Ween – Shinola Vol. 1
(Chocodog)

This b-sides and demos collection has been a long time coming for Ween fans, as we’ve all known that Gene and the Deaner have had a large cache of unreleased material for some good time now, and it was just a matter of time before they were to be unleashed upon the world.

This volume of “Shinola” is just about as good as any album, arguably better than some. Their last few albums have been a little too produced for my tastes, and lack the absurd creativity of their earlier material. Too many people think their work is just plain stupid, when really it is stupid-on-purpose brilliance. everal songs here are even more crude and silly than you’d ever guess, which may be why they never surfaced.

With the failure to include decent liner notes, the fan is left to guess by the music itself which era they came from. Songs such as “Tastes Good on the Bun” and “Big Fat Fuck” sound like they came from the “Chocolate and Cheese” or “Pure Guava” era. Some of the slower, sludgier tunes could have easily fit on “the Mollusk” album. Many songs just plain deserved to be on studio albums, such as “Boys Club” and “Gabrielle” which showcase their love for 70’s AOR.

Many songs are repetitive, but they make up for it by being catchy as hell. This album proves to be more than just a cash grab or a diehard fans-only release. I look forward to hearing several more volumes. — Goon

SCORE:

Recommended If You Like: Frank Zappa, Beck, Mr. Bungle, They Might Be Giants