20 Country Albums Every Rock Fan Should Listen To
18. 12 Golden Country Greats - Ween
When it comes to Ween, it's best to expect the unexpected. After all, how many bands can claim to have some of the harshest music you will ever hear on one record and also have an album so nautically fun that it inspires Steve Hillenburg to create Spongebob Squarepants? There's pretty much no reason for Gene and Dean Ween to do anything ordinary, and yet 12 Golden Country Greats certainly has that trademark shimmer.
Granted, there is a certain level of self-awareness in this record that could be perceived as an elongated piss take by these guys, even down to the fact that there are only 10 songs on here rather than 12. However, these pastiches of the old school country tunes actually indulge so much in their influence that they end up coming back around the other way and become endearing again.
Even though you might not have to think all that hard when dissecting the lyrics to Piss Up a Rope or Fluffy, there's still something delightfully weird sprinkled throughout that makes you want to go on the ride again and again. This might be one of the most drastic left turns any "rock" band has ever made, so much so that the tonal shift might actively lose the attention of some seasoned rock fans. Then again, when were Ween known for pleasing everybody?