English, baby!

Ween

Date: Feb 11 2008

Themes: Alternative, Music

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

There are very few bands out there who can make each album different from the next and make them all good. But Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo a.k.a. Gene and Dean Ween do just that.

The pair started playing music together 20 years ago in 8th grade and play together so well that they can pretty much be good at any style. They’re probably best known for playing indie rock, but they’ve also played country and their latest album, La Cucaracha is being called stoner rock by some.

Although there are people around the world who love Ween, they’ve never achieved mainstream success. There are a lot of people like Amanda who don’t know that Ween is a band…

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Amanda

Marni: So you know what I was listening to on my way here to meet with you?

Amanda: What?

Marni: The new Ween album. Do you ever listen to Ween?

Amanda: What…What is that? Is that a movie? Is that a soundtrack?

Marni: No, it’s a duo. It’s these two guys who have been making music together forever.

Amanda: OK, what type of music?

Marni: It’s, um…A lot of it’s almost…It’s not a parody, but it’s comical, it’s very clever. They’re very eclectic. Like they were kind of like an indie rock band and they did this country album. It’s been out for a while now, but Chocolate and Cheese is probably one of their most popular albums. They’re great. They’re funny and kind of goofy and…

Amanda: So is it kind of like the Jack Black and his partner type of deal?

Marni: No, I would say…

Amanda: Not as mainstream…

Marni: I guess not as mainstream, well, I don’t know if that’s true. They’re just…I think they’re better. They’ve been doing it for longer. They’re much more original. And they actually are really good writers. I’m not saying that Jack Black isn’t, but his is much more of a parody.

Amanda: So have you seen them live? Do they tour?

Marni: I have. I saw them on Halloween once.

Amanda: Cool. So they do probably smaller venues, more intimate settings.

Marni: Yeah, I saw them in Minneapolis at the First Avenue, the big famous club, Prince. It was great, a lot of fun.

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

Since she’s never heard of them, Amanda isn’t sure if Ween is a movie or a band or what. So Marni tells her a little about them.

One of the first things that comes to mind is that they’re funny. Their music isn’t comedy, but it is certainly witty.

Amanda asks if Ween is sort of like Jack Black, but Marni says that while funny, Ween is also really good at making music. She likes them better than Jack Black. She also saw them once and had a lot of fun.

What’s your favorite funny band?