La Cucaracha
by Ween
  • Record Label: Rounder
  • Release Date: Oct 23, 2007
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. AllMusic
    80
    La Cucaracha is the sound of Ween cutting loose, reveling in the lower budget and expectations an indie label brings, and playing music that simply sounds good.
  2. Austin Chronicle
    67
    Next to 2003's comparatively straight-shooting "Quebec," Ween's first studio album in four years is flush with quick right turns.
  3. Billboard
    80
    Ween fans have come to expect the unexpected from this act, but even diehards will be thrilled by the sheer musical schizophrenia of La Cucaracha.
  5. Blender
    70
    When it comes to creating nuanced and irreverent, yet oddly touching, pop and rock simulacra, no one really touches pseudonymous Pennsylvania duo Gene and Dean Ween, still together after 23 years.
  6. Mojo
    80
    It's better to simply let La Cucaracha happen and enjoy how much Gene and Dean toy with and transgress musical forms while still playing them to a high degree of invention, proficiency and sincerity. [Dec 2007, p.99]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Pitchfork
    62
    On La Cucaracha, possibly out of a debt to realism, the duo has mostly chosen material founded on notions of placidity (or, in the case of "Friends", erased much of the original color), purposefully disallowing their own music its previous vitality.
  8. PopMatters
    70
    La Cucaracha does feature many songs that center around the theme of relationships, be it ones of love, commerce, murder or spirituality, told in the most dizzying array of musical styles Ween has provided for its listener since "Pure Guava."
  9. The A.V. Club
    91
    La Cucaracha is just another sprawling Ween record--fans will love it, neophytes will be confused—but it's the best sprawling Ween record since 1997's "The Mollusk."
  10. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    The finished product is a cobbled-together dazzle that contorts your mouth into a 50-minute succession of grins and wows.
  11. The New York Times
    80
    It’s not a return to the primordial, tape-hissy grandeur of the early recordings, but it is a return to playful, genre-scrambling pop; this is probably the best and funniest Ween album since “Chocolate and Cheese,” from 1994.
  12. Under The Radar
    70
    The album excels on many levels, but ultimately what keeps bringing me back to Ween is their uncanny ability to throw a disparate mix of styles and genres onto an album and actually succeed where so many bands fail. [Fall 2007, p.77]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 37
  3. Negative: 2 out of 37
  1. monkeysloveme
    Nov 13, 2020
    9
    Like others have said this is very much an album to be loved after a few listens, my own criticism of it would be i'd preferred it if they putLike others have said this is very much an album to be loved after a few listens, my own criticism of it would be i'd preferred it if they put the superior dance version of 'Friends' on the album and not the stripped down version, other than that this album is pretty damn perfect and 'Woman And Man' is the greatest 10 minute song ever recorded… Full Review »
  2. Dillin
    Sep 8, 2010
    5
    Not as good as The Friends EP, but still excellent. Wiggles between genres faster than ever, from cheerful disco pop to frantic, over producedNot as good as The Friends EP, but still excellent. Wiggles between genres faster than ever, from cheerful disco pop to frantic, over produced country to corny love songs. The only low point is the annoying 'Blue Balloon', which lags after awhile. Double soaked in island love, with a hint of rock and party fun. One of Ween's best studio album yet, and hopefully it'll only get better.… Full Review »
  3. DouglasS.
    Aug 31, 2009
    10
    WEEN~The greatest band of all time.
See all user reviews »