Released: Sep 12, 2011
Genre: Alternative rock, funk rock, experimental rock
Label: ATO Records, Prawn Song
Number Of Tracks: 13
'Green Nuagahyde' is Primus's 7th studio release and marks the end of an 11 year hiatus. Les's quirky lyrics and bass lines are finally back in another installment, and not a moment too soon.
Green NaugahydeFeatured review by: UG Team, on september 12, 2011 3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Sound: Finally, we get a new Primus album. Les Claypool’s funky slap bass once again is blasting out of my stereo speakers! Jay Lane (absent since 1988) returned in 2010 as drummer, replacing Tim “Herb” Alexander and Jay does an excellent job filling the role. Larry “Ler” LaLonde is on guitar providing weird quirky guitar lines that complement Les’s insane bass lines. This is Primus’s seventh studio release and their first since their hiatus in 2000. While Les Claypool has toured sporadically since 2003, it is great to have a new studio album and the band back as a cohesive unit.
‘Green Nuagahyde’ isn’t a disappointment after Primus’s absence, but instead a promise of more excellent funky weird music to come. The music really ranges from funky/weird to ambient/experimental. Ler provides some truly weird minimalist guitar lines that allow Les’s unique bass lines to shine through the mix to great effect. Considering this lineup of Primus has not been together very long they have really got their playing down very tight and I would love to go see them live, and hopefully they’ll be playing nearby soon. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Les’s vocal delivery fits in like a jigsaw puzzle piece completing a picture. I personally love vocalists with a lot of character in their voice and Les has this in spades. Not surprisingly, my favorite vocalists are Les Claypool, Dave Mustaine, Lemmy and Isaac Brock. Les did a great job on ‘Green Nuagahyde’ using his voice as an extension of his music instead of something just layered over it. At times his voice is sarcastic, anxious, playful and serious. The lyrics mostly tell stories that are freakishly weird or are borderline nonsensical. The song ‘Hoinfodaman’ is maybe my favorite lyrics, but mainly just the chorus chant of ‘I used to be a pimp, now I’m hoing for da man’.
The role of a lyric in a song is either to complement the music or to express ideas as a theme to the song, and Les manages to do both well. Now, the actual ideas he is expressing as themes may not be the types of ideas normally expressed in music, but that is a big part of what makes Primus so awesome. Les’s drawled lyrics are what give his music its distinctive flavor just as much as his aggressive and odd approach to the bass as the main melodic instrument in a rock band. // 8
Impression: ‘Green Nuagahyde’ makes me interested in playing bass guitar. ‘Jilly’s on Smack’ might be my favorite song on the album with almost schizophrenic music backing lyrics delivered in a way dripping with anxiety. My second favorite would have to be ‘Eye of the Squirrel’. I really didn’t encounter any songs I disliked on ‘Green Nuagahyde’ and after I finish this review I will be making room to give this album a semi-permanent place on my mp3 player. I feel like the best tell of a good album/song/artist is if it/they inspires you to pick up an instrument and play and Les Claypool absolutely makes me want to pick up the bass after listening to ‘Green Nuagahyde’. Really the guitar work and drums are really inspiring as well, in large part due to their quirkiness and originality. Sorry, I know I’ve used the word “quirky” a lot during this review but I can’t find a better word. // 9
Green Naugahyde
Reviewed by:
Benjamin2112, on october 19, 2011 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: Primus is one band that I absolutely f*cking love through and through. Their eclectic and eccentric pieces of music utilizing bass as a lead instrument amazes me. The fact that Les also sings and plays his bass so excellently is fascinating to me, this is one great band. Primus is an acquired taste for sure.
The only thing I found that was a bit off on this album's production is that Les' vocals aren't loud enough, as the music can usually over power his vocals.
This album also features original drummer Jay Lane to come back into the fold since he left in 1988.
This record's sound isn't much different from the other albums (magnificently technical bass, eclectic guitar, and funky drums).
Track Listing:
01. Prelude to a Crawl
02. Hennepin Crawler
03. Last Salmon Man
04. Eternal Consumption Engine
05. Tragedy's a Comin'
06. Eyes of the Squirrel
07. Jilly's on Smack
08. Lee Van Cleef
09. Moron TV
10. Green Ranger
11. HOINFODAMAN
12. Extinction Burst
13. Salmon Men
Band Members:
Les Claypool - vocals, bass Larry LaLonde - guitar Jay Lane - drums, percussion // 8
Lyrics and Singing: These lyrics are great, still the same old Les writing lyrics about heroin addiction ("Jilly's On Smack"), mass media/government ("Eyes Of The Squirrel"), fishing related activities ("Last Salmon Man"), and other silly subjects. Nonetheless these lyrics still have the regular vibe Primus lyrics have.
The lyrics fit the music just fine, they are put in good places that don't have too much going on at a time, making them knowledgeable.
Les has impeccable singing skills, his voice is great. // 8
Impression: Yes it does compare well to other Primus albums, I'd say it sounds like a mixture of albums like "Frizzle Fry", "Tales From The Punchbowl", and "Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People".
The albums most impressive songs are: "Hennepin Crawler", "Last Salmon Man", "Tragedy's A Comin'", "Eyes Of The Squirrel", "Lee Van Cleef", "HOINFODAMAN", and "Extinction Burst".
I love that its a new Primus album that I could add to my collection and I don't like that the vocals aren't as loud as the music.
If this album was stolen I'd go out and buy it again for sure, I wouldn't get something else. // 9
I've never been able to really get in to Primus. I just don't think they have good enough (lyrical) ideas to match the extravagant musical style. To me, their bark is definitely worse than their bite. Maybe I should give them another try when I feel more silly.
I've never been able to really get in to Primus. I just don't think they have good enough (lyrical) ideas to match the extravagant musical style. To me, their bark is definitely worse than their bite. Maybe I should give them another try when I feel more silly.
I love Ler's guitar riff in Jilly's on Smack, that and Eye of the squirrel are my favorite's too. Solid album all the way through, some songs took a couple listens but then I grew to really like them.
Definatly my favorite album of 2011! Glad this wasn't as disappointing as the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "I'm With You"...
I really dig Primus' new sound, although I find it a shame the lyrics are even more so inaudible than they were on their previous albums...
'Jillys on smack' has Les use an electric double bass to make the wierd swooping sound. Very fun album, and as always, verr verr silly...
Wrong; saw this live @ red rocks this summer and he uses his standup bass with a bow...
Well thats what I meant, but wasn't sure what to call it.
Epi, I think you are right - a double bass is like a cello that is tuned in a bass register and you use a bow. If you don't use a bow, then you call it a stand up bass. It was just a matter of context, but if he is using a bow with it, then it is a double bass.
'Jillys on smack' has Les use an electric double bass to make the wierd swooping sound. Very fun album, and as always, verr verr silly...
Wrong; saw this live @ red rocks this summer and he uses his standup bass with a bow...
Well thats what I meant, but wasn't sure what to call it.
Epi, I think you are right - a double bass is like a cello that is tuned in a bass register and you use a bow. If you don't use a bow, then you call it a stand up bass. It was just a matter of context, but if he is using a bow with it, then it is a double bass.
They all mean the same thing, an upright bass, double bass, string bass, standup bass and a contrabass are all the exact same instrument. How you play it has no relevance to what it's called.
Great musicianship all over the whole album, the least so in the guitar area.
But I found myself becoming disinterested in most of the songs on this one.
However, the one that stood out to me was Lee Van Cleef. It has the most interesting concept, as well as being the best sounding song on the album, in my opinion. It probably doesn't help that I have a fondness for Westerns, Spaghetti or otherwise.
I wasn't disappointed with this album, but it's not particularly special to me, either. Most of it probably fits in better alongside Les Claypool's solo stuff more than it fits in with Primus, too.
'Jillys on smack' has Les use an electric double bass to make the wierd swooping sound. Very fun album, and as always, verr verr silly...
Wrong; saw this live @ red rocks this summer and he uses his standup bass with a bow...
Well thats what I meant, but wasn't sure what to call it.
Epi, I think you are right - a double bass is like a cello that is tuned in a bass register and you use a bow. If you don't use a bow, then you call it a stand up bass. It was just a matter of context, but if he is using a bow with it, then it is a double bass.
They all mean the same thing, an upright bass, double bass, string bass, standup bass and a contrabass are all the exact same instrument. How you play it has no relevance to what it's called.
