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Primus

Sailing the Seas of Cheese
1991
Interscope

Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Alex101
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Published on September 7th 2007

Released four months before Nirvana's Nevermind, the Northern California-based trio Primus made history with their classic major label debut, 1991's Sailing the Seas of Cheese, by becoming one of the seminal bands in the "funk rock" scene, along with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fishbone and Infectious Grooves to name a few. It's regarded as their best and shows absolutely no signs of the "sell out" that was predicted when they signed to Interscope back then.

Well, if you're a huge fan of the "funk rock" scene, I recommend you check out this record as well as their 1990 debut Frizzle Fry, 1993's Pork Soda and 1995's Tales from the Punchbowl. "Here Come the Bastards," "Sgt. Baker," "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver," "Is It Luck?" and "Fish On" are the best tracks, as well as the studio version of "Tommy the Cat," which originally appeared on their 1989 live album Suck on This. I remember seeing MTV play a number of Primus videos, including "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver," "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver," "My Name Is Mud," "Mr. Krinkle" and "John the Fisherman." I also remember seeing them in the movie "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," where they played this album's song, "Tommy the Cat," on stage.

Les Claypool's funky bass stayles are amazing, as always. While Sailing doesn't showcase as much of Larry "Ler" LaLonde's delicious Joe Satriani-inspired guitar madness as Pork Soda does, it gives Les a chance to work his bass to the summit. This album provided many of the band's most fan favorite tunes and concert repetoire. You can still go to almost any Primus show and hear "Damn'd Blue Collar Tweekers" and "Tommy the Cat." All the tunes are Grade A perfect! Somehow Les writes basslines that not only resemble what he is singing, but manage to create the sound of environments in the tunes, such as in "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver" -- the band plays a ditty that makes you think of stock car races and the sound of the cars on the track, and in "Damn'd Blue Collar Tweekers," you hear the bells and hissing pipes of a factory environment.

Most of the songs are either slow or fast but never lacking in weirdness or funky basslines, as has become a staple for most Primus albums. However, it still remains fresh after repeated listenings. Their lyrics are normally humorous, but this is also due in part to Les's over-the-top, almost Elmer Fudd-like voice. Is this a bad thing? Hell no! With Primus, you normally get two camps: those who get it and those who don't. But you don't have to like Primus to realize the that these guys have TALENT! I say check them out. Just remember to put your sanity on hold for the time being. You'll enjoy it more.

To anyone here who doesn't own Sailing the Seas of Cheese, get it! It's a classic Primus album. They are also my personal favorite band, and as well as being one of the most talented, innovative, and downright insane bands over the past decade, they also made (in my own opinion) the greatest album in the history of rock.

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Posted by borntaloze on 2007-09-13 16:47:12
My Score:

nachooos... steamy.

Posted by superskabro on 2007-09-10 14:36:28
My Score:

Primus isn't the easiest band to get into, or the best band in the world, but they inspired a LOT of other bands and this album is pretty fucking good, especially "American Life".

Posted by KungPowza on 2007-09-09 10:34:39

In my opinion Primus' best album.

Posted by Holy_Balls on 2007-09-09 06:22:57
My Score:

This band sounds like the Hold Steady.

Posted by freesandwich on 2007-09-08 21:41:04
My Score:

Score is for the THPS 1 demo- the first time (i think) i heard primus.

Posted by fuzzy on 2007-09-08 19:11:17

Kind of a crappy review, honestly.

Posted by misterspike on 2007-09-08 14:41:44
My Score:

Score is for rear-projections of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots when they headlined Lollapalooza a few years later.

I always looked at Primus as a quirky acquired sort of taste. People that had trouble getting into them, probably never would.

Posted by star6nine on 2007-09-08 11:12:23
My Score:

score is for THPS

Posted by neffernin on 2007-09-08 04:54:50

It still amuses me that Les Claypool has the Robot Chicken theme song on his last? album.

Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2007-09-08 01:08:57

"Get over yourselves, great band."

What the hell are you talking about? There are only two negative comments so far.

Posted by thus_spoke_sean on 2007-09-07 23:46:45

This album and Pork Soda are two of the best 90's records. Get over yourselves, great band.

Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2007-09-07 23:39:37

Great album. Primus sucks!

Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2007-09-07 19:31:12

"...so are the basslines funky?"

great quote that went unnoticed in the Suicidal review that needed to be resurrected given the opportunity.

Posted by bytheslice on 2007-09-07 19:24:22

"Pork Soda" and this album completely own. Primus songs were about: a) fishing b) drinking c) competely deranged redneck lunatics. How many bands sound like this? Funky bass, killer drumming, and a guitar player who almost never uses bar chords. What a blast from the past.....

Attn. hardcore kids: The mosh part in "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" is siiiiiick.

Posted by internetsanta on 2007-09-07 18:27:22
My Score:

boooo. whats with the 90's alternative reviews lately. everyone in the world has heard this album and has an opinion of it. its safe to say that if Rolling Stone reviewed an album 15 years ago, punknews.org doesn't need to be posting a review of it 15 years later. whats next, superunknown, ten, or worse, that Eve 6 album!!

ps. i hate les claypool and his slap bass

Posted by BarleyPat on 2007-09-07 18:00:45
My Score:

One of the best albums ever, along with Frizzle Fry, which is slightly better.

Posted by JerryCola on 2007-09-07 16:41:42

Yes I remember that... I went to the tour where they played the entire Sailing The Seas Of Cheese along with the show where they played all of Frizzle Fry.

Posted by maxethunders on 2007-09-07 16:28:51

Does anybody else remember that a couple years ago Primus was touring and doing all of "Sailing the Seas of Cheese" every show?

Posted by nocigar on 2007-09-07 16:25:11

this band never appealed to me at all.

the bass is nice though.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2007-09-07 15:04:32
My Score:

ive never thought to consider this "funk rock"

great album though

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by DrGunn on 2007-09-07 15:03:08

This review doesn't mention the most important part of this album, tom waits does the voice of tommy the cat.

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2007-09-07 14:22:50
My Score:

Primus was the first "real" band I ever saw live, back in '93.

This album still gets play from me (maybe once a year now), but "Pork Soda" is definitely their best.

Posted by JerryCola on 2007-09-07 14:15:25
My Score:

I think “Sailing The Seas Of Cheese” needs a good re-mastering job, the sound quality of it is seriously lacking compared to Frizzle Fry & Pork Soda. BTW, Frizzle Fry's my personal favorite, such a good album.

I wish Les would get back to the Primus basics and would stop incorporating so much "jam session" shit into his live shows. Seriously, we know you're a good bass player, you don't need to put an 8 minute jam session in every single one of your fucking songs, it gets so boring and redundant.... Fucking hippy!

Posted by Torgo on 2007-09-07 13:40:31
My Score:

Being a bass player I'm pretty sure they would take away my right to play four strings if I didn't like this album or Frizzle Fry