Monsters of alternative, Primus, have returned for their first full-length studio album since 1999's Antipop (Interscope/Prawn Song). With song titles like "Last Salmon Man" and "Eyes of the Squirrel," you can rest assured that Green Naugahyde (ATO/Prawn Song) is Primus like they never left.
After a brief, building introduction ("Prelude to a Crawl") the unorthodox, distorted style that Les Claypool has perfected over the years kicks in on "Hennepin Crawler." And immediately there is that recognizably complex foundation from drummer Jay Lane and by the end of the track guitarist Larry LaLonde has melted off your face and you're foaming at the mouth for more.
Lane rejoined the band earlier this year after leaving the group in 1988. He was most recently playing with Phil Lesh and Further. While this is Lane's first full-length album with Primus, Claypool attributes the writing of almost all early drum parts (that really established their sound) to the long absent member.
Claypool's lyrics are as hilarious and sharp-witted as ever; most noticeably on the satirical songs "Eternal Consumption Engine" and "Moron TV." And there's "Lee Van Cleef," which falls in line with the many other Claypool tunes that seem to be inspired by little more than some invented name. All backed by awesome, tight instrumentation. The song "Green Ranger" is a good extended example of the Pink Floyd influence that peaks its spacey head at intervals throughout the album.
Green Naugahyde is ear-grabbing to the very end. It sounds incredibly refined while maintaining their standard brand of weird. They've even included a live version of "Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers." My only complaint is that it took too damn long. Download it here, now.
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