Search - Ween :: La Cucaracha

Spotty

soalivetoday | Athens, GA | 07/20/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a huge Ween fan and love most everything they do. It was apparent from the outset with "La Cucaracha" that this album was going to be a grower. Unfortunately, it really hasn't grown on me the way I thought it would, and as a result, I now think it really isn't a very strong release.



The album starts fine with "Fiesta", a wacky Mexican-themed instrumental. But then comes the biggest flaw with the album in my eyes. Songs 2 and 3 on a record should definitely establish the tone. For me, "Blue Balloon" and "Friends" could be the flimsiest 2 and 3 songs ever on a record, and that is saying a lot. A lot of folks like "Blue Balloon" but I just don't get it. I find it to be a very boring song. "Friends" is a techno rave up unlike anything Ween has done before, and it is fine, but really not packing much punch. I don't think that it is any coincidence that the band only played each of these songs live a handful of times before dropping them out of the rotation all together. If a band that thrives on its live show doesn't think enough to include the 2nd and 3rd song of its new record in the set list, what does that say about the strength of these songs? The first 3 on this album just leave me puzzled.



"Object" is the 4th song and it has grown on me...I like the lyrics, but even it is a fairly terse song. "Learnin' to Love" is a nice Tom Petty styled tune that has become a staple in the live show and is decent, although I've grown sick of it on repeated listens. "With My Own Bare Hands" is the type of Ween tune that I usually love, muscular and vulgar, but even this one feels forced to me...the lyrics are so over the top and lose their shock value as a result. The next 3 songs, "The Fruit Man", "Spirit Walker" and "Shamemaker" are all decent, but nothing too killer. The first 2 also receive almost no live play.



The album definitely closes stronger than it begins. "Sweetheart" is a great little 70's styled tune sung by Deaner, and they hit the mark on this one. "Lullaby" is nice. The final 2 songs, "Woman and Man" and "Your Party" are the strongest on the record. "Woman and Man" is a 9 minute psychadelic blow out with a sinister riff. "Your Party" is a piece of excellent songwriting that holds up with any of Ween's best work. But it is there that this album pales...the songs just aren't very memorable as a whole. The lack of momemtum generated by the first few songs on this record make it a tough listen, and it never recovers. Ween has better records in them."