So, let's talk Ween...

[Ilash]

I sampled a few of Ween's tunes a while back but, mainly because their albums are hard to come by in this country at anywhere near a good price, I only today bought my first album by them, White Pepper. Now, I have a question for all of youse. Why, whenever I went on about all my problems with modern pop music, did no one bring up these guys?! I have only listened to this album once but, man, is it a goody. It pretty much checks off all of the problems that I like to bring up in my anti-modern music rants.

Diversity in both style and emotion? Check.
Genuine, honest to goodness pop HOOKS? Check.
Real musicianship? Check.
A sense of fun and emotions that range beyond mopey or angry? Check.
An inviting, organic sound? Check (pretty much).

Now, I suppose that it's not that original but to their credit, Ween certainly don't sound like any other band. Also, not every song is necessarily a winner. The instrumental Ice Castles is something of a waste of space, the Gopher is a merely decent Zeppelin/ Sabbathish number and because I don't really like speed metal Stroker Ace isn't really my cup of tea, though it is done well enough. And again to their credit, the album is perfectly sequenced having the best songs at the beginning and end of the album, leaving the relatively weaker ones in the middle (though Back to Basam is brilliant).

What really impresses though is the formidable songwriting skills on display here. The boys really know their way around a melody in a way that, based on what I've heard, they're probably the closest that any modern band has ever come to the melodic genius of Lennon/ McCartney, Jagger/ Richards, Townshend, Davies, Wilson etc. Again, from my experiences at least.

A special mention also has to got to Dean's guitar playing ability. The guy's not half bad.

Now to hunt down the rest of their catalog at a decent price. I assume I should start with their albums from Chocolate and Cheese on as their first few albums are somewhat less accessible.

Any fans of the band here?

[Ontir]

"Push the little daisies, and make 'em come up!"

[Ill Communication]

You TOTALLY started out with the right album ... White Pepper. But as you deduced, you should next pick up Chocolate and Cheese, then probably Quebec. I found it's easiest to work your way backwards, as Gener and Deaner only get weirder and more drug addled. You might want to check out Moistboyz as well.

[Ilash]

You TOTALLY started out with the right album ... White Pepper. But as you deduced, you should next pick up Chocolate and Cheese, then probably Quebec. I found it's easiest to work your way backwards, as Gener and Deaner only get weirder and more drug addled. You might want to check out Moistboyz as well.

Thanks for the tip but don't you mean got less weird and less drug-addled? And what do you think of The Mollusk, which I've heard lots of good about.

[elheffe]

I sampled a few of Ween's tunes a while back but, mainly because their albums are hard to come by in this country at anywhere near a good price, I only today bought my first album by them, White Pepper. Now, I have a question for all of youse. Why, whenever I went on about all my problems with modern pop music, did no one bring up these guys?! I have only listened to this album once but, man, is it a goody. It pretty much checks off all of the problems that I like to bring up in my anti-modern music rants.

Diversity in both style and emotion? Check.
Genuine, honest to goodness pop HOOKS? Check.
Real musicianship? Check.
A sense of fun and emotions that range beyond mopey or angry? Check.
An inviting, organic sound? Check (pretty much).

Now, I suppose that it's not that original but to their credit, Ween certainly don't sound like any other band. Also, not every song is necessarily a winner. The instrumental Ice Castles is something of a waste of space, the Gopher is a merely decent Zeppelin/ Sabbathish number and because I don't really like speed metal Stroker Ace isn't really my cup of tea, though it is done well enough. And again to their credit, the album is perfectly sequenced having the best songs at the beginning and end of the album, leaving the relatively weaker ones in the middle (though Back to Basam is brilliant).

What really impresses though is the formidable songwriting skills on display here. The boys really know their way around a melody in a way that, based on what I've heard, they're probably the closest that any modern band has ever come to the melodic genius of Lennon/ McCartney, Jagger/ Richards, Townshend, Davies, Wilson etc. Again, from my experiences at least.

A special mention also has to got to Dean's guitar playing ability. The guy's not half bad.

Now to hunt down the rest of their catalog at a decent price. I assume I should start with their albums from Chocolate and Cheese on as their first few albums are somewhat less accessible.

Any fans of the band here?
White Pepper may be Ween's least goofy record in their whole oeuvre. I love Ween, but let's call a spade a spade. They are a goofy band. Like Ontir posted, "Little Daisies" was their big hit in the '90s and it's a goofy song. Other songs are just as goofy - from "Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down)" "Touch My Tooter"
"Tastes Good On The Bun" "Piss Up A Rope" "Waving My Dick In The Wind" For every serious song there are two goofy ones.
That's one of the reasons why they aren't more widely recognized as a great band - they're too goofy. They're good and all, but to compare them to all the classic rock greats like Ilash did, is just well, goofy.
That said, my favorite has to be 12 Golden Country Greats -- who else but Ween would do a country album?
I still think Ilash should check out Guided By Voices -- they are heavily influenced by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, all without sounding too derivative, and they have a few goofy songs too, just not as many.

[Ontir]

I enjoy Pure Guava which has songs like Little Birdy, and Going Get Tough From the Getgo, as well as Push th Little Daisies. They said when it came out, that it was recorded in the throws of mano nucleaosis induced delusions. Something was certainly driving this car!

[Ill Communication]

Thanks for the tip but don't you mean got less weird and less drug-addled? And what do you think of The Mollusk, which I've heard lots of good about.

No, I meant the inverse (if you look backwards starting at Quebec). You are looking forwards starting at GodWeenSatan, in which case, I think they did LESS drugs with each succissive album. Anyways, the point is moot, that you've stumbled on greatness.

I was tasked with compiling a best of for various peeps, and the song total was 93. The Mollusk is a good album, but I think if you're just starting, check out Quebec first.

I have to disagree with Hefe though ... I think they have the stigma of being a goofy band, but I think Gene and Dean are two of the most talented guys in music today. If you don't believe me, check out Live in Chicago. When I think of goofy bands, I think the Aquabats or They Might be Giants. What I do agree with was the statement that they can play a bunch of different genres, from Zepplenesque diddies to straight up funk, Prince style.

[Ilash]

No, I meant the inverse (if you look backwards starting at Quebec). You are looking forwards starting at GodWeenSatan, in which case, I think they did LESS drugs with each succissive album. Anyways, the point is moot, that you've stumbled on greatness.

I was tasked with compiling a best of for various peeps, and the song total was 93. The Mollusk is a good album, but I think if you're just starting, check out Quebec first.

I have to disagree with Hefe though ... I think they have the stigma of being a goofy band, but I think Gene and Dean are two of the most talented guys in music today. If you don't believe me, check out Live in Chicago. When I think of goofy bands, I think the Aquabats or They Might be Giants. What I do agree with was the statement that they can play a bunch of different genres, from Zepplenesque diddies to straight up funk, Prince style.


Right yeah, that's what I thought you meant. Guess I'm just tired.

Most of this is really in reply to Hefe but I'm quoting you because I agree with your answer. I admit that it is probably a bit too premature to equate Ween to those classic rock greats but the fact that I'm even willing to, says it all really. And please note, I was referring only to melody-making skills here. I don't actually expect Ween to come up with anything like a Quadrophenia. As for the "goofy" tag. First off, so what if they are goofy? In a day when most of the music generally recognized as being of high quality is all too often deadly serious - frequently overly so - it's a wonderful change of pace to see a band of genuine quality that lives on the opposite far end of the "seriousness" spectrum. As an example, I used to really like Radiohead (their early "normal" stuff anyway) and while I still recognize their gift for melody and their unique sound, I simply have trouble sitting through more than three of their songs in a row because the constant whinging and whining just gets too much for me after a while. And that's Radiohead. What does that say about obviously lesser bands, as for example your average EMO band?

To me, Ween's goofiness works very much in their favour because it results in a sound that captures the manic, unbridled energy of the earlier days in rock and roll/ pop, before an over-emphasis on concepts like "message" and "sincerity" and "soul-baring" turned the enthusiasm into world weariness. Understand that I don't mean to write off "serious" music because that is very much not my intention here. I just believe that "goofy" music is just as valid as "serious" music as the two serve complementary but different purposes.

Okay, so that was a bit of a ramble so let me put it this way: If a band/ artist is able to put out constantly (from what I can tell) GREAT melodies, display formidable musical chops, can jump effortlessly from style to style and has both a sound and an identity that is truly unique, all of which serves to set them apart from their contemporaries then does it really matter whether the music they are playing is "serious" or not?

[J. Robb]

I've always said: "Chocolate & Cheese" is the "Sgt. Pepper's" of the 90s. Great song after great song, my Dad even bought it and liked it. I like their other stuff as well, especially "The Mollusk" and "12 Golden Country Greats", but I think "Chocolate & Cheese" is their masterpiece.

(And yes, it is a little weird calling something with titles like "Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down)" and "The HIV Song" a masterpiece, but that's Ween.)

[Sheldon]

All I know about ween is that cover of theres with the boobies.

[astronato]

Anyone seen them live? I saw them two years ago (i think) in nyc. Sound of Urchin opened. They were incredible. Perhaps they do abuse the scotch guard but they still sound tight. They do a helluva cover of Led Zeps - All of my Love. Bananas and Blow, Voo Doo Lady and Poopship Destroyer actually sound better live than recorded.

and they are not too goofy. They are just goofy enough. They do the pyschotropic drugs so we don't have to.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=54uG7VoLvWQ&mode=related&search=

[Noir_Dark]

Ween is weird, goofy, adolescent, rude, ruthless, relentless and genius.

Ilash I feel like I’ve failed you and the CBR community.


My top 5 Ween songs

Exactly Where I’m At
Mutilated Lips
Ocean Man
Freedom of 76
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese

[Ilash]

Okay, I now own The Mollusk, White Pepper and Chocolate and Cheese and it's official, these guys are GREAT. And I mean GREAT, capitals and all. GREAT in the way that I didn't think any modern band can be. GREAT in the way all those great classic bands are.

Ween are constantly funny, yes, but their music can be very affecting too. Listen to something like It's Gonna Be (Alright) and tell me that it's not heartwrenchingly beautiful. They are a band who are fearless in their experimentation, trying out genre after genre successfully, creating music that is innovative (if not "original") and always fresh. And those melodies are truly staggering. Their music may be challenging but that is compensated by the amount of hooks they inject into their songs and by their sheer mastery of songwriting.

Are there any other "indie" bands who can come close to measuring up to these guys, who can display the same level of songwriting prowess and impressive musicianship while mastering that nearly-impossible balance of weird and accessible. And is there anyone else who can do all that while being hillariously funny at the same time?

Seriously I want to know.

[The New Fate]

I love WEEN!!
Yes Chocolate & Cheese is a great album and while your @ it if you can pick up Live in Chicago that is so sweet. (DVD) included.

I just caught thier gig this summer in Boise and they played for 3 hours.
My 1st show was @ Vegoose '05 though I have been a fan since around '96