{"id":1439,"date":"2016-02-05T20:42:27","date_gmt":"2016-02-06T01:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bandsiusetalike.com\/biul\/?p=1439"},"modified":"2016-02-06T20:45:51","modified_gmt":"2016-02-07T01:45:51","slug":"sailing-the-seas-of-cheese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bandsiusetalike.com\/biul\/sailing-the-seas-of-cheese\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailing The Seas Of Cheese<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1991, I used to hang out with these chicks. They were, shall we say,\u00a0really into\u00a0<\/em>a band called Jane’s Addiction. Coincidentally, there is a band I\u00a0violently detest<\/em> called Jane’s Addiction. I actually spoke the words “if Perry Farrell comes over here, let’s sucker-punch him” to a friend, during set-up for Lollapalooza 2003 (Farrell luckily didn’t approach.) If you are listening to Jane’s Addiction, and the recording is distorted by a throaty, otherworldly moan, it’s a sure indication that I am within earshot.<\/p>\n

Thus, in the spirit of diplomacy, I would engender discussion of music\u00a0other than Jane’s Addiction<\/em> that the girls liked. Agent Orange was an easy sell, but then of course they focused on the mushy late-80s stuff, like “Fire In The Rain”. The best album they introduced me to was undoubtedly Primus’\u00a0Sailing The Seas Of Cheese.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Because of this album, I ended up purchasing numerous Primus CDs, over a substantive length of time.\u00a0Sailing The Seas Of Cheese<\/em> has entered the\u00a025 Club<\/strong>, alongside Ween, Mr. Bungle and Naked City; music I’ve consistently spun for over a quarter-century. That’s just over half my life.<\/p>\n

Other Primus entries display sheer talent, but none quite ascend to the peak that\u00a0STSOC<\/em> does. They had two discs before this, and there have been many since. They’re another three-piece dynamo, like Rush and The Police. Singer\/bass player Les Claypool is an alien. He’s an alien! That’s the only possible explanation!<\/p>\n

The first track is an introductory sketch, using deep cello to simulate rolling sea waves. “Come with us, we’ll sail the seas of cheese.” An invitation, to enjoy the cheesiness that Primus would kinda overdo in later efforts. Here, it’s just right.<\/p>\n

Track two is\u00a0“Here Come The Bastards”<\/strong>, which bookends the album with\u00a0“Los Bastardos”<\/strong> at the end. Underneath the cheese, Primus makes some poignant commentary on the hazardous effects of working-class American life. No matter what you accomplish, the bastards will always stomp into town and ruin everything.<\/p>\n