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Les Claypool/Primus...........were is the love?

#24
Big ups to Claypool. Mine ears are deaf to the words of the detractors. Primus is one of those bands that managed to squeeze through before the gates were shut. Bands that original now are still there, but almost all of 'em are starving.

Also, I've got the friggin' comic. That says a bunch.
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#27
If you hear something and like it, should everyone like it? Does something suck because everyone says it sucks. I don't mind when people have nothing good to say about the music I like. I don't believe I'm superior to them for the taste I have. Primus is not for everyone. Players who are not influenced by the musicians that get an enormous amount of attention aren't less of a musicIan for their indifference. Primus has some good stuff, Less Claypool is great player, but I'm not his biggest fan and wouldn't go to the trouble of trying to play his lines. Here at TB, it seems that players get offended when you don't share the same love with them for their favorite players. I personally don't have a favorite player, I have a mental list of favorite songs and favorite bass lines, but to be hung up on a player is like being a screamer at a beatles concert in 1965, being that way can be quite limiting.
 
#28
I have several Primus albums and a few of Les' solo stuff. I really liked the diversity of his Purple Onion CD. I actually caught a show for that tour in a small venue so it was pretty cool to be that close but I would have to agree Primus and Les are an acquired taste. Some of their stuff is really out there? I think my favorite Primus album is Antipop. It seems the most structured and easiest to listen to for me. I think it was the album they toured the hardest for. I think I remember reading that Les and the band were burnt out after that one. Don't get me wrong Les is a great player and quite a character.
Brent
 
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#30
I bought their first two albums, Frizzle Fry with "Toys Come Winding Down", which is the stand out track for me on that album and as far as I'm concerned, the only good song on that album, and Sailing the Seas of Cheese, which had more than just one song that I liked. Frankly, after that they were lost to me after Pork Soda. For a guy that can only really hear out of one ear, Les should have really left the recording and production to others. The whole Primus sound just kept getting more and more non-interesting to me. Is he a great player? You bet, but like I said, I stopped caring how awesome they were after Pork Soda.
 
#31
I made a real effort to check out Primus after hearing Les play upright bass. I thought he played really well. I checked out several Primus shows in a row. With the exception of some of the more recognizable parts of the songs, he/they can play almost anything they want during a tune. To me mostly it's the groove that makes them so much fun to listen to. I still think they are great because nobody does what they do. Nobody would dare.
 
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#33
jasmangan said:
Ive seen Les over 50 times. He is great no doubt. Every group is different and original. Anybody else see the Frog Brigade do Animals? That was sick. The Primus 3d tour? Awesome. DDT? Lots of fun. I've seen primus so many times I can tell when they're having an off night, which isn't often.
I've seen them in the west coast, east coast, and have got on a plane three times to see them at Red Rocks.
So yes, Primus suuuuucks.
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I'm not a particular fan of Primus or even Claypool but the Frog Brigade 'Animals' work is absolutely fantastic. It's my favourite Floyd album and when I first heard about it I was very concerned. Nope, they do it well and they add a lot in their own style without venturing too far from the source material. It's brilliant.

As far as Claypool goes, he's interesting. I'll never be able to or want to play like that, or even play or particularly listen to the music but the fact that they're divisive says a lot about the artistic merit of what they're doing. It's interesting, even if I don't particularly enjoy it.
 
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#35
tbz said:
I need to actually catch up on the DDT stuff; I stopped keeping up with his non-Primus work around 2006 or 2007.

Good call though. Pre-2003 or so he did a lot of quick single thumb stuff, but definitely did not do any noticeable double thumb work from what I saw.
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For double thump, Wynona's Big Brown Beaver from DDT is an obvious one, as is Lee Van Cleef off Green Naughahyde.
 
#36
My understanding is since around 2005 they stopped enjoying the whole "primus sucks" thing. Tour de fromage and halucinogenetics, when it was shouted Les stopped the song abruptly and simply said, "we don't do that anymore, bud".

Was huge into them for my early bass playing years. Still like them, listen to them far less and I'm a lot more selective about the tracks than I once was. Frog Brigade, C2B3, the spinoff groups with Les are great if only for the other band members and overall formats. Except the one with that Phish guy. Blech. Love Copeland's playing on the album but I have a hard time with all things Phish related.

Les has said multiple times that he overall doesn't love playing Primus shows because " you never know what the hell they're gonna throw at you".

Also I really love Tool.
 
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#37
TerriblePeril said:
Except the one with that Phish guy. Blech. Love Copeland's playing on the album but I have a hard time with all things Phish related.
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You're talking about Oysterhead, with Trey Anastasio? Man, that s***was sick! Please don't let whatever anti-Phish bias you might have get in the way of appreciating that stuff!
 
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#38
I can comment on this topic as well. Les was a huge influence in my playing and he and Rob Wright from Nomeansno got back into bass back in 95. I strayed away from bass at age 14 (started bass at age 10)and was playing mostly guitar in high school and I taught my friend to play bass and I focused on guitar (easier to learn bass).
After high school I got back into bass thanks to Primus, Nomeansno, and a lot Funk and Jaco. I was so obsessed with Primus until The Brown Album came out and my interested just fizzled out. I really lost interest in Les and feel as if kind of outgrew his playing for lack of a better word.
Now I hardly even do any slap bass. Has anyone else lost interest in Claypools playing/music?
 
#40
RicKee said:
OK? It may be you read the WERE IS THE LOVE title, but not to offend but you kinda missed the whole thread. I was curious why everyone was saying PRIMUS SUCKS! I honestly did not know it was a compliment and fans "secret handshake" of sorts. I was promptly told by many this and now I understand. I`m not shoving Les or anyone else down your throat, so take it easy friend. It was a question not a statement.:sorry:View attachment 723456
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I am taking it easy. Im not offended and didnt believe for a moment that there was any intent to offend. My reply wasn't aimed at you. Just a rant to all those who fall in love with a player and just can't comprehend that others may not feel the way they do. No need to defend your post, I get it.. you didn't know Primus sucks. Now you know. There are a lot players in this neck of the woods that spill their Sh!+ if you don't like marcus miller or Jaco. peace.
 
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