Review Summary: Although this is one of Ween's worst, it's harmless due to it being a free download. It was released with the intention of pleasing hardcore fans only and it really shows.
With the release of 1994’s Chocolate and Cheese, Ween had moved past their lo-fi phase to focus on making high production studio albums with more of a commercial feel. After releasing two more albums in high production (12 Golden Country Greats (1996) and The Mollusk (1997)) it was evident that this transition was a permanent one. Although these three albums still retained Ween’s brand of weird experimentalism and psychedelia, the transition left some fans disappointed. Fast forward to 1999: Ween began to record their next studio album which would be even more commercial than any of their previous releases. Dean Ween realized that this would cause a backlash from the fan base, so to show them that Ween still cared, he released 9 outtakes (some of which were from their lo-fi period) as a free-to-download-online studio album; this album would be known as Craters of the Sac.
Because the songs on the album are from different studio sessions, the album lacks flow, theme, and might as well be a compilation. Each track choppily follows the next as production quality is constantly shifting between songs. On top of this, because all of these songs were initially outtakes, there are very few highlights and even the highlights barely manage to stand out. For instance, one of the best songs, “Makin' Love in the Gravy,” would only be a middle-of-the-road song on any of their earlier albums due to its passive nature. There's also a couple of fun rocker types that help the album retain its diversity. The album’s worst track, “Big Fat ***,” is the type of song any Ween fan would be glad was tossed. Even the cool guitar solo can’t save this boring 7 minute track from it’s slow paced structure and repetitive, unfunny lyrics. Also, there’s one thing that is bound to bother any fan: the album contains the song "The Stallion (Part 5)," when Part 4 had not yet been released in studio format, and never would be in the future. To a fanatic, these tracks are still a welcome part of their Ween collection, but to a more casual Ween fan, even the highlights don’t save Craters from being a waste of time.
Yet at the same time, the way it was released was revolutionary. By predating The Smashing Pumpkins release, Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, by a year, Craters was one of the earliest free online albums to be released by a band who’s been on a major label. This of course doesn’t affect the quality of the album, but it does show that Ween wasn’t afraid to try new ideas.
Even with it’s flaws (namely "Big Fat Fuck"), Craters of the Sac, is still a mostly pleasurable listen that rarely comes off as anything below average. It should be appreciated for what it is though: a compilation disguised as a studio album. Even then, what’s better than the album itself is the endearing message that Dean Ween sent by releasing it: Ween really does care about their fans.
Best Tracks: "The Pawns of War", "Makin' Love in the Gravy", "Suckin' Blood from the Devil's Dick"
