the greatest hits album as the bulk of Weezer's catalog was released through that major label. The band's last album was 2010's Epitaph-issued Hurley; since then, they've been sporadically touring, sometimes playing the Blue Album or 1996's Pinkerton from start to finish.