Oh my gosh, Primus. Where to begin? I'm not even sure I can go there. Let me try to keep it as basic as possible.I think I already threw out that I like weird music right? Well some could put Primus in the heaviest and hardest bunch of the weirdos. Led by front bassist Les Claypool, the band from El Sobrante, CA brings takes the odd and forms it into some pretty head bobbing stuff. What's interesting is this power trio has gone through many band member changes back and forth while still maintaining the caliber of madness that only Primus is known for. Of course, without Les Claypool, there is no Primus. What's funny is Claypool auditioned to play bass for Metallica many moons ago. Lucky for us, he continued on into the world of the weird, joined Larry LaLonde (guitar), and Tim "Herb" Alexander (drums) to create this post's album.
The 1995 release Tales From The Punchbowl has always been a favorite of mine from their catalog the day it was released. However, this album is set apart from others in their collection because many tunes don't have that head bopping, jump up and down appeal; which makes me like it more and more seeing that I like weird music and all. I like to think of this record as a 'circus on a boat'. Almost all of Primus' records include a song that refers to the sport of fishing because the band members enjoy it; so does this record. However it seems to have somewhat of a nautical theme, so I guess that counts. Regardless, it's a collection of crazy stories thrown into punchbowl with Captain Shiner at the helm sailing through all of them to create the aforementioned 'circus'.
"Professor Nutbutter's House of Treats"- A romp of a strange tune about a professor who makes jellies, jams, and sweets including a "worm" that we shouldn't fear according to uncle Claypool.
"Mrs. Baileen"- "she was a sixth grade teacher and she controlled the children by using humiliation". Yep, that about sums it up, except the fact that this kid Don accidentally cuts another kid with a fish knife. Who knows?
"Wynonna's Big Brown Beaver"- Now wait a minute, don't get excited or offended here folks, it's not what it seems. It's honestly about a girl that has a pet beaver that actually turns out to be a porcupine. What's even better is the video. The band dressed as plastic cowboys has nothing to do with the subject matter of the song, just pointing out the weird hoedown theme it has including Claypool squealing. Enjoy at your leisure:
"Southbound Pachyderm"- What?! Flying elephants?! This 'circus' keeps getting better! I'm not even going to try to explain this one:
"Space Farm"- is just that, an instrumental space farm.
"Year of the Parrot"- oddly is about plagiarism. Hey I don't know what got Claypool upset about this topic, but something sure did.
Let's skip a few because I love what's coming up.
"Del Davis Tree Farm"- pretty simple, a tree farmer selling Christmas trees. Ahh you can almost smell em.
"De Anza Jig"- This truly is a jig if I've ever heard one and one of my favorite Primus tunes because it gets away from the bass thromping and into the banjo; or as Les likes to call it "banjee boy". This song also gives us the 2nd Taco Bell reference on the album. I wonder if the band got something for that? Here's where the circus sideshow steps up:
"I can still remember Julie Tolentino, the dancing Filipino, we used to run around"
"On the Tweek Again"- enough said
"Over the Electric Grapevine"- sounds like a story about a road trip gone wrong. I honestly don't get it, but great tune!!! Ha ha!
"Captain Shiner"- Round it out with a "De Anza Jog" reprise and you got yourselves a boat ride.
So Primus will pop up again on this blog in many forms. Be prepared. Remember what Jim Morrison said in a previous post?, "Where's your will to be weird?"
This album reminds me of college. Seeing Primus a few times with cohorts really takes me back to a time when I loved to explore the odd balls. That is all.
You might have a favorite book or film, but you can only watch or read it so many times before you have to let it sit and then go back and realize it's your favorite still. At some point everything gets a little stale and you have to step away from it.
Les Claypool
Les Claypool
CD'S Reviewed: 6
Going to iTunes: 3
Never connected the whole fishing song per album thing until reading...not getting converted to mp3. This album is a goodie fo sho.
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