Sailing the Seas of Cheese

by Primus

Overview

The first Primus album to achieve much widespread airplay (thanks to its release on a major), and the one that broke them on MTV, Sailing the Seas of Cheese completely redefined the possibilities of the electric bass in rock music for those who'd never heard the group before. Slapping like a funk player, but strumming power chords and finger-tapping like a metal guitar hero, Les Claypool coaxed sounds from his instrument that had rarely if ever been made the focus of a rock band. Claypool's riffs were so full and dominant that they hardly needed to be doubled by guitarist Larry LaLonde (and wouldn't have had the same effect anyway), which freed him up on most songs to launch into dissonant, atonal solos that essentially functioned as texture, complementing Claypool's oddly whimsical sense of melody. The combination results in a weird atmosphere that could be transformed into something dark or eerie, but Claypool's thin, nasal voice and demented blue-collar persona place the record firmly in the realm of the cheerfully bizarre. The compositions are mostly riff-driven, fleshing out their heavy metal roots with prog rock tricks from Rush and Frank Zappa, as well as the novelty side of Zappa's sense of humor. The willful goofiness may alienate some listeners, but it can also obscure some genuinely dark humor, and it never detracts from the band's frequently stunning musicianship. Somewhat analogous to jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, Claypool hasn't inspired many direct imitators because of his tremendous feats of dexterity. But his stature as a virtuoso able to take his instrument into previously undreamed-of realms is without question. Though Sailing the Seas of Cheese tones down Primus' penchant for jamming, it's the tightest, most song-oriented representation of their jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind style. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	05/21/2013
Label:	Interscope
UPC:	0602537331260
Rank:	4029

Tracks

1. Seas of Cheese
2. Here Come the Bastards
3. Sgt. Baker
4. American Life
5. Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
6. Eleven
7. Is It Luck?
8. Grandad's Little Ditty
9. Tommy the Cat
10. Sathington Waltz
11. Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers
12. Fish On (Fisherman Chronicles, Chapter 2)
13. Los Bastardos

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Primus   Primary Artist
Matt Winegar   Primary Artist
Brian Mantia   Primary Artist
Mirv Haggard   Primary Artist
Mike Bordin   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Drums
Butt House   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Bryan Mantia   Primary Artist
Derek Greenberg   Primary Artist,Guitar
Tom Waits   Guest Artist,Voices
Larry LaLonde   Banjo,Guitar (Electric)
Les Claypool   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Clarinet,Fretless Bass,Bass (Electric)
Matthew Winegar   Guitar,Accordion
Brian "Brain" Mantia   Drums
Tim "Herb" Alexander   Drums,Vocals,Sound Effects
Todd Hath   Guitar
Adam Gates   Bass,Vocals

Technical Credits

Chris Bellman   Mastering
Colin Moulding   Composer
Larry LaLonde   Composer
Bassnectar   Remixing
Les Claypool   Composer
Primus   Arranger,Composer,Producer
David Luke   Engineer
Snap!   Illustrations
Peter Gabriel   Composer
Tim "Herb" Alexander   Composer
Paul Haggard   Design,Photography
Todd Hath   Composer
Dave Wright   Authoring
Tom Whalley   A&R
Michael Lavine   Photography
Todd Huth   Composer
Tim Alexander   Composer
Mark Kohr   Design,Coordination
Nacy Schartan   Engineer
Claypool   Composer