Taking Sides: Ween vs. Redd Kross

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LA gets a bad rap, everything from LA in retrospect is ALWAYS the coolest. 60s - compare the garage bands, Love, Seeds etc. to the hippie drivel from SF. 70s - compare the garish, crass, glamorous, funny, faggy, violent Germs and TSOL to the po-faced, pretentious NY bohos ('phaggy', not 'faggy'). Ween & RK have had similar development, but you have to admit that spending your pre-adolescence doing coke with film stars in swimming pools is cooler than sniffing glue in your room. Although I admit I listen to Ween more now, but I rank the neglected 'Phaseshifter' right up there with 'C & C' or Urge Overkill's 'Exit the Dragon'. (Also, what's more tasteless, "HIV Song" or "Looking For Some Skank"?)

― dave q, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Also, who is a more 'objectionable' fan base, chickenhawks or Phishheads?

― dave q, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

On the Redd Kross: ... You can put them up against the New York Dolls, maybe - but you really can't touch Redd Kross. They were retro far before it became cool. In fact, it was uncool.

― Dave225, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I'm surprised that Redd Kross don't get more love on ILM - they were probably the most pro-pop band ever to come out of punk. I love Born Innocent, teen babes from monsanto , and Neurotica, never really gave Phaseshifter a chance.

Ween have a lot of similarities to Redd Kross: the 2 teen geeks in a basement aesthetic, the infatuation with super-rock cliches initially played out in mocking tribute but eventually swallowing them up, both defined (often to their detriment) by their adherence to self-defined adolescent sensibilities, both scoffed at by the uber-cool. Both deeply flawed, sometimes embarassing and occassionally brilliant.

I'd pick Redd Kross, but maybe just for job seniority.

― fritz, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I spent a weekend from hell at a friend's house whose CD player had a Ween album stuck in it. I didn't like them then and I don't like them now. Redd Kross, on the other hand, are fab.

― Sean, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

"annete's got the hits" beats the whole of ween's output hands down. everything they did after that 1st album reverses the tables because after that they were shit.

― bob snoom, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Redd Kross. "Byrds and Fleas" and "Trance" got such a thrashing round mine back when they came out. Plus I got to meet them when they came to Melbourne and they were simply lovely.

― electric sound of jim, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Redd Kross, if for nothing else than the song "Linda Blair."

― nickn, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Equal love. In fact, they'd be great on a bill together.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Throughout most of the 80s and 90s, Redd Kross were my very favorite band. I think I've seen them live more than any other band, with the exception of the Cramps maybe. I worship them. I moved to LA partly so I could see them more often. And then they broke up. Fuckers.

I've only heard a few songs by Ween, they're good enough, but there's really no comparison. It's Redd Kross all the way.

― Arthur, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

the Kross - all the stuff i ever liked about music! now i remember!

Ween - I hate music.

― duane, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

LA gets a bad rap, everything from LA in retrospect is ALWAYS the coolest. 60s - compare the garage bands, Love, Seeds etc. to the hippie drivel from SF.

Been listening to We're Only In It for the Money lately, Mr. Q? :-) Mr. Zappa put paid to the "SF music is superior to LA music" myth ages ago. Still, LA has to answer fer the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Orange County ska ... that shit would make me want to listen to the Dead!

Redd Kross is one of my blind spots. Based on everything I've heard, I'm sure I'd like them loads if I heard them. Actually doing so didn't happen and now they're no more ... my bad.

I've spoken elsewhere about my love of Ween. But can't really judge fairly in this, can I? So I gotta go for regional loyalty -- LA 0, Philly 3; Iverson over Kobe, and all that ...

― Tadeusz Suchodolski, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Red Kross' "Phaseshifter" surely (along w/ The Posies' "Frosting on the Beater") theeee lost classic LP from the "grunge" years? It makes me happy! Red Kross win!

― Norman Phay, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Iverson over Kobe

Interesting, those recent championship banners currently not dangling from the rafters over there.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

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