Ween
Golden Wastes EP (Rhino/Elektr)
Release Date: August 14, 2026
By Scott Deckman
One of rock’s great bands, Ween, are on extended hiatus. A similar fate befell the band back in 2012, after their first breakup. Whether the duo, Dean Ween (Mickey Melchiondo) and Gene Ween (Aaron Freeman) and the rest of the band get back together is a question of great import to rabid Ween fans. Even though the band reunited after their first pause to tour from 2016-2024 (and seemed to get more popular than ever), they failed to release new material. Their last record was the somewhat overlooked La Cucaracha in 2007 (it’s good, have a listen). However, Ween has released music from their vault since then, including this new offering, Golden Wastes EP, four songs that the band says couldn’t fit on 12 Golden Country Greats (Deluxe Edition) released on July 31. Listening to the mother album, the regular old 12 Golden Country Greats, and this EP shows how good a band Ween is and how they can nail just about any type of music they see fit: rock of all stripes, soul, reggae, sea shanties, show tunes, and yes, country.
Though this EP came from the 12 Golden Country Greats sessions, I don’t know if — or how much — any of the country aces on that album appear. Sure, there’s parody here, that’s Ween’s stock in trade, but it’s mixed with equal parts reverence. That’s what makes the band great: They have a true love and respect for each genre they pull from. “I’m Holding You – Waste Version” and the inimitable “Mister Richard Smoker – Alternate Version” (“You’re a poopy poker”) stay mainly true to 12 Golden Country Greats. “I’m Gonna Fix Your Ass – Alternate Version,” from 12 Golden Country Greats (Deluxe Edition) with Dean on vocals, adds piano and a trippy, distorted guitar part at the end of the tune. “There’s a Smooth Talkin’ Dude,” a reworking and renaming of 12 Golden Country Greats’ “Pretty Girl,” is the star here. The original is a fiddle, banjo honky-tonk, but here it’s a Ween punk rock special, sped-up, fuzzy, with Dean’s guitar competing with a drum machine and whatever else is making noise. It could have fit in on any Ween record, and underscores the need for another record from New Hope’s finest.
