I probably won’t win over Les Claypool and crew with what I’m
about to say: Primus
doesn’t
suck.
The band whose rallying cry has been “We’re Primus, and we suck”
has proven time and time again that their brand of funk, metal,
country and rock is a unique amalgam. Whether it’s been Claypool’s
lead-guitar work on the bass and his nasal style of singing, Larry
Lalonde’s light, jangling guitars or the frenzied pounding of
then-drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander, Primus has earned their own
place in rock’s history.
It’s that thought that leads us to dig into the legendary Pierce
Memorial Archives (one of these days, I’ll buy that new feather
duster for the glam rock section) to find this 1989 release, the
debut effort
Suck On This.
The album was recorded over the course of two live shows in
1989, and was originally released on the band’s own Prawnsong
label. (When Primus signed with Caroline in 1990, they re-released
the album.) The opening notes to Rush’s “YYZ” proves to the
listener that this is going to be a unique experience from the
beginning. The Rush intro then kicks into “John The Fisherman,”
where Claypool shows off his talents on bass quickly. I still think
this is one of the best moments Primus ever caught on tape.
The band’s subtle humor is evident on cuts like “Groundhog Day,”
where the lead singer is searching for apple pie, but settles for
Corn Chex, and “Tommy The Cat” (which would later be immortalized
by Tom Waits on
Sailing The Seas Of Cheese. This is one band you don’t
listen to for a serious message, you listen for the funk and the
humor.
In fact, many of the songs on
Suck On This eventually made it onto
Fizzle Fry, but the live versions continually outshine the
studio remakes in terms of power and emotion. Claypool and crew are
best when they’re working the crowd over to their skewed view of
the world. This is what makes this album shine so well; it’s one of
the few live albums out there that captures the power of the band
on vinyl without losing any of it.
From “The Heckler” to “Pudding Time” to “Harold Of The Rocks,”
Suck On This is a picture of a band not caring about earning
a platinum record, but having fun on stage doing what they love.
Thankfully we have this preservation of that early power to
remember the old days from – this is one worth searching out.
