La Cucaracha

Ween | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B000VKJ6PY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,630 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy > Comedic Music > Comedy Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For a band entering their third decade of creative collaboration (counting from their late '80s self-released cassettes), you might think Ween would have started to mellow, maybe release the occasional children's album, a la They Might Be Giants. However, it's clear from their first studio album in four years that Dean and Gene Ween have lost none of their wonderful weirdness. Don't let the title mislead you into thinking La Cucaracha is a single-genre exercise on the order of 1996's Nashville-nailing 12 Golden Country Greats. Sure, it kicks off with mariachi-esque "Fiesta", but the subsequent 12 tracks contain explorations of demented reggae, faux English accents, lo-fi techno, boot-stompin' bluegrass, a bongo-driven epic jam about the origins of the universe, songs about balloons and killing your girlfriend ("Object" is as creepy a tale as anything they've ever produced), and a soothing-as-Kaopectate sax solo from smooth jazz legend David Sanborn. If you're a follower of the church of Ween, it's as comforting as a heap of mashed potatoes and meatloaf, covered (of course) with a ladle of brown gravy. --Ben Heege

Product Description

For the past 20 years, Ween has established itself as a major artistic force, combining off-the-wall musical antics with brilliantly creative songwriting. La Cucaracha, Ween's new studio record, is an eclectic, dark, humorous, and bizarre assortment of songs. In other words, it's a typical Ween record. These thirteen tracks, though strongly diverse, share a common theme: relationships. It's a theme that can be at once joyful, morbid, humorous, and often frightening. From the tenderly introspective "Lullaby" to the disturbingly offensive "My Own Bare Hands," Ween pulls no punches in its latest endeavor, which acheives its power through sharp wit, clever songwriting, and brutal honesty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gets better with each listen, March 9, 2008

By 

Puffany (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: La Cucaracha (Audio CD)

Wow!! Some really negative reviews here - more than a little surprising.
A common problem with reviewers is that they often compare an artist's work against their other works. If it doesn't seem as good as other works to the reviewer, they often don't treat the work based on its own merits and therefore rate it lower than it deserves.
I reckon this is what has happened here although I respect that everyone has a different view.
I went to see Ween in Melbourne last week - absolutely F###### brilliant!! Every person I spoke to were enthusiastic about the La Cucaracha even if it wasn't their favourite Ween album.
I've waited until I was familiar enough with the whole album before I reviewed La Cucaracha. Ween's albums as great as most of them are, can take a few listens before they click - even for myself being a self-confessed Ween-nut. This album is no different. It took a few listens but now I can't get it out of my car.
I can't be bothered thinking up superlatives or to try and impress you with crap so here's some highlights:
Fiesta is an instrumental that immediately grips you with its infectious vibe and get's you moving- no Viagra needed!
Blue Balloon is classic Ween - artistic & original (not trying to compare - only explaining to the already initiated if they haven't heard it as yet) without sounding....been there, done that.
This band is about fun and Friends falls into that category where you may think the lyrics are corny, but you'll be bouncing to it at any party. This is a different version from the Friends EP version as noted by other reviewers and both are great and worthy of purchase. Ween of course aren't stupid - the corniness of some lyrics are totally tongue-in-cheek.
Object is a disturbingly sinister song - masterfully done - the mood in which it's delivered suits the music perfectly. - check out those lyrics!
Sweetheart in the Summer is a perfect hangover floater......a very welcome comforter for that shaky, sweaty, low-on-energy day.
Woman and Man starts as foreplay and then its "hold on for the ride of your life!" Sounds amazing turned up loud as you drive along a freeway. Air-guitaring after a few drinks works brilliantly as well.
The lyrics in Your Party are intentionally straight-forward sounding but in the typically 'loaded' Ween style. I've noticed that some people reviewing this song on different forums just don't get Ween's humour. The gorgeous music that goes with the lyrics melts in your mouth.
I pretty much like every track on the album but the above are my favourites and the ones I'll skip to if I want to cut it short.
Wake up people!! Don't be put off by overly-good or bad reviews! Give it a few listens and make up your own minds. For me, this is (almost) a great album, Ween-or-not.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the first Ween album to be a grower......., January 16, 2008

By 

Steve (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: La Cucaracha (Audio CD)

I had heard this album on Ween's myspace when it was streaming and wasn't really that impressed. I finally decided to get this record two weeks after it came out. Listened to it, still not impressed. But now I finally understand it. Put it on while reading a magazine or book or whatever, it will sink it. Every Ween album has been a grower for me, but some move a little faster. This one has taken the longest. But at last it has defeated my mind. This or anything starting with and after Chocolate and Cheese is the place someone should start if they want a more accessible Ween. If you want more of the brown, go to Pure Guava and anything before.
In conclusion, I would originally have said this to be Ween's weakest effort. But now I'm finding my self reaching for this disc quite a bit lately. This is a weird, fun, relaxing, not to be taken too seriously, not so drugged out, stripped down Ween album. Enjoy!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars poop :(, October 24, 2007

By 

M. Cottone (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: La Cucaracha (Audio CD)

Maybe I need to give it more time, but so far I've found this to be a real disappointment. Really pains me to say it since I've been with them since the early 90s, but these songs just seem like a shell of what they should be. A couple nice moments, but really it seems like they are kind of parodying themselves at this point. The songs just jump from one genre exercise to another but the tracks just don't have the substance that they did in the past.