I remember I was pretty into this album in 2003, but it's been a fairly long while since I've listened. Will probably do so tomorrow. Personally my go-to Ween album is The Mollusk, by the way.
I can see the first track being called psychobilly, but to me it always seemed like it was specifically a Motorhead tribute, especially in terms of vocal style.
edited 7th Nov '11 11:24:46 PM by MikeK
The first song drew me in. I liked it because it was a bit raw, it had good pace, and sounded like a good intro to an album. Then...the rest, quite honestly, let me down. The vocals in particular often struck me as completely inappropriate to the music being played, which in its own right was never anything special again, nor exciting. Particular standouts in this way were "So Many People in the Neighbourhood," which was atrocious, and "Hey There Fancypants".
If they'd stuck with the style that the first song was in, then this album could've gone over really well with me. Unfortunately, not the case.
I like this album, but am not sure how well it would function as "entry-level" Ween - it'll be interesting to see more comments from people who are otherwise unfamiliar.
What I didn't know until I saw it mentioned on the trope page is that this was something of a Creator Breakdown album: I didn't pick up on that vibe when I first heard it, but it is a bit more serious and melancholy-sounding than your average Ween album, and "Captain" comes off as very sorrowful despite only having one sentence worth of lyrics.
What I mainly like about this album, and what sort of separates it from their others, is this approach to overdubs they take where a song will start out with pretty simple instrumentation, but they'll keep adding more and more layers as the song goes on - "Happy Colored Marbles" is a good example.
Personal favorite tracks: It's Gonna Be A Long Night, Happy Colored Marbles, The Argus, I Don't Want It
edited 8th Nov '11 12:18:24 PM by MikeK
@Wicked & rumetzen -
Sorry to say I've already got rid of the album. It's just really not to my liking. The first and last songs are really the only ones I could listen to without being annoyed - so that probably answers your question.
I really am trying not to be offensive, there's just something about it that downright annoys me. Can't put my finger on it.
Oh, yay. The album artwork is my avatar. How many albums are left in this round?
Hidden synopsis *
Video Game Census. Please contribute.I'm pretty meh about Ween to be honest. The first three songs got me pretty excited about the album, as they all sounded completely different but each good in their own way. But then the songs after it all started blending together.
And a bunch of songs feel like... I'm not sure how to say it. Novelty songs. Gimmicks. Filler from a They Might Be Giants album.
So, Are You Experienced? is definitely strange, but I think I like it.
The bit in the first track where he says "That felt like a blow to the head! That's twice this week!" made me laugh.
That reminds me. i forgot to tell y'all that the first bit of the album is very very quiet, to the point that sometimes I can't tell he's talking at all, so turn up your volume for a bit. Way up. It becomes more normal levels after he talks about the thoughts running through your head. (Meta Four can back me up that I'm not trying to Scare Chord you guys).
Video Game Census. Please contribute.Dissonant? How so? If I remember correctly, most of the harmonies are unisons.
Video Game Census. Please contribute.What about it did you find ugly? Was it the instruments used? Was it the repeated notes motif? Did that put you off, or was that the part you found interesting?
Video Game Census. Please contribute.

Huh. Watching arks badmouth the album prompted more discussion than I expected.