Artist bio

Any goofball with a few guitar lessons under his belt and a few more bong hits in his lungs can blather away into a four-track, but it’d be next to impossible to equal the fucked-up genius that is Ween.

With their twisted sense of humor (borderline offensive songs about AIDS, homosexuals, and the mentally ill are the norm) and ability to seemingly master any genre of music (hard rock, country & western, psychedelic pop), Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman and Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo have carved out a singularly amusing career over the past 15 years. Crude, narcotics-addled early albums such as 1990’s God Ween Satan and 1991’s The Pod set the table with songs that ranged from alternate-universe masterworks or listener-baiting mindfucks (the latter’s “Pollo Asado” is the band ordering a meal from a Mexican restaurant). Ween somehow got signed to Elektra in time for 1992’s Pure Guava, highlighted by the insanity inducing “Little Birdy” and the helium-voiced “Push Th' Little Daisies.”

From there, it was one triumph after another: 1994’s pop/soul plate of Chocolate And Cheese, 1996’s straight-up Nashville romp 12 Golden Country Greats, 1997’s nautical-themed, pomp rock powerhouse The Mollusk, and 2000’s mature but masterful White Pepper, the group’s final Elektra album. Ween is also a notoriously must-see live act, a fact documented by 1999’s double-disc Paintin’ The Town Brown and a series of self-released concert sets.

Albums by this artist

Quebec (2003)

Live In Toronto Canada (2001)

White Pepper (2000)

Paintin' The Town Brown (1999)

The Mollusk (Recommended) (1997)

Chocolate And Cheese (1994)

The Pod (Recommended) (1991)

Concerts

May 12, 2000
The Riviera, Chicago, Ill.

Interviews

Ween Wonderland
August 25, 2003

White Pepper Time!
September 1, 2000

Ween

The Pod

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» YUL B. DEAD | STAFF WRITER

NATN Recommended Ween The Pod Shimmy Disc/Elektra, 1991 RiYL: Residents, Frank Zappa, Prince

Describing Ween is difficult, kind of like trying to describe colors to a blind person. In the movie "Mask," Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz), the teenage boy inflicted with the Elephant Man's disease, attempts this monumental task with his blind love interest (Laura Dern). Handing her ice, he tried to express the color blue. It's a very touching scene. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. She will never get to experience the wonderful color we all know simply as "blue". If you've never heard Ween then you are in essence blind/deaf to their beauty. You have to go buy their albums to truly appreciate them.

The Pod is considered by many to be their finest hour. Fueled on Scotchguard and who knows what else, Dean and Gene Ween layed down 3600 hours of tape. From this they selected the choicest 76 minutes. The album starts with an outro ("strap on that jammypac") repeated for three minutes. For first-time listeners, it can be a bit unnerving, but for the experienced listener it's pure joy. Next, The Pod launches into the anthemic "Dr. Rock". It makes you wish this mythical person existed -- someone to rock your ass out when you need it. Sometimes Ween are my personal Dr. Rock. Along with Dr. Rock there are a host of other characters: The Stallion, Molly, Laura, Winkle and Frank, each with their own theme song. You should get to know and love each of them.

Ween are (in)famous for their ability to replicate almost any musical style, sometimes blending several into the same song. The Pod is no exception. From the prog-themed "Right To The Ways And The Rules Of The World" and "Captain Fantasy" to the sugar-pop of "Pork Roll Egg And Cheese," Ween pulls out all the stops. The diamond in this set of tunes has to be "Demon Sweat." It may be the best soul song of the '90s -- listen and learn.

Sometimes people dismiss Ween as a joke/novelty band. Nothing can be further from the truth. If you've ever met people with this point of view, cease all contact with them. They're not worth your time. The reason they have this opinion is because they are jealous of Ween's talent and ability. Pray to Boognish and buy Ween!

YUL B. DEAD |