Ween Announces Second Rarities Album With Previously Unreleased Tracks
The experimental band Ween will release 'Shinola, Vol. 2,' a 21-track compilation of unreleased outtakes and rare B-sides spanning their career, on November 27th as part of Record Store Day Black Friday. The collection was curated over more than a decade and features fan favorites that have never received an official release, including songs like 'Kim Smoltz' and 'Weed Whore.' Limited vinyl and CD editions will be available through record stores and retail outlets.
Shinola, Vol. 2 represents a significant archival project that Dean Ween initiated over a decade ago, demonstrating the band's commitment to preserving their creative history. The 21-track compilation draws from material spanning their entire career, with several songs never before made officially available despite circulating among devoted fans. This release marks a substantial gap since the original Shinola collection arrived in 2005, which contained a dozen tracks from their early recording period.
The album arrives alongside another retrospective effort—the Boognish Provides live box set documenting their 1994 Chocolate and Cheese tour anniversary. These dual releases occur as Ween paused their touring schedule in 2024, with Dean Melchiondo stepping back to address personal health concerns while the band reflected on three decades since one of their landmark albums.
This release may strengthen Ween's appeal to both longtime supporters and collectors interested in artist deep cuts, potentially driving engagement with independent record stores during a retail event historically significant for vinyl enthusiasts. The dual releases could reinvigorate interest in a band navigating public health challenges, allowing fans alternative ways to engage with their catalog. Such comprehensive archival projects may also encourage other experimental artists to document their unreleased work, influencing industry practices around preservation and fan access to rarities.