White Pepper
When Ween released their debut,God Ween Satan, in 1990, the question on most listeners' minds was "Are they serious?" Ten years later,White Pepperhas folks asking "Are they joking?" No, as evidenced by the straightforward pop that makes up their eighth studio effort. This isn't a sellout, but a continuation of the sound explored on their previous release,The Mollusk. Songs like "Even If You Don't" and "Back to Basom" are respective nods to their McCartney and Lennon joneses, and even more stunningly, the brothers Ween bust out their most irony-free love song yet, "Stay Forever." The boys haven't completely abandoned the silly--the Caribbean-flavored "Bananas and Blow" and theSteely Dan-influenced "Pandy Fackler" are good for giggles--but the "more pop, less poop" rule remains in effect, leaving room for majestic tastiness like "Flutes of Chi" and "The Grobe." All in all, a fantastic salute to rock & roll.--Jason Josephes