Ween delivers new album in August, mounts summer tour

Quirky alt-rock duo Ween has nailed down a release date for its new album, and is gearing up for its first world tour in three years.

The outing is due to kick off in late July and will support "Quebec," a 15-track collection that is due in stores on Aug. 5. The set is Ween's first release for Sanctuary Records, with whom the act signed after parting ways with Elektra.

Ween anchormen Gene and Dean Ween--real names Mickey Melchiondo and Aaron Freeman--are hoping to complete a new Ween-centric software application for inclusion on the "Quebec" CD. The group described the program in a message posted at its website.

"Try and envision a piece of software that will connect you with one click to weenradio[.com], ween.com, the Ween forum, the Ween irc chat channel, and a peer-to-peer file trading program that enables you to download the concert you saw the night before--throw in an instant messaging client to talk with the other f---ers who happen to be running the sh--s. All this for free! The best part of it (aesthetically at least) is that you will have a little boognish icon running in your system tray next to your clock; how f---ng cool is that?"

If the program isn't finished in time for the "Quebec" pressing, the group will offer it as a free download via its website.

Ween's most-recent album--and its last for Elektra--is 2000's "White Pepper." Since its release, the group offered up a pair of live sets: 2001's "Live in Toronto" and last December's "Live at Stubb's."