Ween

Editor's Review:

From the four-tracked early works on GodWeenSatan: The Oneness, Pure Guava and The Pod to the lush and musically rich The Mollusk, the members of Ween, primarily Gene Ween (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Dean Ween (lead guitar / backing vocals) — though they're not really brothers and their names aren't really Gene and Dean Ween — have demonstrated time and time again that they know no song-writing boundaries. From crafting works completely their own to tipping their hats to the masters of rock and pop, there's nothing Ween can't do.

White Pepper sees the band venture further into the studio, and though it's a move that would kill most bands whose roots lie in the stripped-down four-track sound, everything Ween does is such a self-parody, is done with tongue planted so firmly in cheek, and is done so well that this comes off as nothing short of pure genius. The music is melodically rich, produced to sound deep and multi-layered. There's a noticeable pop-heavy Beatles influence ("Even If You Don't"); an island-flavored Jimmy Buffet-esque jam ("Bananas and Blow"); two solid rock songs, one nitro-fueled and one slow and heavy ("Stroker Ace" and "The Grobe," respectively); a country-tinged pop number ("Stay Forever," "Falling Out"); and a grip of classic Ween pop tunes ("Exactly Where I'm At," "Pandy Fackler"), all full of sarcastic, intelligently goofy lyrics and top flight musicianship.

The Ween band — Claude Coleman (drums), Dave Dreiwitz (bass) and Glenn McClelland (keys) — is an incredibly tight group whose talents synergize perfectly with the stellar song-writing abilities of the band's frontmen, making White Pepper the latest in a long line of awesome Ween records. Out May 2nd.

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Record Label Elektra Released May 2000

Tracks 1. Exactly Where I'm At 2. Flutes Of Chi 3. Even If You Don't 4. Bananas And Blow 5. Stroker Ace 6. Ice Castles 7. Back To Basom 8. The Grobe 9. Pandy Fackler 10. Stay Forever 11. Falling Out 12. She's Your Baby