News

Now that we have the news taken care of, here is Primus’ The Brown Album, released July 8, 1997 on Interscope/Prawn Song. Self-produced by the band, this is the first album since Tim “Herb” Alexander’s departure, and taking his place on drums is Bryan “Brain” Mantia (Praxis/Limbomaniacs). Originally, Les had wanted to invite Jay Lane (the band’s first permanent drummer who’d end up on Green Naugahyde) but Lane was going through some things in his personal life. Brain they had known way back in the day and he was in the band for two weeks in the eighties before he broke his foot skateboarding.

As described by Brain, the album gained its name from the desired production, which the band described as a “muffled turd”.

1. “The Return Of Sallington Willoughby” (Les Claypool/Larry LaLonde/Bryan Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3AOdIVJH7tE

“The Return Of Sallington Willoughby”, a sequel to “Sallington Willoughby” off Frizzle Fry.

We start with crowd chattering and then the band just come in with a bang. The drums do indeed have that muffled sound. And then you have Les belting out a politician speech. You dig deep and there’s not really much of substance underneath, but the crowd just eats it up anyway. And that’s way more realistic than it should be. You have selfish, ignorant citizens, so you get selfish, ignorant leaders, and of course a lot of the masses are complete sheep who are easily startled and whipped into a frenzy. If anything, this song is as relevant, and regardless, it’s just a strong song to open the album with.

2. “Fisticuffs” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnz_FIe7kU

“Fisticuffs”, also a name for bare knuckled boxing. The song tells the tale of James “Yankee” Sullivan, who was a prized fighter in the 1850s and was arrested in 1856. Shortly after confessing to tampering with ballot box results, he was found dead in his cell, and there was a lot of controversy and speculation regarding his death.

People often focus on the bass when talking about Les-and he is a bass god-but he’s also a great writer, and can tell these far out surreal narratives, which comes from not only Zappa but also Les’ love of country music and Americana. Even if this story was completely made up, he still makes it really interesting, with the bass and drums create a rumbling feel with Ler’s guitar adding a nice touch to the rhythms. Overall, it’s a classic track and I absolutely love it.

3. “Golden Boy” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T8gy8l4mZIE

“Golden Boy”, which is about a supposed “Golden Boy” who’s made out to be a clean cut role model only to turn out to be a complete cocksucker. And let’s be honest, we all know someone like that, a fake, hypocritical asshole who tries to seem so righteous but is so full of shit. I certainly have, so I can definitely identify with this song. And plus, it’s just a funky, rocking tune, so it’s a win-win in my book.

4. “Over The Falls” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IlI0ktIqZiU

“Over The Falls”, which takes the album in a mellow, jazzy feel. Primus is a band that has a signature sound, you hear them and you know it’s them, but they can definitely change it up at times. And lyrically it really captures the feeling of making that huge jump in life, even with how much of a gamble you’ll take in the process. And Les is very much a dude who follows his muse and that’s another reason I love him. This is such an awesome song to change it up.

5. “Shake Hands With Beef” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PHjpWo4edfw

“Shake Hands With Beef”, the first single and best known song off this album, and I should note that apparently “Over The Falls” was a second single. The song was inspired by a saying by a vegetarian friend of the band’s who’d use the phrase to describe when he had to eat meat.

Man, that bass riff, and I love using that to test any sound system or amp or speaker, it’s right up there with Creatures Of The Night‘s drums. And it’s such a catchy bass riff too, locked right in with Brain’s drums while Ler’s guitar loops in and out. And of course, how can you hate a song about masturbation? Yes, it’s a song about choking your chicken as well.

What can I say? It’s an absolute classic.

6. “Camelback Cinema” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RSyc2uvUCiE

This one, I don’t like at all, the first clunker on the album. In the old days this would have been left on the cutting room floor, but it’s the CD age, so let’s cram in as much shit as we can. This song is boring, repetitive, I do not like it at all, next.

7. “Hats Off” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i9kT3ZfW9_U

“Hats Off”, this is the shortest song on the album at one minute and fifty-seven seconds.

This one seems to be a bit autobiographical on Les’ part along with a sarcastic appreciation of any oppressive authority figures he might have dealt with. There’s also, though, this sincere appreciation for all he’s learned in life as well from his own mistakes as well as others and that’s pretty cool. And generally it’s just a nice diversion from the weird avant funk metal onslaught.

8. “Puddin’ Taine” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w7tlsdj8CAQ

“Puddin’ Taine”, this one kicks off with some nice little hi hat work from Brain before Les comes in with vocals and bass.

God I love this song, it’s got that great bouncing groove to it, and it’s everybody just plays their asses off from Brain shredding the kit to pieces to Ler’s acid soaked solo.

Woo-hoo!!!!!!

9. “Bob’s Party Time Lounge” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjla8KEeoPs

“Bob’s Party Time Lounge”, which starts with someone pouring ice into a glass before the party starts and then

BBBBOOOM BOOMOM! BBBBBOOOM BOOMOM!

The band really rips on here with that insane bassline, Brain playing his ass off on the kit, and Ler cuts loose with a fantastic solo. If you want to know who the unsung hero of Primus is, it would be none other than Larry “Ler” LaLonde, a very unique player that compliments Les perfectly and would get more attention if he wasn’t next to Les Claypool. This is another winner for the album, I absolutely love it.

10. “Duchess And The Proverbial Mind Spread” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TyasMtYTOhk

With this tune, Brain gets his time to shine. Oh sure, you have the standard fantastic bass work by Les, sure you have a nice reggae like riff and tasty understated solo by Ler, but Brain. Goddamnit does he play his ass off on this tune. And I love Herb, Herb is one of my favorite drummers and definitely a large part of Primus is missing when he’s not there but Brain is no slouch.

Anyway, Top 5 for the album.

11. “Restin’ Bones” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lUcORz4acvI

“Restin’ Bones”, which opens with that good old John Bonham type groove played fantastically by Brain. And this just has such a low key, slow burn to it and goddamnit is it good.

Lyrically this tells the tale of an older man with a younger man, and it seems the older man has been through absolute hell, all sorts of drug abuse and is now left with nothing. Primus’ music is known as weird and funny but there’s also this dark undercurrent to it as well which I love.

This is my favorite song on the album hands down and one of my favorite Primus songs.

12. “Coddingtown” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zmKV7c2G30E

“Coddingtown”, this one is a good, fast and somewhat heavy tune. It’s not essential by any means, it honestly is filler, but it’s killer filler, I can dig it.

13. “Kalamazoo” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VZeqABXYLvk

The song is named after a city in Michigan and is inspired by an old Glenn Miller tune, taking this innocent old time song and twisting into something much bleaker and more subversive, describing all these weird burnouts living dead end existences.

I love this song, especially that little DEH duh Duh duh duh DEH doo lick that Ler plays throughout the song, super catchy. My second favorite off the album along with Shake Hands.

14. “The Chastising Of Renegade” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8t2SAWnS260

This one tells the tale of a kid in Les’ neighborhood who raised a ton of hell in order to draw attention to himself.

This one I always liked but it was still one I kind of grew into over time and now it’s another highlight of the album with all its little musical shifts and let’s talk about Ler, fucker rips on this track, to the point where I’d say he even outshines Les. Love this track, it’s sick, badass, and sick!

15. “Arnie” (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i7uuJ14p2U0

We close the album with “Arnie” which is kind of a weird track. It starts all moody with some fantastic bass work by Les before he goes into this sort of rambled speech that almost functions as another instrument as the music goes off, gorgeous bassline, Brain is just so in the pocket, Ler colors the melody of the track. This one was more of a grower but it’s absolutely grown on me, I adore this track.

And that is Primus’ The Brown Album. Is it as good as the first three? No. But it definitely deserved more love than it got when it came out. But it’s definitely getting more attention as time goes on, and hell, Tom Waits points to this as his favorite Primus album. In his words, it sounds like it needs a washing, and that really is this album’s charm, it’s sort of the Hotter Than Hell Of Primus’ discography (albeit slightly better produced).

And there is my review, be sure to comment, subscribe, and you can suggest future artists and albums to cover on the show.