Ranking All the Ween Studio Albums
In 1984, Ween founders Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo first met while sharing the same typing class in junior high. At first, neither cared due to their different backgrounds. However, when it came to music, they realized this was one common ground the two shared. This resulted in what would become an ideal working relationship as the two would first form the rock group known today as Ween. From 1984 until 2012, Freeman and Melchiondo enjoyed a solid run as Ween until going their separate ways as Freemen needed to take the time off to deal with his addiction to drugs and alcohol. After three years, a clean and sober Freeman was ready to hook up with Melchiondo so they can begin performing as Ween again.
Ween’s Discography
Ween’s discographic portfolio features nine studio albums to the duo’s credit, as well as seven studio albums, two compilation albums, eight extended plays (EPs), and fifteen demo tapes. In total, they’ve also released ten music videos, a video album, and eighteen singles.
9. The Pod
The second studio album from Ween was (The Pod), which was released on September 20, 1991. Unlike their debut album, the second didn’t quite share the same amount of favorable reviews by some of the critics. However, AllMusic gave it the same four out of five stars score, and in 1992 it was considered among the twenty best albums by Spin Magazine.
8. God/Ween/Satan: The Oneness
Under the Twin/Tone record label, Ween’s debut album, (God/Ween/Satan), was released on November 16, 1990. Among the music critics, it earned four out of five stars with AllMusic, classifying the album as “eclectic and inspired.” Entertainment Weekly seemed to appreciate the humor that came with the tracks featured in the album. Overall, among most of the critics, Ween’s first album release was favorable, despite none of its songs appearing as singles on any music charts.
7. Pure Guava
The third studio album released by Ween was (Pure Guava). When it was released on November 10, 1992, it received a full five out of five-star rating from the critics of AllMusic. However, the rest of the music critics seemed to have mixed opinions about it. Pure Guava served as an example of Ween’s Freeman and Melchiondo becoming more refined with their music play, which is the one agreement made among the critics and fans that have been following Ween’s progress. It was also the first of their three albums to produce a hit that would find its way on a music chart. (Push th’ Little Daisies) peaked on the Australian Recording Industry Association’s music chart at number eighteen, and on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart at number twenty-one. It is evident upon the signing with Elektra Records what a difference it made to have Ween’s music reach out to a broader audience as it would be the first of four albums that would be received well enough by Australia’s ARIA to become charted. Their fifth album, which was the final they recorded with Elektra, was the only one that didn’t find a spot on ARIA’s album charting system.
6. 12 Golden Country Greats
From AllMusic and Sputnikmusic, (12 Golden Country Greats) was great enough to give at least four out of five stars as both felt Ween’s performance for each track was, at the very least, consistent with the rest of their work that continues to show the duo’s continual evolution from their earliest recording roots, up to Ween’s fifth studio album that was released in 1996. The single, (Piss Up the Rope), made a chart appearance at 116 on the Official UK Singles Chart, as did (You Were the Fool) at number ninety-eight.
5. Chocolate and Cheese
Released in 1994, (Chocolate and Cheese) mostly received favorable reviews from the majority of music critics. The album served as a dedication to the comedian, John Candy, who died while Ween was putting the album together. There was also the track, (A Tear for Eddie), that served as a dedication to the late Eddie Hazel of Parliament-Funkadelic fame. It was the duo’s fourth studio album and at that point the only one to make an appearance on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers albums chart, which was at number ten. Chocolate and Cheese was also the second album belonging to Ween that made a chart impression on Australia’s ARIA as its album chart ranking placed it at number eighty. There were also two charted singles that came from the album. At 156th place on the UK Singles Chart, (Freedom of ’76) made its appearance. (Voodoo Lady) was the most successful single coming from that album as it charted at number ninety-seven on the UK Singles Chart, at number fifty-eight in Australia, and at number thirty-two on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay.
4. The Mollusk
In Australia, Ween’s sixth studio album, (The Mollusk), charted at number sixty-nine and it came in 159th at its best on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. Among the top critics who rated The Mollusk, felt it was the best work Ween had done up to that date. Some still regard it as their best work. While its 1997 singles, (Mutilated Lips) and (Ocean Man) may not have been music chart-friendly, both received critical acclaim for representing some of Ween’s finest work as an American alternative rock band.
3. White Pepper
(White Pepper) appeared on the US Billboard 200 at 121st place overall after it was released on May 2, 2000. It was Ween’s seventh studio album, as well as the final recording they’d have with Elektra’s label. In the UK, the singles (Even If You Don’t) and (Stay Forever) charted with the first song appearing at 135 and the second at 138. As a whole, the album received mostly favorable reviews from most of the critics, but there were a few that cited flaws that gave them cause to hold their scores back.
2. Quebec
On August 5, 2003, (Quebec) became the eighth album recorded and released by Ween but was the first since going back as an independent label when their contract ended with Elektra Records. The maturity level seen, track for track, in Quebec shows a now clean and sobered up, Aaron Freeman. While none of the songs saw any chart success, they were regarded enough to find spots on video games and television programs such as Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, ATV Offroad Fury 3, Rock Band, The Shield, and The Morning Show. It was also the first time Ween saw an album of theirs pass the one hundred mark on the US Billboard 200 as the album charted at number eighty-one.
1. La Cucaracha
Ween’s ninth studio album is (La Cucaracha), which was first streamed on MySpace from October 16th until October 19th, 2007. The overall reviews were somewhat favorable and it was regarded as the best album of the year by Magnet Magazine. Magnet’s niche is focusing on independently released albums that don’t necessarily cater to the commercialized expectations such as Billboard. AllMusic gave La Cucaracha four stars out of five. In Australia, the album was most popular as its Time Off Magazine publication gave it a full five-star rating. On the US Billboard 200, La Cucaracha peaked higher than any of Ween’s albums, which appeared at number sixty-nine. It was also the first time since going independent from Elektra that an album of theirs would appear on Australia’s ARIA album chart as it came in number eighty-four.