Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese

Opening with the creaky sounds of a ship at sea, Sailing charts the funk-punk waters the San Francisco Bay area band returns to again and again. It's all here: the acerbic humor, Les Claypool's gurgling fretless bass lines, Larry LaLonde's seasick metal guitar, and Tim Alexander's Bill Bruford-inspired syncopation. The narrator of "Sgt. Baker" aims to "rape your personality," while the reapers of the "American Life" live out their dreams "residing in a cardboard box." Tom Waits makes a cameo on the funky back-alley tale "Tommy the Cat," and the protagonist of "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" has "too many cold beers one night" and "wraps himself around a telephone pole." Primus concert fave "Those Damned Blue Collar Tweakers" helps round out this bizarre prog-punk masterpiece. --James Rotondi Amazon.com

Best Primus Album

The title of my review says it all. This is my favorite Primus album. Even Frizzle Fry in my opinion is a distant second. The best part of this is the songs. Primus was at the height of their creativity and songwriting and humor on this one. The quirky songs and lyrics still feel fresh, and its really a fun album to listen to. All the songs are good and SSC should be listened to all the way through if possible, but my personal favorites are:

"Here Come the Bastards"
"Sgt. Baker"
"American Life"
"Is it Luck?"
"Tommy the Cat"
"Those Damned Blue Collar Tweakers"
"Fish On"

If you can only buy two Primus albums, make them Sailing on Seas of Cheese and Frizzle Fry. If you can only own one, make it this one. Of course if you're more a fan of the standard 3 minute top 40 rock song like something from Nickleback, Avril Levine or (gulp) Creed, then you'll probably not know what to do with this.
November 29, 2007

SWEET CHEESE

THIS EARLY 90`S PRIMUS IS GREAT,PRIMUS IS PRIMUS IS PRIMUS,YOU KNOW YOUR GOING TO GET SOME GOOD FUNKY ROCK WHEN YOU BUY A PRIMUS CD,I GUESS YOU COULD CALL THIS KINDA CHILLI PEPPERISH BUT HEAVIER AND BETTER AND MORE DIVERSE WITH MORE SKILL ON THE INSTUMENTS,THE MUSICIANSHIP ON ALL PRIMUS DISCS IS SUPERB AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.GET YOUR CHEESE! November 4, 2007

Les is more

Though there's no real way to describe Primus, it's best to know that they're sort of like the funk-rock of modern alt bands such as RHCP and Jane's Addiction mixed with the hardcore/punk of Meat Puppets and Fugazi by way of Frank Zappa. In other words, they're very weird, but even when they fail, they fail marvelously. Luckily they fail far less here than they would on upcoming albums.

One of the only minor crossover hits they had is one here ("Jerry Was a Race Car Driver"), but if you're attuned to music like this (they're consistently labeled under metal, after all), almost all of them will be worth hearing. Les Claypool remains one of the most dexterous musicians ever to slap the bass and this is one of their more song-oriented albums (likely as a result of just being signed to a major label), but I imagine equal numbers will love it and hate it. It's a mood thing for me, but it's always worth the attention.

Best cuts: "Sgt. Baker," "Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers," "Is It Luck?" "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver," "American Life," "Tommy the Cat," "Eleven" September 11, 2007

Not as good as pepperjack

I thought this was supposed to be software that had cheese recipes in it. Instead I get a lot of Bass and some guy talking through his nose. I finally was able to make some but it did not taste that good so I am going to return this because it no workie workie. July 25, 2007

Probally one of the most talented rock trios ever

You can't go and just reconize Les Claypool's bass guitar, the three of the members are hugely talented. Les Claypool is a bass master, one of the most talented bass guitarists ever, his playing style never fails to come off as innovative, his basslines are not just impressive as ____, they never fail to lay down a damn good melody for the song. Tim Alexander beats are pretty self explanitory, drummers are amazing anyway (mostly). And then you got Larry (forget his last name) making sound effects that never overpower. This is the same guy that also played on Possessed's Seven Churches, and it's fun to listen to them. In fact, the whole band is awesome, it takes listen to focus on each band member, and they never stick out in a bad way.

A perfect balance is what makes Primus listenable, something the red hot chili peppers never could do during their early years. They are able to blend perfectly and never out play each other or drown another out.

This is Primus's most accessible and a blast to listen to, some Primus's aren't so easy to listen to. Jerry Was A Race Car Driver was a hit, you've probally heard this one more of a chance of hearing the other songs. American Life has some of the best guitar playing, and Tommy The Cat is another highlight, with Tom Waits singing (Waits is easily the most unique singers you'll ever hear), each song has a great bassline, and you have to listen to Larry's numerous solos in Tommy The Cat. Sgt. Baker, Those Damned Blue Collared Tweekers, Is It Luck, about every song on here is a keeper, even though Fish on is a little bit weak compared to other Fisherman Chronicles songs.

A couple of filler songs (the B@@rd songs) abound, but even those songs aren't too bad. Three interludes (one's a song, but nothing else), make the music stand out as well. Les Claypool's voice also is something you can't judge on first stance either, it's pretty _________ high pitched. Despite the _____, Primus is a cool band, and this is one of their bests.

9.5/10 July 23, 2007

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