Shuffle Review — Primus — Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991)
Welcome to Shuffle Review, where I hit “shuffle all albums” on my iTunes and write a brief review of the first record that comes up (that I haven’t already reviewed).
First up, Primus and their 1991 record Sailing the Seas of Cheese!
I started playing bass guitar in seventh grade, and as any bass nerd of the early 2000s it didn’t take me long to discover Primus. Les Claypool , the lead singer and bassist of the band, is basically patron bass-saint of alternative rock music from the 90s. Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Primus’ second album) went platinum, and while Pork Soda (1993) outsold it, Sailing remains probably their most famous record. It’s CRAZY to me to think of a record this weird going platinum now.
Enough preamble, let’s get into it.
The album opens with the sounds of a creaking ship and an invitation to escape the hardships of life into a more absurd world. Then the relentless and sinister 5/4 march (how do you march in 5/4?) of “Here Come The Bastards” begins to swell. These are the bastards we’re trying to escape by fleeing to the Seas of Cheese.” Just listen to the little drum fills and flourishes that Tim “Herb” Alexeander throws in here and there. Delicious and subtle and really difficult.
Next up is the stomping “Sgt. Baker”, a satirical criticism of toxic army culture that doesn’t just recall Sergeant Hartman’s infamous speech from Full Metal Jacket, it actually quotes it. The song opens with a rambling bass line and accordion accents that almost feels like it’s out of a Tom Waits song before all three instruments begin a bizarrely syncopated riff which comes across as a wall of overwhelming noise. Listen to those of kilter guitar shots and the thundering tom fills while Claypool’s hypnotically repetitive (and challenging) bass playing cycles over top.
Claypool has a reedy voice which has a biting tone great for sarcasm and humour, but he puts so much into his performances that it can lend an unsettling intensity to it. This is goofy music, but with an angry intensity that only 90’s Gen X rebellion has really ever delivered. Take “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver.” It’s probably the closest thing to a hit single this album produced. It’s insane tapping bass riff, atonal guitar solo and clean but stuttering drum beat creates a real sense of silly chaos, but the song delves into both the plight of the working class by telling the story of a physically fit fireman who is forced into retirement as well as the stupidity of American consumerism by talking about the young Jerry who crashes his vehicle drinking and driving because he thinks having a fast car makes him invincible. Oh and the weird little car sounds that Les makes in between verses adds a surreal aspect to the whole thing.
As far as proof of Herb’s drum proficiency, look no further than the intro to 11, and extended and musical drum solo in 11/8.
Other stand out tracks include the funky “Tommy the Cat” which features narration by Tom Waits (an immediate win for me) and “Fish On (Fisherman Chronicles, Chapter II)” a seven minute prog gem that goes through at least three main sections and showcases every member of the band at one point or another. It’s a rolling nautical romp.
I love this record. It’s so of its time, and yet the chops these three musicians display is timelessly impressive. It’s funny, bitter, absurd, noisy, bizarre, and tight (without being rigid). While Primus would go on to release a number of great albums moving forward, I think this Frizzle Fry — their 1990 debut — will always be my favourites.
Thanks for reading! Have you listened to this record? What did you think? Let me know!
