Pure Guava

Ween: Dean Ween, Gene Ween.Additional personnel: Mean Ween, Guy Heller, Larry Curtin, Scott Lowe.Personnel: Scott Lowe (vocals, whistling); Dean Ween (vocals, guitar); Gene Ween, Mean Ween (vocals); Larry Curtin (whistling, background vocals).Audio Mixer: Andrew Weiss.Recording information: The Pod.Photographer: Tom Nichols.In 1992, quirky and seemingly non-commercial bands were being signed to major labels by the boatload, thanks to the newfound success of alternative rock. One of the most blatantly bizarre acts to be taken under a corporate wing was Ween, a duo of Pennsylvania pranksters with a penchant for eclectic--and often wholly inappropriate--pop/rock tunes.For the group's Elektra debut, PURE GUAVA, Dean and Gene Ween remained unapologetically weird from the get-go, as the drowsy, druggy "Little Birdy" ushers in the thoroughly skewed proceedings. While songs such as "Reggaejunkiejew," "Touch My Tooter," and "Poop Ship Destroyer" stick to sophomoric themes and a lo-fi sound, the prog-rock-like "The Stallion Pt. 3" and the (relatively) straightforward ballad "Sarah" hint at even greater things to come. PURE GUAVA's shining moments arrive in the typically oddball forms of the distorted ditty "Big Jilm," the relentless pop tune "Push th' Little Daisies" (Ween's first minor hit), and "Don't Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy)," a giddily over-the-top, mock-stadium-rock number, replete with garish multi-tracked vocals. While the ridiculousness of this album is undeniable, so is the ever-evolving talent of Dean and Gene, who here began an impressive streak of adventurous and absurd outings that would lead to their '97 peak, THE MOLLUSK.