I relistened to WM after I had it and seen Ben do a bunch of SW songs at Insurbordation Fest.It was on a long trip home and I was totally blown away by it.I was amazed at how the songs are as revelant today as yesterday.

This was an okay album but I like the older ones better

Shit, posted the same thing twice. Fuckin' computers these days.

--Steve--

I have always been meaning to check out Screeching Weasel. I ordered this CD, and I listened to it, and listened to it, and listened to it, and listened to it...

I listened to it three times in a row when I got it for X-mas, despite its length, and I enjoyed every song. Hell, I'm enjoying the songs as I type this.

This CD's purpose, obviously, is to get people who aren't familiar with Screeching Weasel's material to check them out, as well as provide a "best of" comp for others. I am one of the former, and I will definitely be looking into SW's back catalog.

--Steve--

I have always been meaning to check out Screeching Weasel. I ordered this CD, and I listened to it, and listened to it, and listened to it, and listened to it...

I listened to it three times in a row when I got it for X-mas, despite its length, and I enjoyed every song. Hell, I'm enjoying the songs as I type this.

This CD's purpose, obviously, is to get people who aren't familiar with Screeching Weasel's material to check them out, as well as provide a "best of" comp for others. I am one of the former, and I will definitely be looking into SW's back catalog.

--Steve--

Has anyone ever seen Screeching Weasel live? What the hell, do they ever tour.

only you can get away with this shit dude.

i wonder if me and you piss off Adam, Aubin or Brian on a daily basis with our posting stupidity.

"i'm beginning to think alot of you wouldnt know a weasel if it fucked your ferret in the ass.

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com"

HAHAHhahahhaha

how come no one ever told me how funny i am?

- jizzy the bizzy

- jizzy?

hahah, jk i only jk. i recycled my post from this review

- j the bizzy

if anyone reads the post below mine in full, you are as retarded as the guy that wrote it

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

awwwwww shiiiiit, this is where the party is bitch!!1!

f.y.p was thew shit you pussy

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

FYP was a FUN band. and Furious George was fun-ny. George Tabb would always offend so many people it was entertaining. Screeching Weasel was actually GOOD though...and YES I have seen them live.

Yea, you're right. We should be discussing Screeching Weasel here.

Screeching Weasel huffs ball sweat. THEY SUCK(ed)!

What a load of trite shit. What are we gonna do next, discuss the deep meaning of FYP's great music? Screeching Weasel ranks up there with FYP and, um, Furious George in the meaningless kiddie crap dept.

Weaselmania? Does this mean we get the SWMB back?

What the fuck? How in the name of all that is good and holy did this comments section come to be besmirched and then submerged into shitty discussions about shitty individuals from shitty bands from shitty towns that nobody gives a flying fuck about? If you are one of those who gives a flying fuck about Caterer, Jesus-core, the Smoking Popes, or the underlying core motivations of the artist/entrepreneur, go flush your head down a motherfucking toilet. You have no business in these parts! This section is reserved for a discussion of why the fuck "Weaselmania" doesn't include bona-fide Weasel classics like "I, Robot", "I Wanna Fuck", "Breaking Point", "I Hate Old Folks", "Hey Baby", "O.M.W." and most of all, "Eine Kleine Scheissemusik". Anyone got any ideas?

Funny, you've been snowed by Caterer's guise as being a "humble servant of god." That's what ALL evangelists want you to believe, that they don't want money.

In the words of the immortal William S. Burroughs, "Beware of whores who say they don't want money; those are the most expensive whores that can be had."

Caterer is a fucking circus geek and you are an easy mark. So head on back to church and shut up.

Well, I'll get off the Superdrag and Smoking Popes discussions by saying Screeching Weasel sucks balls!

What a load of trite shit. What are we gonna do next, discuss the deep meaning of FYP's great music? Screeching Weasel ranks up there with FYP and, um, Furious George in the meaningless kiddie crap dept.

Everytime Ben's name is mentioned I feel like I'm hanging out at The Android's Dungeon with comic book guy arguing over over who would win a fight between two super-heros.

I think My Brain Hurts could be one of the best songs ever.

I have absolutely no fucking idea why anybody who has ever heard Screeching Weasel would give a flying fuck about bands like the Smoking Popes and Superdrag, let alone go to the pathetic lengths to deride and defend their respective members as exemplified below. And Hanging Around is the greatest ever SW song. Fuck off.

Oh and also--so what if someone never heard SW before? We all find new music. Don't be a punk snob. I saw them here in Chicago in 1987. Does that make me cooler? Well maybe a little, but you dig the point.

"Caterer is a money grubber and if there was money to be had, believe you me he'd be grasping for the brass ring. Admit it or not, there is a certain level of comfort afforded by being in the Christian music market. Churches (such as Josh's church does for him) give you money to play that shit, there's a built-in audience playing in churches, and the contemporary Christian music market is lucrative."

You really have no clue. You shouldn't speak about things you don't know about. Even if you think you know about them.

"i point out that each album was BY FAR better than the one before it."

Now I suppose you might have gleaned from my knowledge of Superdrag that I do quite like the band. But I think they reached their zenith with the second album, "Regretfully Yours." The third album was just fine, but by album #4 they were obviously running out of ideas.

Album #4, "Last Call For Vitriol" was one of those albums that no band should make: the 'I just got sober' album. It was pretty lame, signalling the demise of a once promising band. The best songs on "Vitriol" were composed by Sam Powers and Mic Harrison, both relative newcomers to the band. On John Davis' songs, you could hear the screws popping loose ifrom his besotted, addled brain. A pity.

John Davis' subsequent solo releases SUCK BALLS. If there's anything worse than the "I just got sober' album, it's the "'I just found the Lawd Jeeeezus!' album.

Interestingly, Davis has since shaved his head and is fat as a pig. I guess they serve good fried chicken at those church sponsored potluck dinners.

I'd rather see Davis go back on drugs and booze than be in the pathetic, "saved" mess he's in now. That boy's lost.

In closing, I'd like to add that nothing makes me sadder than seeing talented musicians go bad by finding, ahem, "god." This is the red flag for "middle-aged kooky," which is the time for musicians to just fucking quit. I'm not saying that you have to be young to make good music. But when people get all weak and seek the emotional comfort food (mashed potatoes, haw!) of religion, well, forget it. I don't want to hear songs about happiness in faith, the beauty of family life, or any similar shit. Rock'n'roll is about sex and rebellion, not about coming to terms with the mediocrity life and subsequently becoming mediocre yourself. leave the "my fat wife and snotty nosed kids and shitty job is good enough for me" sentiment to the Nashville country musicians, OK?

ok you just gave the history of superdrag to someone who probably has all their CD's (since he said the discography is worth having).

even though superdrag had very little mainstream success, they put out some fan-fucking-tastic music: you point out that each album subsequently sold less copies than the predecessor. i point out that each album was BY FAR better than the one before it.

in the Dick Clark/American Bandstand scheme of things: yes, Superdrag was a "one hit wonder": they had one song that got mainstream airplay. but they were also a band that kept a lot of fans through their tenure, and those fans were rewarded with songs that made "Sucked Out" seem juvenile and boring.

speaking of... I don't see any Superdrag reviews on here...

Hanging Around IS the best Screeching Weasel song ever, pretty much

"do your fucking homework before you think someone "made up" a band."

remember that time you got pissed cause janet reno doesn't even really have a dance party?

its called a joke, guy.

wyzo

"a "one hit wonder" usually fades into obscurity after having a single."

I think Superdrag did indeed fade into obscurity. They only had one single that made any commercial sales impact, "Sucked Out."

After that, the band released their second major label album, featuring the abyssmal single, "Do The Vampire," which tanked.

At this point Superdrag was dropped from Elektra. The band then released two albums for the Arena Rock label. Their last album, "Last Call For Vitriol" (the second for Arena Rock) sold even less than their third, "In The Valley of Dying Stars."

In their four album run, each subsequent album sold less than the one before.

You know, I think that kind of falls into the "faded into obscurity" category. Superdrag had ONLY ONE single that charted -- and just barely. And then, yes, they faded into obscurity.

Yep, by your criteria Superdrag is a one hit wonder band.

Granted, they were a good band. But a one hit wonder band nonetheless.

Or maybe not even that. I mean, "Sucked Out" didn't really qualify as a "hit." Howzabout calling them a "One song with airplay wonder band?"

Oh yea, and suck me.

oh, and P.S.

superdrag wasn't a "one hit wonder" band. they had 4 more albums after "Regretfully Yours" (if you count the Anniversary split).

a "one hit wonder" usually fades into obscurity after having a single.

in fact, i would say Superdrag's discography is a must-have for any self-respecting rock n' roll fan.

green apple quickstep was ok.

they probably sold more albums from having a video on a "Beavis and Butthead" episode.

no, i doubt it's that guy below's band. it was a badass name-drop of a band, though. right next to the guy that said "Black Train Jack" on the weston review.

do your fucking homework before you think someone "made up" a band.

It's great that Ben's punk rock dress code MRR article still pisses people off to this day. 10 years later he still gets hate from people who don't get the joke.

"The Smoking Popes are like Marcy Playground, Green Apple Quickstep, Superdrag or Juliana Hatfield"

whose green apple quickstep?
wait, was that your band?

are you secretly in a band that you desperately want to have had a 'hit' so you go around talking about all these shitty one hit wonder bands and casually drop your band in their to see if people notice?

"whose green apple quickstep?"
"Really, im suprised you never heard of them, they were pretty big back in the day, they had that hit 'turtle shell tit mama', really big around des plaines"
"they were?"
"oh yeah, i think easily one of the most seminal 6-7 bands from des plaines"
"sure, sam, sure"

fuck i hate des plaines. long story, no time.
wyzo

Not only did I write it, but I just read it again. That makes me double retarded. Fuck you.

if anyone reads the post below mine in full, you are as retarded as the guy that wrote it

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Blah. Weez beared no cahones whatsoever putting together this missionary collection. If this is "the best of . . .", then I will take a dump on yer face. For instance, anyone who's been within spitting distance of the "emo" rosebud knows there's no song that makes a dick harder than "Bark Like a Dog". So where the fuck is it??? Who the hell knows, but it ain't to be found on this lame-cock edition. Why? Ben traded in his balls for some tarot cards. Go figure. Where the "emo" tracks selected by throwing darts at a wall? Seriously. "Sidewalk Warrior" and "Static" mess up the carpet of what would otherwise be one of the finest recorded artforms in the history of human expression, yet they represent such at the expense of other gems which go by names like "Acknowledge", "On My Own", and "Regroup". And don't even get me motherfucking started on "Teen Punks . . .". Nobody likes this album - it don't hold a steaming pile of dromadary doo-doo to the candle that is "Wiggle", but fuck, oh fuck, does "Edge of the World" make my balls swell up like hot air balloons!!! "Sorry, your selection is not available at the present time, so we've substituted 'Gotta Girlfriend' in it's place". Flying anal beads, Rackman!!! No justice, no peace!!! And 'Six Percent'??? Donde esta el 'Seis Percento'? Me no know-o, motherfucker. Agggggh. This sucks!!!! No "Burn it Down" (Finest Weasel lyrics ever, hands down - if you don't believe me, go read them again), no "Hey Asshole", no "Tightrope", no "First Day of Winter" (best solo in a SW song), no "Waiting for Suzie", no "El Mozote", no "It's Not Enough", no "You'll be in my Dreams Today", no "Kathy isn't Right", no "Burnout Girl", no "I Hate Your Guts on Sunday", no "Eine Kleine Scheissemusik", no "Falling Apart", no "Hanging Around" (probably SW's best ever song), no "Second Floor East", no "Going Home", no "It's All in My Head", no "Something Wrong", no "I Can See Clearly (Live)", no "Radio Blast", no "Guest List", no "Jockpunk", no "Murder in the Brady House", and most certainly no "O.M.W.". This isn't a greatest hits record, it's a pile of steaming dog shit engineered for the sole purpose of shifting more units of the motherfucking reissues. Well, it sure as hell ain't shifting my unit at all and this so called album has now found its pride of place submerged amidst the detritus wallowing in the lower reaches of my local Armitage Shanks. I suggest you flush yours down the toilet too. A SW retrospective with no "Eine Kleine Scheissemusik". Do I look like an idiot to you or something? Fuck off.

Best punk rock band ever, in my opinion. They had longevity and the tunes and they were the most influential band in the 90's.

_______________________________
"Contrary to what the general delusion is around Chicago, there is NOT a demand for The Smoking Popes (or for Duvall) elsewhere."
_______________________________

If thats true, then why is their show sold out allready???

**********************************************
HU H? I don't think the amount of tickets sold in Chicago, whether it be sold out or zero, has any bearing on demand for the Popes outside of Chicago. Can you not read? Their show is sold out IN CHICAGO. That guy was saying there was not a demand for the Popes OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO. You kids...

_______________________________
"Contrary to what the general delusion is around Chicago, there is NOT a demand for The Smoking Popes (or for Duvall) elsewhere."
_______________________________

If thats true, then why is their show sold out allready???

"dude, are you kidding, you've never listened to SW before?"

Of course not, this band isn't Alkaline Trio.

Anyone that can't see that Ben Weasel is joking in the "Punk Rock Dress Code" you need to lighten up. You need to read the article he wrote about the nanny from Nirvana when he was backstage at a Nirvana show b/c he was invited there by Blake of Jawbreaker....great article. And his last name is not Weasel its Foster.

"Contrary to what the general delusion is around Chicago, there is NOT a demand for The Smoking Popes (or for Duvall) elsewhere."

Completely true.

They had a few good songs. I have a recording of their second (and final) show that I was at. I'd say 4 of the 8 songs are real good, the rest are passable.

The sweet black and blue made me sleepy as all fuck.

-Ken

just downloaded a few of the songs and these guys are pretty good

dude, are you kidding, you've never listened to SW before?

Most punk bands' singers seem like kind of a dick. Get over it.

I've got a message for you...I never saw your point of view.

just downloaded a few of the songs and these guys are pretty good

I think we should compile all of his comments for a comprehensive essay on jealousy... Jesus... He needs to start signing "-Ben Weasel's Stalker" or shouldn't it be "Been Weasel" to him?

-Will

both

i just read the "punk rock dresscode"

its kind of like reading a buddyhead rant but depressing instead of funny

is he really that jaded of an old man, or is he just kidding?

best pop punk band to ever exist

i can't put into words how much this band has meant to me

Screeching Weasel is a pretty rad band, except Ben seems like kind of a dick. Has anyone else read his "punk rock dress code"? How pathetic is that?

Posted by Flowbee on 2005-10-14 04:48:56:
I'll take an even ballsier move and state that my favorite Screeching Weasel record is "Television City Dream."

i totally agree. having been around for the falling out most lookout-era fans had when they reunited in 1996, i always felt it was a shame that Television City Dream got so overlooked. it really is one of their best albums (along with the Major Label Debut ep, Four on the Floor comp, and "My Own World" from the same period). oh well, maybe those people will pick this up and realize those songs are fucking great.

one slight correction it wasn't Bens commentabout a possible reformation but a person from some magazine they hired to right a "fans" retrospective. so it's entirely speculative.

I'm rather curious who the anonymous jaded in Chicago Ben Weasel hater is. They always seem to appear anytime Ben's name is mentioned. Are you Ben's ex-lover and have you been wronged?? Chicago is a haven for old pop punk scenesters who jumped on the Weasel bandwagon and then somehow fell off. Did you audition for version 9.0 of Screeching Weasel and not make the cut???

"He makes less money now with his new band than he ever made with smoking popes."

That's because, other than in Chicago, the world has no interest in him or his music. Get a clue.

Contrary to what the general delusion is around Chicago, there is NOT a demand for The Smoking Popes (or for Duvall) elsewhere. The Smoking Popes are like Marcy Playground, Green Apple Quickstep, Superdrag or Juliana Hatfield: one of those bands that had a momentary blip on the mass, pop consciousness over a decade ago. Funnier yet, Local H is in the same boat. If you namedrop the aforementioned bands anywhere else from Chicago, people say, "weren't they the band that played that song, 'Seether?'"

Caterer is a money grubber and if there was money to be had, believe you me he'd be grasping for the brass ring. Admit it or not, there is a certain level of comfort afforded by being in the Christian music market. Churches (such as Josh's church does for him) give you money to play that shit, there's a built-in audience playing in churches, and the contemporary Christian music market is lucrative.

Screeching who? I'm salivating in anticipation of Potemkin City Limits.

-Not-To-Regret

I'm down with Weasel Mania, and by Weasel Mania I mean Jones the Bones getting gang banged by me and my friends as we wear weasel costumes.

To the person saying Josh from Smoking Popes found Christ for the money, fuck off. He could make a killing doing a FULL nation wide reunion tour with the Smoking Popes, and yet the only one thats happened(or at least is about to happen) is for Flower. He makes less money now with his new band than he ever made with smoking popes.

really piss poor review. for those who haven't heard screeching weasel, you didn't write 1 word that describes these "styles" you're referring to.

awesome cd,love this band...it's missing guest list and acknowledge though

i'm beginning to think alot of you wouldnt know a weasel if it fucked your ferret in the ass.

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Imagine that: Ben drops a hint that maybe there will be another reunion somewhere down the pike! Never let the dream die, Ben! I mean, WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO? Why don't you just go back to your baseball games and meditation and shut the fuck up?

OK, I gotta admit that I heartily enjoyed the Weasel's output around 1993-1995. But, well, shit. On and on and on and on and on and on and on and on... Mr. Foster/Weasel has most definitely proven that he's not capable of doing a damn thing different EVER, and all he had to offer in the first place was a tepid Ramones imitation.

Maybe Weasel should hook with Josh Caterer and find the lord. Think about it, Weasel: THERE'S MONEY IN THE CHRISTIAN RACKET. You took your cash cow to the slaughterhouse years ago, so maybe it's time to retool for Jesus Christ.

I personally think this review is good. He hit it right on the money. All the songs are amazing, but could use some "brand new" material for the last two tracks or something.

This review was pretty good, but here's how I would make it better:

1. Weasels are filthy animals!

2. Somehow I doubt the guy's last name is really "Weasel"

3. Prove it.

4. With 34 classic songs, are there any by the Eagles?

5. If they were going to include a book, they should have made it Life of Pi, or maybe Where the Red Fern Grows.

Say what you want, I like Teen Punks In Heat a lot. Here's to hoping for a reunion.

Do any of these fucking Ramones bands actually live like the ramones in their spare time and sniff glue and wear leather jackets in the shower? This kinda stuff is just too unoriginal now for me to enjoy. I always found ramones-worship bands a bit silly, kinda like all those German rock bands that sing about driving Camaros and chicks down Route 66, rather than driving Audis mit Helga und Klara on Die Autobahn.

Ben Weasel, listen to hardcore instead!

Pretty decent tracklisting. Personally I would have liked to see Acknowledge, I Hate Your Guts On Sunday, Veronica Hates Me, Kamala's Too Nice, Amy Saw Me Looking At Her Boobs and I'm Gonna Strangle You.

But having said that it's hard to see what you could replace.

And for the record I reckon Anthem For A New Tomorrow is their best abum.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

sure it's all old stuff, but it's fucking awesome.

score is for almost every song on here.

I enjoy "Bark Like A Dog." The song "Phasers on Kill" is so catchy and ridiculous, and "It's Not Enough" may be the most "emo" thing Ben Weasel has ever written.

I'll take an even ballsier move and state that my favorite Screeching Weasel record is "Television City Dream." I fucking love that album, it's all over the place. Some of those songs are so poppy and others are just fucking furious.

This is coming from a guy who picked up a copy of "Wiggle" in 8th grade because I liked the cover art and Billie Joe from Green Day wore their t-shirt. Thank goodness for that.

What is everyone's thoughts on the Bark Like A Dog record? It's my favorite Weasel record.

Great great band!.

Somebody with a heart should scan the liner notes and post them.

Oh yeah, in the last year or so I've become absolutly obsessed with Screeching Weasel. Sweet Black and Blue were cool, I hope he records some of those tunes with his solo project.

Hey, Wrestlemania is in Chicago next year...

Personally I can't see why you can't give a "greatest hits" a 10...I mean if it really is the best that a great band has to offer shouldn't it be a 10? Unless of course the band is only half good in which case a 5 or so is cool....Not sure I agree with this review.
-Dante
P.S. Score is for the hope of hearing Weaselmania at Wrestelmania....it'd be kinda the shit.

I really like this collection. I wish it would have had "I Can See Clearly Now" though.

I made a Screeching Weasel mix cd with 32 of my favourite songs. Only half of them are on Weaselmania, so that is why I give it a 7. If it was mostly my favourite songs it would get a perfect 10 cause they are one of the most influential punk bands ever.

"even though SW’s music has gone somewhat downhill the past couple releases"

Speaking from someone who never really 'got' SW until Television City Dream, and who enjoyed emo to a disgusting not in public degree, you have to give them that they didn't just keep chugging along for some vague conception of fanbase, they did something with their gut. I mean, can you picture any other band that could have actually tried to mean something so many years in their career as a certain type of band? Especially that type of ramones influenced pop, your usually anchored to it for life. And its not like they abandoned it, they really came into their own, I think they can do whatever they want with the pop/punk thing and do it well as long as ben actually wants to.

I mean, some bands try something different and you don't care for it, some of them try the same thing, and you don't care for it. It's when they do the first then the second in sequential order you really have to worry.

Otherwise, its all gummi bear traps and strawberry sundaes, and that gummi bear juice that makes you jump high.
wyzo

This review is really horrible.

Score's for the song selection.

you say this in the review

The best part of the written commentary is Ben stating he "wouldn’t be surprised if [we] see the band rise from the dead one more time like some horrible low-budget midnight-movie sequel.” Something to look forward to, even though SW’s music has gone somewhat downhill the past couple releases.

then you say this

The CD only gets 4 stars because it isn’t really new material.

either be consistent or shut the fuck up. you had the balls to deny them a 5 star review because this isnt new even though you think their new shit sucks? eat a dick