Primus Tracks

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 

Rory Dolan of lespecial joins the podcast to discuss the title track to the Antipop record. Aside from the irony of their Antipop anthem being one of their most accessible tunes, we get into what makes this track tick, and it all starts with that impressive opening from Brain. Find Rory @rorydolandrums and @lespecialmusic on the socials. We're @primustracks - bring a friend! Get involved Instagram...

We are joined by a bass powerhouse in the form of lesepcial's Luke Bemand to discuss Lacquer Head, which has recently rejoined the live set list. More importantly, we ask the big question: Whither Fred Durst? He's credited as producer, so where's his influence? We get into the music, lyrics, and ask the all-important Antipop question: Is it Primus? Find Luke @lukebemandbass on Instagram Find us @p...

Josh and Frankie pause their Sony Discman player that's spinning Antipop to discuss the finer points of the recently-wrapped Tribute To Kings tour, in which Primus played Rush's "A Farewell to Kings" in its entirety. Which Primus tracks got the most love? What was most surprising? What was the atmosphere of the shows? Chime in to the conversation @primustracks on Instagram and Twitter, and the Pri...

Two (legitimate) tracks into Antipop and we're still searching for a consensus Primus track; Natural Joe, producted by Matt Stone (that one!) checks more boxes than Electric Uncle Sam (including a wondrous excursion to Ler Land), but according to Frankie, it's not all there. We talk about why, and get into some 1990s talk for a record that, so far wallows, in the tropes of late 90's popular music....

We begin our Antipop excursion with the lead single that received a bit of radio play, but had no video or much of a promotional push behind it. Further, it's co-written and produced by Tom Morello, so is it truly a Primus tune? We discuss, debate, deride, deny, and finally, desist. Thanks to Louis Ortega of Rapscallion (@laprimustribute) for helping us with this track! Get involved Instagram Face...

Josh and Frankie go it alone to tackle the making of Antipop, perhaps the most divisive Primus record, for multiple reasons. This was a tumultuous time for the band on many fronts, and we try to piece the picture together. Fred Durst: Why Les, Why? Plus, we evaluate whether the record holds up today. @primustracks on IG and Twitter primustrackspod@gmail.com Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Bu...

Perfect timing! As we are in the Brown and Rhino eras, turntable legend DJ Disk joins the pod to discuss his numerous guest appearances onstage and on record/video with Primus. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

After the Brown Album cycle wrapped, Primus was asked to work with a producer on their next effort, which was a covers EP to bridge albums. The band descended upon Prairie Sun studios, and with the help of the legendary Toby Wright, created the band's second EP. Toby Wright kindly joined us to mine the depths of memory for the experience of making Rhinoplasty; another heavy brough to you by the on...

The madman behind Primus-adjacent musical adventurists Beanpole joins the podcast to reveal long-mysterious details on how Beanpole came to be, and the involvement of one Larry LaLonde, among many other luminaries. Derek also shares a never-before-heard Beanpole track, so call it a Primus Tracks exclusive! If you haven't heard Beanpole yet, drop everything and find the music on Bandcamp or Soundcl...

Former Primus/Les manager David Lefkowitz will tell us, over the course of multiple talks, his recollections and perspectives on Primus during his tenure as manager from the late 80s to the mid 00s. Get your notebooks ready, because he's about to drop all kinds of names and stories on us. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Original Primus guitarist Todd Huth joins Primus Tracks to dig into those still-mysterious early days of Primate/Primus; working with Jay Lane and Les and making a name for themselves in the SF Bay. By the time you read this, Frankie has broken into Todd's attic to find some old tapes. Plus. we discuss his angular approach to guitar, his band Porch, Sausage, and what's in store for the future. Fin...

Grammy-winner Matt Winegar produced the legendary Sausage demo, Suck On This, and Frizzle Fry with Primus. Soya and Matt tread down memory lane with stories about the Bay Area scene and how those three important Primus recordings came to me. Great talk with two Bay Area champs! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Soya rejoins the fray (from the road with Primus!!) to help us close the Brown Album with Arnie - throwaway closer or deep philosophical mind-bender? Mostly the former, but Frankie and Josh do their damnedest to turn hearts to the latter. Final thoughts on the record as a whole, Youtube provides a cover, our last 1897 connections, and a cryptic preview of what's to come between albums. Arnie! Get...