Ween - Quebec

Whilst at my local independent music shoppe, I was engaged in a discussion with the proprietor about Steely Dan. He was raving about their latest album, Everything Must Go; I was saying how it was basically Two Against Nature, Pt. 2. He basically said that he agreed, no new ground was broken, but that Becker/Fagen had hit their stride, found their niche, and he’s just happy to be alive to have heard nine new Steely Dan songs. Steely Dan and Ween have a lot in common – both are based around two core members and a rotating cast of auxiliary musicians, both excel in the studio, and both have apparently hit their musical stride. However, Steely takes themselves a bit too seriously, Ween doesn’t take themselves seriously enough. Quebec is the third in a series of Ween records that all follow a similar formula. There is the drug song (“Zoloft”), the heavy and fast Ween-metal song (“It’s Gonna Be a Long Night”), a goofy, fun and totally unnecessary instrumental (“The Fucked Jam”), a faux children’s song (“So Many People in the Neighborhood”) and, when they cut the comedy and really try, a few really excellent songs, most especially “Chocolate Town.” There are a few new flourishes: Dean Ween has apparently purchased an electric sitar (“Tried and True,” “Transdermal Celebration”), Josh Freese, the ubiquitous session drummer for everyone these days, is present, and… well, there isn’t too much more new ground broken here. That doesn’t mean that this is a bad record – if you enjoy The Mollusk and White Pepper, you will love this album. If you’re looking for something new – well, sorry. [www.ween.com]