Ween - "At The Cat's Cradle, 1992" CD+DVD

Ween, to the novice, could easily come across as sophomoric, juvenile, and maybe even unprofessional. But to those who look a little deeper, these goofball virtuosos are fearlessly professional risk-takers and unlikely pop-stars with a voracious musical appetite, and Dean and Gene could easily be successful at any kind of music. They have been musical chameleons for many years, and their mastery of all kinds of sounds is inspiring and truly 'punk rock'. They are reckless and cheeky, and always surprising and fun.
'At The Cat's Cradle' is a very early live show (soundboard, luckily), from their days as a duo-with-a-drum-machine. If Ween are, umm, 'refined' master-pranksters nowadays, songs like the opening 'Big Jilm', are raw and jammy with mid-song dialogues and some improvised silliness. Ween's any-genre predilection encompasses weirdo pop, weirdo funk, weirdo post-punk, and something else that resembles classic rock. 'Don't Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy)' is a particularly theatrical, dramatic take/parody/homage to big stadium rock, and a standout that culminates in some messed-up sampling at the tail-end. 'Mango Woman' is like a rasta Butthole Surfers - and yet somehow getting sentimental and sweet in a stoned-out way. 'El Camino' borrows a little from 'White Rabbit', and the vitriolic 'You Fucked Up' is a dirty rock outburst (in a wonderfully primal fashion). 'Buckingham Green' is a mellow, almost folksy ballad that ends up spacing out with some wicked guitar soloing. The attached DVD features some bootleggy footage of the boys having fun on-stage and during a radio interview. Inessential, but more than watchable, especially for single-camera footage.
Ween are always adept at tackling various styles and moods, and even in these very early days, their comprehensive knowledge and love for music is evident. And though this live set can be a bit draggy in spots, there's plenty of Ween-genius (Weenius?) to go around. (MVD Audio)

Ween site

Ween - "The Friends EP" CDEP

Wow, another little (20-minute, 5-song) self-release from Dean and Gene, and it starts with a bang! The title track is an outright disco number...it's cutesy and even clubby, in the worst over-the-top sense. Catchy track, too, and this one proves that Ween are capable of so very much musically. And you can be sure it's firmly tongue-in-cheek, naturally. Apparently, these cuts are odds and ends, as they were recorded at different times, and it sounds this way, though it's no more schizophrenic than any other Ween release. 'King Billy' is an ode to some great reggae/dub masters, and sways with a rocksteady beat and some farty little noises. Prime! Jammy and hammy is the way, and 'Light Me Up' is a Latin-flavored number full of boastful optimism from the dealer's point of view. Tony Montana, anyone? And the final song, 'Slow Down Boy' is a schmaltzy slice of baroque pop (complete with faux-English accent). Masterful. Never underestimate the power of a little ween! (Chocodog)

Akron/Family - "Love Is Simple" CD/DVD

This is music by, and for, people who appreciate music, in all it's permutations, forms, and styles. Akron/Family's second (well, third or fourth, if you're counting their works as The Angels Of Light band) full-length effort is a lovely and song-based affair. They come off, on record, as a kind of indie folk act that crosses over into hippie jam band territory almost. But that's short-changing these fellows. First, they can write some fucking great songs - ones that you can sing along to, even. I guarantee that upon hearing the glorious 'Love Is Simple' (the title track), or the memorable 'Phenomena', you will be humming along for the rest of the day. Really! Elements of world, and even religious musics come into play. And it works magickally, somehow, in a big mysterious melange of song and sound. A wonderful CD, this one co-produced by Andrew Weiss (of Rollins Band and Ween fame).
If you're lucky and purchased a first pressing of this, then you also have a nice and tasty DVD packed with nearly 90 minutes of live mayhem from these boys. Here is where it all comes together...from gospel-style hoedowns to frenzied noise to trance-inducing drum circles, to mellow acoustic folksongs - sometimes evolving from and around the same song even. This is what it's all about, losing yourself in the music. No egos, no 'rock star' attitude, just a genuine respect for the sound of 'love'. (Young God Records)