Primus Tracks

The happy-go-lucky funk of Tragedy's A'Comin accompanies dark lyrics, making a strange contrast of flavors. Louis Ortega joins the podcast to talk about the funk underpinnings, and we range from Isley Brothers to Iron Maiden to Dylan Thomas. I suppose the greatest tragedy here is that we didn't reference more cultural touchstones in association with this unique Primus track. @primustracks on Insta...

Anthony Garcia brings consumerist culture to the podcast and enlightens us as to the many unusual musical & vocal elements of Eternal Consumption Engine - and it all starts with a decade-old Ler idea. Plus, the intricacies of global economic policy! Okay, we skirt that issue, but Josh does like talking about steam engines. Find us @primustracks on Instagram and Twitter and please share your observ...

Josh and Frankie unpack part four of the Fisherman's Chronicles, which addresses the concerns of commercial salmon fisherman in Northern California. Are these some of Les Claypool's strongest lyrics? Probably. Does the music provide adequate support? Tune in to find out! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

We begin our ride through 2011's Green Naugahyde by examining the opening track(s) - Prelude to a Crawl and Hennepin Crawler. Luke Bemand of lespecial unlocks the mysteries of the envelope filter, much to Frankie's delight. Josh remains diplomatically neutral. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

There is NEW PRIMUS MUSIC and Josh & Frankie have thoughts. After only a few (hundred) listens to the new Conspiranoid EP, they offer their connections to Primus/Les canon and what it might mean for the musical direction of the band. Go get the digital Conspiranoid EP right now! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

BOB COCK IS DEAD. LONG LIVE BOB COCK. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Before the reunion tour(s) and Green Naugahyde, the Les-Ler-Jay trio recorded and released an EP of rehearsal footage in June 2010, to give us a taste of what was to come. Later in November of 2010, the band dropped Me Llamo Mud, a Spanish-language translation of the Primus classic. Josh and Frankie dig into these free downloads and let their past selves get excited all over again. Viva Chile! Fin...

The first in a sub-series of heavy musical influences on Primus, Primus DNA delves into The Talking Heads and their mark on Primus, especially in the early days (which serves as an excuse to play those herky-jerky proto versions of songs). Rodney Gordon, Primus fan and host of This Must Be Talking Heads podcast, joins us to explain the connection between these two bands. Find Rodney's pod anywhere...

Primus wasn't up to much in the years 2005-09, but something changed in 2010. We take this "fallow period" year by year and react to releases and live performances, and end on a positive note as we regale with our excitement at a particular announcement from Primus in 2010! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

We conclude the Animals "LP" with My Friend Fats, a track that reaches heights Primus had never hit before. Some say it plods along and takes forever to crescendo, and some say it's just right. Find out what Josh and Frankie have to say about it! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

I mean, most of us call this one Rapscallion for the sake of simplicity. No matter the title, Frankie labels it a "prog suite" and we explore each part, even the noise, with guidance from our pal Anthony Garica, who brings unfettered joy to all things Primus. New stickers available! Check out the Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook page to see the design. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn you...

The middle track on the Animals EP (LP according to Frankie) brings another unexpected wrinkle to Primus canon - a "love" song, although Josh & Frankie agree it may be more about covetousness. That aside, we dig into the music, live history, and put out a call for listeners to share how their irrational love of Primus ruined a romantic relationship, no matter how fledgling. Hit us up @primustracks...

Josh and Frankie explore the story behind the lyrics of Pilcher's Squad: corruption, drugs, money, bent cops, rock stars. The story writes itself, but through the Lens of Les. Hey, there's also music! It's weird, obnoxious, and perfect for our ears. Hop in the squad car and take a ride with Primus Tracks. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Welcome to 2003! We finally join the 21st century of the Primus chronology as we open our discussion of the EP Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People. Herb's back, and this track happens to be Frankie's #1 Primus track. To mark this titanic track, we enlist the assistance of Rory and Luke of lespecial fame. Rory covers the drums, and Luke deciphers that effects-laden bass part. Plus, we get dar...

Curtis "CG The Mexican" Gomez goes as far back with Les Claypool and Primus as anyone, as evidenced by the name-drops in early Primus tracks. CG gives us a look into the earliest days of Primus and the Bay Area scene at the time, woven through his own timeline. Great talk with a fascinating man! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

We all know that Primus performs the ubiquitous South Park theme song, but what of the other tracks that Les, Ler, and Brain created with and For Trey Parker and Matt Stone? We discuss the South Park theme, Mephisto & Kevin, and Hamster Style, and delve further into the relationship between the band and these ultra-rich cartoon makers. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Soya and Matt Hunter join us for the hidden Antipop track, The Heckler, which hearkens back to the halcyon days of early-ish Primus, as this Suck On This feature finally gets a studio treatment. Is it the greatest Primus track of them all?! Find out in the episode! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

We've reached the final* track of Antipop, and it's a right corker. Tom Waits makes his second appearance on a Primus record for the memorable Coattails of a Dead Man, whose lyrics paint quite a familiar portrait...have we heard this story before? It's up to the listener to make the leap, and Frankie broad jumps right on through to connect with a 1990s icon. Get your sweaters and ripped jeans read...

The Final Voyage of The Liquid Sky marks a direction that Primus could have taken with the entire Antipop record, according to Les Claypool. We dissect what that mythical record may have sounded like, using Liquid Sky as a template. Plus, it's the track that heralds the permanence (some might say overuse) of the envelope filter. Welcome aboard, Primates! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn...

We've arrived at the third of the Tom Morello Antipop Triumvirate, and Josh and Frankie find it to be the strongest of the three! We discuss our competing interpretations of the sample, the funky music, and the shrouded references within the lyrics. Drop into the seas of cheese and find out what makes Power Mad a sneaky good track in our estimation! @primustracks on Instagram and Twitter Get invol...

Anthony Garcia joins Josh and Frankie to discuss the rural areas beyond the bay that give rise to tracks such as Bodacious, belying the standard view of "big city" California. Frankie tells the story behind the lyrics and we dig into those excellent Ler licks. @primustracks on IG and Twitter! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

That's more like it! We return to normalcy, as much as one can in the Antipop era anyway, with Dirty Drowning Man. Produced by Stewart Copeland, this track is a team effort that pays off. Dive in and backstroke right across these seas of cheese with Josh and Frankie! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

The worst of times. Frankie and Josh agree that this is the worst of all Primus tracks, so why not keep it short and move on to the next one. This time, a guest turn on the record (Tom Morello) was a turn for the worse. But hey, this track sounds pretty bangin' at 1.5x! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

We complete the lespecial trifecta yet again as Jonny G drops by to discuss Greet The Sacred Cow. It all goes according to plan until we get to the sparse lyrics, and we take the podcast to distant lands. Jonny keeps us on an even musical keel and helps Josh understand just what Brain's doing in specific spots. So many little pleasures in this tune. Find lespecial @lespecialmusic and find us @prim...

Josh and Frankie tackle Eclectic Electric, the mid-album proggy epic that has recently resurfaced in live performances. We spend an inordinate amount of time on the lyrics, as they are among the most personal of Les Claypool's career. What do they mean? Don't worry; we won't leave you out to sea. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money