Ween
La Cucaracha
Rounder (2007)
If you don't know Ween at this point, it's difficult to sum them up in a few words. Eclectic, genre hopping, and parody come to mind, but they don't adequately explain the band and their dedicated cult following. The duo of Gene and Dean formed Ween in 1984. La Cucaracha is the band's tenth full-length studio release, in addition to several EPs and live recordings. They've jumped ship from small indie to major label, and seem to have found a home again in the indie world this decade. They have had a rotating cast of musicians filling the backing band. Over the group's past few releases, they have delved into more serious musicianship, while creating artistic parodies of varying genres. La Cucaracha follows 2003's prog-psyphedelic Quebec. The trademark silliness of their early days may have greatly diminished, but a tongue-in-cheek tone remains despite the more mature approach. The record kicks off with the Tijuana-style instrumental "Fiesta." The album, however, quickly hops genres, focusing largely on 1960s-1970s styles of party music, from Herb Alpert to the discotheque. It may be their most stylistically diverse record since Chocolate and Cheese with an overall character of dirty swinger parties and weird drugs. The … Read more
Mike Patton
A Perfect Place
Ipecac (2008)
It's been no secret that for quite some time now, Mike Patton has wanted to broaden his ever-widening horizons into … Read more
End of Level Boss
Inside the Difference Engine
Exile on Mainstream (2007)
It's all about the riffs for these English lads: big, thick, rumbling and sometimes peculiar riffs. I have to say … Read more
Title Fight
Kingston
Flight Plan (2008)
Title Fight is the latest pop-punk/melodic hardcore outfit to emerge from the school of Saves the Day/Lifetime. The three songs … Read more
