Freeman

In interviews, Aaron Freeman—once known as Gene Ween—has explained he left his old band Ween to stay sober. “Covert Discretion,” the lead-off cut from his first album of new material in years, lays out the dead-end scenarios that could go on no longer. Ween were stunning craftsmen whose outrageous sense of humor caused many listeners to not take their music seriously. Yet, all fooling aside, the musicianship was impeccable. In Freeman\'s solo work, that same flawlessness comes through on *FREEMAN*. Even the “bum” notes on “(For a While) I Couldn’t Play My Guitar Like a Man” are on purpose. “The English and Western Stallion” connects to Freeman’s Ween days, and fans not aware of the situation might think this is a new Ween album. For years, people thought Ween\'s main duo were brothers—Gene and Dean Ween—and with good reason. Now, Freeman finishes his own sentences and his own songs. His first solo album, *Marvelous Clouds*, a collection of Rod McKuen covers, prepped us for the largely mellow magic of songs here, like “El Shaddai,” “Black Bush,” “More Than the World,” and “Delicate Green.”

On Aaron Freeman's self-titled solo album, the 44-year old singer and former Ween member finds himself on the other side of recovery, atoning for a life lived recklessly. There’s no easy emotional true north on Freeman, and for Ween newcomers, the record is bound to sound odd, even off-putting.

On Aaron Freeman's self-titled solo album, the 44-year old singer and former Ween member finds himself on the other side of recovery, atoning for a life lived recklessly. There’s no easy emotional true north on Freeman, and for Ween newcomers, the record is bound to sound odd, even off-putting.

The man formerly known as Gene Ween has released his first album under his own name, Aaron Freeman.

The man formerly known as Gene Ween has released his first album under his own name, Aaron Freeman.