Welcome to the great world of Primus: a incredible, colourful journey via demented novelty compositions and preposterous instrumental rollercoasters that take The Residents’ and Frank Zappa’s blueprints to probably the most weird heights. The outcomes are a singular type of psycho jazz, bass-oriented metallic, and alt-rock psychedelia, in some ways exemplified by Brown Album, launched on July 8, 1997.
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Led by musical genius and famend world-class bassist Les Claypool, Primus fashioned in 1984 and initially launched albums at a livid tempo, from their stay debut, 1989’s Suck On This, via to 1999’s Antipop, with a mean hole of two years between every launch. The band’s curious track titles and head-scratching stay exhibits resembled a drug-induced circus sideshow or adult-themed amusement park. In brief, they had been superior.
Although 1990’s Frizzle Fry, the next yr’s Crusing The Seas Of Cheese, and 1993’s Pork Soda are arguably the group’s most defining albums, it was 1997’s Brown Album that noticed them take main steps ahead when it comes to songwriting. It additionally noticed Primus expertise their first main line-up change because the mid-’80s, when long-time drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander abruptly give up (to get replaced by Brian “Brain” Mantia), and ex-Possessed guitarist Larry LaLonde was drafted in to bolster the line-up.
Recorded fully analog at Claypool’s rural Rancho Relaxo dwelling, Brown Album kicks off with the splendidly titled “The Return Of Sathington Willoughby,” which makes it immediately obvious that adjustments are afoot. The low-end heat of “Fisticuffs” and the funk-drenched “Golden Boy” observe, offering a variety of dynamic tone from the guitars and drums.
The acquainted adjustments in pace, temper, and general path are current on the country-influenced “Over The Falls,” which maintains the album’s oddball really feel and sees Mantina present a barely extra aggressive supply along with his easy drum set-up, reasonably than the double-kick drum so incessantly utilized by his predecessor. Elsewhere, Primus’ fusion of heavy metallic, jazz, and alt-rock is completely captured on the infectious “Shake Hands With Beef” and the pounding “Camelback Cinema,” which sees Claypool abandon his trademark nasal vocal supply in favor of a extra melodic baritone. Pushing sonic boundaries was very a lot the protocol and, because the really weird “Hats Off” and “Puddin’ Taine” twist and prance with an uneasy but uplifting feeling, you’ll be able to’t assist however marvel precisely what goes on inside Claypool’s sensible thoughts.
Indisputably one of many album’s highlights, “Bob’s Party Time Lounge” completely captures Primus in a state of transition. Claypool’s excellent bass efficiency is served piping scorching because the tempo swishes between progressive and jazz-rock territory, concentrating solely on chunks of instrumental interaction. Their penchant for mind-boggling track titles rears its head once more on “Duchess And The Preferable Mind Spread,” whose reggae-style tempo justifies the band’s choice to report completely with analog studio tools, whereas the mental puzzles persevere on “Restin’ Bones” and the primitive “Coddingtown,” earlier than the album finally ends up with “Kalamazoo,” “The Chastising Of Renegade” and shutting observe “Arnie.”
Contemplating Primus’ evolution from their wildly unpredictable funk-metal fusion to country-tinged, different psych-jazz, the band ensured that their persistently eccentric strategy saved listeners locked in an nearly hypnotic state of consciousness throughout their 9 albums. Although Brown Album is usually troublesome to sum up, it in the end stays a show of extraordinary musicianship and hyper-cross-pollinated musical innovation.
In hindsight, the band themselves regarded it a troublesome album to digest, however there may be quite a lot of magic between its grooves, together with an amazing quantity of ardour and brave soul that assisted Claypool and co in turning into one of the vital extremely regarded bands within the alt.metallic/rock historical past books.
Purchase Primus’ music on vinyl or CD now.
