Brown Album
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brown Album | ||
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| Studio album by Primus | ||
| Released | July 8, 1997 | |
| Recorded | December 1996--April 1997 at Rancho Relaxo | |
| Genre | Alternative rock Funk metal Alternative Metal |
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| Length | 56:48 | |
| Label | Interscope Records | |
| Producer(s) | Primus | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Primus chronology | ||
| Tales from the Punchbowl (1995) |
Brown Album (1997) |
Rhinoplasty (1998) |
- For other uses see The Brown Album
The Brown Album is an album by the alternative rock band Primus. It was released on July 8, 1997.
Straying from their previous mold, this album can certainly be constrewed as their most unique recording. Production value on this record differs greatly from previous efforts, including different miking techniques and the use of 'clipping' (on the drums especially) in some tracks. It is the first official album featuring Bryan "Brain" Mantia on drums.
Many "old-school" Primus followers garnered a disliking of this album, due to the departure of drummer Tim Alexander, and the new introduction of Bryan "Brain" Mantia. Mantia, however, is a skilled drummer, with an amazing sense of rhythm and speedy movements, which is key to Primus's frantic and complicated songs. However, Mantia's drumming style is considerably more straight groove-oriented than Alexander's polyrhythmic, fast, and finessy style. The emphasis is seemingly placed more on the overall song structure than the writing of any one part, leaving an open jam-rock style of playing, incorporated with Jazz influences, inside shorter song forms. Claypool's vocal style takes quite a turn on this album as well; opting for doubling his vocal melodies or playing in lower registers than he is usually known for. LaLonde's playing comes off considerably more rounded and versatile. Playing more as a key part to the song's overall structure, he veers off into uncharted territory by tackling many new styles and tones.
With less technical production, the Brown Album achieves a feel of darkness and disparity. There is also the re-occurring theme of the dirtiness and dishonesty dealt with in American life; and much of the imagery centers on the 1800's.
Tom Waits, a regular contributor on earlier albums, claims this as his favorite work by Primus. Much of Waits' own work is made up of stories of dark, seedy characters.
[edit] Track listing
- "The Return of Sathington Willoughby" – 5:04 (Claypool)
- "Fisticuffs" – 4:25 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Golden Boy" – 3:05 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Over the Falls" – 2:42 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Shake Hands With Beef" – 4:02 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Camelback Cinema" – 4:00 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Hats Off" – 1:57 (Claypool)
- "Puddin' Taine" – 3:38 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Bob's Party Time Lounge" – 4:43 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread" – 3:30 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Restin' Bones" – 4:29 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Coddingtown" – 2:52 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Kalamazoo" – 3:31 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "The Chastising of Renegade" – 5:04 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
- "Arnie" – 3:54 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
